Lifts & Terrain
Kurodake Ski and Snowboard Terrain The Kurodake terrain statistics - 70 percent beginner, 20 percent intermediate, and 10 percent advanced - do not tell the true tale of the gnarliness of Kurodake. These stats only refer to the 3 marked courses and not to the huge off-piste areas.
The Kurodake ski terrain can essentially be divided into three parts.
1) Terrain Serviced by the Chair Lift
At the top of the ski area is a 700 metre pair lift. The lift provides access to a gentle powder bowl and two groomed courses that are reasonably mellow and appropriate for intermediates. This is a nice spot for powderhounds on their L plates to learn to ski powder, but the chair area is not normally the reason why skiers and boarders make the pilgrimage to Kurodake.
2) Ropeway Terrain
The 3km ropeway (aka cable car) rises from the town of Sounkyo. There is one semi-marked course under the ropeway that’s not groomed and offers the steepest lift accessed terrain in Japan. Beyond the course the area is an off-piste haven, although route finding can be a little difficult considering that the area has unmarked hazards, lots of tight technical trees, and is littered with cliff bands, the type that you avoid no matter how much Kodak courage you have. Avalanche gear is highly recommended, because other than closing the area when the avo risk is really high, the patrollers do not control the area. This is the wild wild east. Treat this area like the backcountry.
Be aware that the ropeway closes for a period over winter for maintenance, so check that it’s operating before you head to Kurodake.
3) Earn Your Turns Above the Chair
If you’re happy to earn your turns, you can hike up from the top of the pair lift and enjoy the backcountry alpine bowls and naturally gladed trees. The peak of Kurodake aka Black Mountain (even though it’s white in winter!), is a 60-90 minute hike that includes some harrowing traverses.
There are various guiding companies that can help you enjoy Kurodake and explore the peak area and/or the ropeway accessed terrain.
Black Diamond Tours is one example.