Winter Activities in Dewa Sanzan
Explore Dewa Sanzan’s three peaks, Mt. Haguro (414 m), Mt. Gassan (1,984 m), and Mt. Yudono (1,500), in winter, when deep snow provides opportunities to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe.
Skiing
There are several small ski areas in Dewa Sanzan: Hagurosan, Yudonosan, Gassan, and Taranokidai.
Hagurosan Ski Area, on Mt. Haguro, has three low-elevation courses that are best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers. The facilities include a ski school, a children’s area, and rental shop for equipment. The ski 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 (snow park) for freestyle skiing, and a sledding area.
Taranokidai Ski Resort, located between the villages of Haguro and Kushibiki, is another small ski hill, with views over the Sea of Japan.
Each ski resort provides ski and snowboard equipment rental. Contact the resorts for more information.
Snowshoeing
The area’s deep snow makes the summits of Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono inaccessible for several months, but with the aid of snowshoes, it is possible to climb Mt. Haguro. Gassan Visitor Center offers various guided snowshoeing tours throughout winter. A nighttime tour is a great way to see the area’s nocturnal wildlife, such as flying squirrels, which live in tree hollows.
For more information about snowshoeing tours and snowshoe rental, contact the Gassan Visitor Center. Tours are offered in Japanese only. Non-Japanese speakers should use a translation tool when taking part in guided tours.
