Activities & Tours

Appi Kogen has a very good range of alternative activities to skiing and snowboarding. The concierge service at the Appi Grand Hotel can assist with further information or activity bookings.

Appi Kogen Ski Tours and Activities Appi has 1.5km of groomed cross country ski trails for an activity that the Japanese like to call fitness skiing or walking skiing! There are no trail fees and cross country ski equipment rental is available at Appi Ranch, so you can just take yourself out, or the Nature School offers 2 hour cross country ski tours.

The resort offers full day snowcat skiing tours. This is very different to usual cat skiing because it mainly caters to beginners and intermediates who want to experience powder skiing for the first time.

Nature Experience Programs A range of other activities are on offer to get out and enjoy nature. Three hour snowshoe tours that go up to the summit of Mt Maemori can cater for ages 10 and above. A 2 hour snowshoe tour is also offered to 5 years of age and up, so it’s more suited to families.

Evening snowcat tours are available to experience nature and partake in some star gazing.

Appi Ranch (NB Appi Ranch will be closed for the 2011-12 season) Appi Ranch is located next to the hotel and is the hub of various activities at Appi. They have a variety of snowmobiling tours that cater to beginners or speed demons. Options vary from just going for a short hoon to doing a 15km tour, and combinations of riding on trails or on powder fields. Kids and others who don’t want to drive a snowmobile can go on a tandem tour. This is a lot of fun!

For the kids (or children at heart) there’s also sledding or banana boating, an inflatable boat that’s towed behind a snowmobile. This is certain to generate a bit of excited squealing! Appi Ranch also has a small indoor “petting zoo” where you can meet rabbits and goats.

The Appi Ranch isn’t just for fun. It’s actually a real farm that is famous for its dairy cows and the quality produce. If you’re lucky you might be able to go on a tour of the cow sheds and see the fully automated milking systems where the cows can voluntarily decide when they want to be milked. However the prized dairy cows are not part of the petting zoo – you can’t pat them, but you might get to pat “Milk” the dog.

The high quality dairy produce is showcased across Appi Kogen in the restaurants and shops, but the Appi Ranch is the nucleus for eating Appi dairy related produce. The tea rooms have lots of yummy lunch options and Appi desserts such as milk pudding and soft ice-cream. The coffee is pretty good too.

For something rather special, another option is to have lunch in one of the kamakura (small igloos). Don’t worry about it being too cold because they give you blankets, and the lip-smacking food will warm you from the inside. Choose from a very unique milk sauce seafood hot pot, cheese fondue with bread and vegetables, or cheese pizza. Considering that good cheese isn’t that common in Japan, perhaps go the whole hog!

Family Activities In addition to the things to do at Appi Ranch, the Appi Family Park offers an array of excitement for children. See the Appi Kogen facilities page for more information.

The night illumination village out the front of the hotel, an area with lots of pretty lights, is also popular with families.

Physical Activities If the skiing and snowboarding isn’t enough exercise in itself, the hotel has a swimming pool, a well equipped gymnasium, mini climbing wall, and squash courts.

Relaxation Activities The Hotel Appi Grand has a day spa offering a range of treatments and lots of massage options including lomilomi (Hawaiian massage). The hotel also has indoor onsens as well as a private onsen that can be booked.

Appi also has a public style onsen at the Appi Onsen Patio near the Appi Grand Annexe accommodation. The area has large indoor baths, outdoor hot springs and saunas. A small fee is required to access this onsen.

Morioka A day trip to Morioka offers a few attractions such as a temple, grand estate, castle, and a German brewery. Have a chat with concierge for more information.