Japow Feb 2026. Aomori and Otaru

2026 Links Aomori – Hakkoda – Kiroro – Kokusai

We left Vancouver on a Thursday to arrive in Japan Friday night and have Saturday to adjust. After getting through the lines at Narita – we had a Customs Form from last year already filled out – we paid for the bus to Haneda for our flight to Aomori. The Aomori airport is very small, fortunately there was a bus waiting at the airport that dropped us off near the Hotel JAL Aomori. We only had to walk a block on the snow filled streets to the hotel. Hotel JAL is great. Good breakfast, quiet rooms. We spent Saturday walking around Aomori. I brought my Fubuki boots which were great on this trip!

Jim and Tyler arrived later Saturday and we picked up the Nissan $hit Serena on Sunday and drove to Aomori Springs Resort. We stayed at the Rockwood Hotel which had Buffet breakfast and dinners available. They also have a nice restaurant where we ate one night, and an Onsen!

Everyday at Aomori springs started on the Gondola. From there we skied into the steep creeks and loaded again or lapped Diamond Chair. Above Diamond Chair is where alot of the good easy slack laps are. You can also tour above the Gondola. Skiers left of the Gondola as less steep.

Exit row seats!

Bus to Haneda, bus from Aomori airport to Hotel Jal. Paid for with Suica card.

Hotel JAL Aomori

Walking around in the snow.

Lots of snow!

View from the hotel

Our room

Buffet breakfast.

Saturday we decided to go to Moya Springs to ski. There was no bus so we took an Uber. $$$$ but whatever. On the way home we couldn’t get an Uber until we skied/walked closer to town… This would be a good hill to ski in the day since the upper slopes are closed at night.

Utou Shrine

$hit Serena, Pinner front tires, front wheel drive.

Rockwood Hotel at Aomori Springs. Buffet breakfast and dinners available. They also have a nice restaurant where we ate one night,

Back of the Rockwood.

Everyday started on the Gondola!

Then the Diamond Chair

Puking on the Diamond Chair

Under the Gondola

Set menu dinner at Rockwood

The nice SET dinner.

Roadside Ramen on the way home.

Then we drove back to Aomori…