Skiing at Dewa Sanzan
In winter, heavy snowfall blankets the Dewa Sanzan mountains, Mt. Haguro (414 m), Mt. Gassan (1,984 m), and Mt. Yudono (1,500 m), creating favorable conditions for skiing and other winter sports. Several small ski areas in these mountains offer backcountry skiing, groomed slopes, and family-friendly winter recreation. Mt. Gassan, the highest peak, is covered in snow for most of the year and is one of very few summer ski areas in Japan.
Haguroyama Ski Resort, on Mt. Haguro, has seven low-elevation courses that are best suited for beginner and intermediate skiers. Its facilities include a ski school and a children’s area. The season runs from mid-December to early March.
Yudonosan Ski Resort, on Mt. Yudono, has three lifts serving 4.2 kilometers of slopes. It also has a half-pipe, a terrain park (or snow park) for freestyle skiing, and a sledding area.
Taranokidai Ski Resort, located in Tsuruoka in the foothills of Mt. Gassan, is a small ski slope, with views over the Sea of Japan and a ski school to help beginners get started.
Gassan Ski Resort, located on the mountain’s southern flank, has backcountry fields that offer views of the Asahi and Zao mountain ranges. Its 10 kilometers of slopes, served by a chairlift and a T-bar lift, attract advanced skiers and snowboarders. The season starts in early April and runs as late as the end of July.
Each ski resort provides equipment rental for skiing and snowboarding. Contact the resorts for more information.