Tohoku, Japan
Nekoma
189 hectares, 33 runs, 8m annual snowfall. Micro-fine powder on north-facing slopes. Ikon Pass partner in Aizu, Fukushima.
Season 2025-2026
Opens
5 Dec 2025
Closes
29 Mar 2026
Days open
114
Annual snow
8m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain spans 189 hectares across the north and south flanks of Mount Nekomagadake in Fukushima Prefecture. The resort offers 33 runs totalling 39 kilometres of terrain with 637 metres of vertical drop from a 1,337-metre summit to a 700-metre base. Formed in 2023 through the merger of Alts Bandai and Nekoma Ski Resort via an 810-metre connecting lift, the area receives 8 metres of annual snowfall and operates from late November through early May.
Terrain splits 30 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent advanced and 5 per cent expert across the dual-aspect mountain. The North Area climbs north-facing slopes to 1,337 metres and delivers what locals call micro-fine powder through beech forests, whilst the South Area descends sun-exposed runs with sight lines to Mount Bandai and Lake Inawashiro below. Tree run zones covering roughly 20 hectares opened for the 2025-26 season alongside established terrain parks and groomed cruisers.
Weekdays remain quiet with powder accessible hours after snowfall, though weekends draw crowds from Tokyo and regional cities. The North Area base at Kitashiobara Village offers simple day lodge facilities, whilst the South Area at Bandai town centres on the ski-in Bandaisan Onsen Hotel with restaurants, rental shop and onsen. Cat skiing operates in the South Area during peak season for intermediate and advanced riders seeking untracked terrain.
Nekoma joined the Ikon Pass for 2025-26 with seven-day access on the full pass and five days on the base version. The resort logged 135 operating days in 2024-25, the longest season in Fukushima Prefecture for three consecutive years. The mountain suits powder enthusiasts chasing Japan's less-tracked Tohoku region and intermediates seeking varied terrain across a single large ski area within three hours of Tokyo.
637m
Vertical
33
Runs
467 acres
Skiable
8m
Annual snow
The Terrain
33 runs across 467 acres skiable
Nekoma spreads 33 runs across 467 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
33
runs
33 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 30%
Intermediate13 runs · 40%
Advanced8 runs · 25%
Expert2 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Nekoma
The 2025-26 season opened 5 December 2025 and closed 29 March 2026, though the resort historically operates into early May when snowpack permits. Nekoma achieved 135 operating days in 2024-25, the longest season in Fukushima Prefecture for three consecutive years. The North Area typically opens earlier and closes later than the South Area owing to its higher elevation and north-facing aspect, with the northern sector sometimes remaining skiable through Golden Week in early May.
Annual snowfall averages 8 metres, concentrated between December and March when cold continental air masses cross the Sea of Japan and deposit dry powder across the Aizu region. The North Area's unique geography and cold air rising from surrounding lakes produce micro-fine snow—an exceptionally light powder prized by locals and visitors alike. North-facing slopes hold quality snow into afternoon even during sunny periods, whilst the South Area's sun-exposed runs soften earlier but offer reliable cover thanks to elevation above 700 metres.
Peak powder months run January through February, with the resort strategically closing certain steep courses until sufficient accumulation builds, then opening them day-after-snowfall for pristine conditions. March and April deliver spring corn snow as temperatures rise, though higher elevations retain cold powder through early April. Weekdays from mid-January to late February offer optimal conditions with minimal crowds, whilst weekends and New Year holidays see congestion at lifts and ticket windows.
The resort offers night skiing on select dates and hosts freestyle competitions in its terrain parks, which have attracted international events. Tree run zones operate based on snow depth, typically mid-January through late February. A cat skiing programme in the South Area runs on specific days during peak season, limited to 10 participants per trip and requiring advance booking for access to untracked off-piste zones.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
8 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Nekoma, and where to stay
Nekoma occupies the flanks of Mount Nekomagadake in the Aizu region of western Fukushima Prefecture, with the North Area base at Kitashiobara Village and the South Area base at Bandai town. Mount Bandai, an 1,816-metre stratovolcano known as Aizu Fuji, rises immediately southeast and dominates the skyline. The resort overlooks Lake Inawashiro, one of Japan's largest freshwater lakes, which spreads across the valley floor 700 metres below the South Area base.
Koriyama city lies 55 kilometres east and serves as the primary transport hub, whilst Aizuwakamatsu—the historical seat of samurai culture in Fukushima—sits 17 kilometres from the South Area. Bandaimachi Station on the JR Ban'etsu West Line is 7 kilometres from the resort, and Inawashiro Station is accessible via local bus connections. The Urabandai plateau behind the mountain features lakes formed by Mount Bandai's 1888 eruption, including Lake Hibara visible from the North Area's upper slopes.
Road access follows the Tohoku Expressway to either Inawashiro-Bandaikogen Interchange, 15 minutes from the South Area, or continuing north to Bandai-Atami Interchange, 35 minutes from the North Area. Route 64, the Bandaisan Gold Line toll road, connects the two base areas but closes in winter, requiring drivers to circle east around Mount Bandai. Total driving time from central Tokyo runs approximately 3 hours via the Tohoku Expressway, with free parking available daily at most lots though the South Area's closest lot charges 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays.
The nearest airport is Fukushima, 40 minutes by limousine bus to Koriyama Station. From Koriyama, a direct resort shuttle bus operates in roughly 70 minutes to the South Area, costing 1,500 yen for adults with advance reservations required. Sendai Airport via Sendai Station to Koriyama totals 80 minutes by train, whilst Haneda Airport passengers ride the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, reaching Koriyama in 90 minutes before transferring to the bus. A shuttle from Aizuwakamatsu Station runs 45 minutes for 1,000 yen without reservations.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Nekoma, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Nekoma's ski season?
Nekoma's season typically runs from December 5 to March 29, roughly 114 days, weather and conditions permitting.
How much skiable terrain does Nekoma have?
Nekoma has about 467 acres skiable across 33 runs.
How many lifts does Nekoma have?
Nekoma operates 13 lifts in total.
How much snow does Nekoma get?
Nekoma averages around 315 inches (26.2 feet) of snowfall per season.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 2026
Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed
I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.
23 Aug 2026
Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola
The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.
23 Aug 2026
Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire
The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.
22 Aug 2026