Hachimantai Cat Tours
八幡平キャットツアーズCat skiingfrom ¥35,000, about CAD 315 or USD 221 (October 2026 rates)
Hachimantai Cat Tours suits strong powder skiers who want snowcat access in Tohoku on the slopes of the closed Hachimantai ski area; the cat broke down in 2025/26 and ended that season early, so check the 2026/27 plan before you book.
What they offer
| Offering | From | Duration | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat & RideThe cat climbs from Gozaisho at 960 metres to about 1,440 metres and riders lap the Daikokumori area on the old Hachimantai ski slopes. APPI lists a 2.5 km run from top to bottom with a 38° maximum and 18° average pitch. Tours need at least three paying riders and take up to eight. | ¥35,000 per person, about CAD 315 or USD 221 (October 2026 rates) | Full day, 8:00–16:00 from the ANA Crowne Plaza at APPI | – |
| Cat & HikeThe cat carries riders to about 1,440 metres, then they hike 40 to 60 minutes toward Chausu-dake (1,578 m) or Yamune-dake (1,397 m) for open bowls. Iwate Backcountry Guides runs this tour. | – | Full day | – |
The snowcat on Hachimantai belongs to the Daikokumori Management Cooperative, which nine local guides own together. It runs the cat on Daikokumori, where the Hachimantai ski area used to operate, and looks after the slopes. It also teaches avalanche workshops and records the weather there every day of the season. It shares that data with the guide companies that bring riders up.
Guests book through a guide company. APPI's nature school ran a Cat & Ride tour from the ANA Crowne Plaza in 2025/26 for ¥35,000 per Japan resident and ¥42,000 for overseas visitors. In 2025/26 the cat broke down and APPI ended its tours for the season. Iwate Backcountry Guides also lists cat tours here, and Clubman Mountain Guide guides in the area.
Riders need an avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, pack and helmet and powder skis or a board. Daikokumori is the site of a ski area that has closed, so treat it as backcountry and let the guide decide where you ride on the day.
Worth knowing
- Read the cooperative's Gozaisho weather observations before you commit to a date, which it asks of everyone entering the area.
- Ask your guide company whether the cat is running before you travel. Its 2026/27 plans were not public on 11 October 2026.
Quick answers about Hachimantai Cat Toursよくある質問
Is there cat skiing in Tohoku?
Yes. On Hachimantai in Iwate a guide-owned cooperative runs a snowcat on the closed Hachimantai ski area, and guide companies including APPI sell Cat & Ride and Cat & Hike tours on it.
How much is cat skiing at Hachimantai?
APPI's 2025/26 Cat & Ride tour cost ¥35,000 for Japan residents and ¥42,000 for overseas visitors. The 2026/27 price wasn't published by 11 October 2026.