Japow Feb 2026. Aomori and Otaru

2026 Links Aomori – Hakkoda – Kiroro – Kokusai

The second part of our trip had us stay in Hotel JAL Aomori and drive to the Hakkoda ropeway to ski. We skied off the Ropeway one day, the other two days we toured off the flank near the Hakkoda Mountains Disaster Monument. ( in 1902 210 soldiers got lost in a blizzard enroute to Tashiro Hotsprings. The soldiers were looking for a mountain route in case the Russians invaded and made the coastal routes unusable – 199 died…). There are other ski areas more south of here, but we wanted to minimize driving.

We ate a lot of Izakaya, Okonomiyaki and ramen! One benefit of staying in a bigger town. More restaurants. We left Aomori and arrived in Chitose to pick up a Toyota Noah with a ski rack.

Road to Hakkoda

Hakkoda Ropeway

Dinner at Jiaiya Izakaya

Hakkoda Touring near the Disaster Monument. During high winds the Hakkoda ropeway is closed so you have to tour.

Snow bike!

Aomori Sushi

Pasta dinner. This guy made the pasta from scratch!

Hotel JAL Aomori had a Shamimusen Performer! Very cool.

Bye bye $hit Serena, hello Toyota Noah!