Located in the southwestern part of Iwate Prefecture, approximately 500km from central Tokyo, Geto Kogen boasts "heavy snowfall." It's a ski resort that any STEEP reader would want to visit at least once. True to its reputation, it snows almost every night during the high season, boasting an astonishing powder reset rate of 70% in January and over 60% even in February.
Geto has many enthusiastic fans seeking powder, but it also has a wide area where you can ski. So, this time, we'll unravel the charm of Geto based on a session that skier Allen Kajita and snowboarder Yuki Furihata had together.
First, please take a look at the clip from their session.
Why does it snow so much in Geto?
To begin with, when it comes to areas in Japan that receive a lot of snowfall, there are several famous ones such as Hakkoda in Aomori Prefecture, Mt. Gassan in Yamagata, and the Myoko area in Niigata Prefecture. But why does so much snow fall on this slope in Iwate Prefecture, where Geto is located, and where the top of the slope is 1,077 meters above sea level?
First, the snow clouds that bring snow to Japan come from the Siberian Peninsula, across the Sea of Japan, and then collide with the Japanese archipelago, causing snowfall. Within the Ou Mountains, which form the border with Akita Prefecture, to the north of Geto are the Akita-Komagatake (1,637m above sea level), Komagatake (1,613m above sea level), and Hachimantai (1,613m above sea level), while to the south lies Mount Kurikoma (1,627m above sea level). Located between these mountains, right in the path of the snow clouds, is Geto Plateau. With nowhere to escape, the snow clouds converge on Geto Plateau, bringing down the snow. This is why it consistently ranks highly in the goo Ski Resort Snowfall Rankings every year, and why the chances of encountering powder snow are high
Geto's tree running area is vast!
At the fan-shaped base of the slopes is a high-ceilinged center house, where meals, rentals, parking, and slope facilities are all located in one place. Two gondolas also run from the base to the top of the runs, so you can ski all the runs by just taking one gondola. You can move around comfortably inside the carrier, without being exposed to snow. With a wide slope, this ski resort has a variety of facilities efficiently located at the base
Taking advantage of its favorable environment and snowfall, Geto has focused on tree run areas, with 10 tree run areas. Each has its own unique characteristics, such as slope and terrain changes, but the defining feature of Geto's tree run areas is that the beech trees grow at wide intervals. The trees are widely spaced, so there's no need to rush or make turns, and you can leisurely glide through the beautiful scenery. The areas are also divided into four levels, making it easy to find the tree run area that's right for you
There is another article that goes into detail about the difficulty of each tree run area, so if you want to know more, please check it out
Furthermore, this tree area is entirely at your own risk, and wearing a helmet and carrying a mobile phone are required. In case of an accident, be sure to know the emergency contact number for the ski resort (phone: 0197-72-8848). The conditions of this unmanaged areathe websiteare updated regularly on
In addition to these tree run areas within the ski resort, you can also ski in even wider forest areas by submitting a climbing permit at the "Mountain Information" next to the ticket center. Since this is a backcountry area, go skiing with someone who is familiar with the local terrain.
At the ski center at the base, there is a map that shows the slope conditions for the day at a glance. Be sure to check it out before you ski
Rider teaches us about Geto's charms and strategies
Let's ask snowboarder Furuhat Yuki about the appeal of Geto
On the day we visited in January, snow fell and the tracks from the previous day disappeared. Snowboarder Yuki Furuhata and skier Allen Kajita were excited by the powder
"I think it snows a lot on the Sea of Japan side, like in Niigata, but to me, Geto snows like a lighter version. It's deep and light, it's just the best. There are often days when it's snowing only at Geto, even when it's not snowing at other ski resorts, so to me it's the ski resort I can feel the most comfortable coming to. In my case, I'm based in Miyagi, and when I go skiing I often aim for the best spots in the Tohoku area, but even if it's not snowing at the surrounding ski resorts, I still think, 'Oh, it's snowing at Geto after all.' Geto is the resort to go to when you're in a pinch, haha."
"There aren't many places in the Tohoku region where you can take a gondola up and ski on powder. Geto is great because you can spin top-quality powder and backcountry skis. It also gets 'running snow,' making it ideal for snowboarders. With a snowboard, if you get stuck you can't pedal like a skier, so line selection is very important. If you get stuck, it takes time to get back on the course, and it's dangerous because it requires a lot of energy. Geto's snow is easy for boards to ride, so you don't get stuck very often. Still, there are days when it snows so much that you get stuck, but on those days they close the tree run area. One of the attractions is that the ski resort staff have that kind of knowledge. The staff at this ski resort really know about snow, and they put customer safety first, so it's reassuring."
The beautiful beech trees that characterize Geto are lined up. It's pleasant to just stand in the snow-covered forest
Skier Allen Kajita describes Geto's appeal as follows:
"Geto has an efficient gondola system and lots of slopes, so it's the place to come when you want to ski hard. When the weather is good, your motivation is high, and you're fired up to ski, then Geto is the place to go without hesitation. The tree runs are great, of course, but the Geto Plateau I know is also fun to ski on, with ungroomed slopes, side powder, and walls to hit. So, on days when it rains, I head to B3, an ungroomed slope. B2 is also steep and ungroomed, so it feels great to ski down there first thing in the morning. Once I've skied down the slopes, I'll head to Summit or Shooter in the tree run area. I'll ski there and ski until it's bumpy. If I still want powder after that, I can file a mountain climbing report and head to the backcountry area."
"Also, if the area around the beach isn't too bumpy, there are mashes that are recommended for people who want to jump! The tree runs are wide and well-spaced, so you can secure landings and make turns easily. Competition is higher on weekends, but it's also recommended to come on weekdays and take advantage of the skiers' beds. Also, Geto has a number of streams of various sizes, so skiers can traverse a slope that looks good, then move to this side and ski, and it's fun to be able to choose the slope you like and ski down."
Sessions between riders using different boards are interesting as they create different ways of playing and perspectives even on the same terrain
Furuhat agrees that groomed runs are just as fun as tree runs and powder runs
"The groomed runs are great. There are no steps and the runs are wide. Geto is often thought of as powder and tree runs, but there's also groomed runs and a park, so families can enjoy it too. I often ski Stream and Shooter, or the ungroomed run next to the second gondola. I ski all over the tree run area, but I particularly like Shooter's No. 1 run because of the steepness."
"There are several jump points, which is fun. There are also several streams, which is fun for snowboarders. For snowboarders, there are also many streams, so it's fun because you can ski like you're on a HP. Today, I was able to go here and there from a skier's perspective, so it was fun."
Geto's groomed runs are also of a high quality. The snow is well packed, the slopes are steep, and the slopes are wide. Once you try it, you'll immediately realize it's a ski resort
Geto's tree run area is incredibly vast, with seemingly endless powder fields stretching out before you. To fully enjoy this area, guided tours are available. These tours, guided by experts who know Geto's terrain intimately, offer comprehensive services, including tree run area guides and heavy snow guides, making them easy to understand even for first-time visitors. Be sure to check them out! Click
here for details on guide services
Geto has excellent facilities
As Kajita mentioned earlier, one of the unique features of Geto is that the ski center has an accommodation facility called "Skiers Bed." Dormitory-style beds are available and guests can stay at a reasonable price. It's the perfect service for people who want to ski hard. Not only are the prices reasonable, but the rest area where you eat dinner and breakfast is filled with people who love skiing, having fun and creating a homey atmosphere that's irresistible. Of course, there are also private rooms, so if you want to stay for several nights and enjoy Geto's powder snow, we recommend using the Skiers Bed
Furthermore, despite its mountaintop location, its excellent accessibility is also noteworthy. A shuttle bus runs from Kitakami Station, a Shinkansen (bullet train) station, making it easy for people from the Kanto region to reach the ski resort without using a car. The
excellent snow season is still going strong. This season, we encourage you to visit Geto and experience the "heavy snowfall" that surpasses all expectations.
Riders who skied this time
SKI: Alain Kajita (left)
Based in the Hachimantai area of Iwate Prefecture, he competes in moguls and big air, and now participates in freeride competitions such as FWQ and JFO, as well as shooting in backcountry areas.
Instagram:@alain_natural
SB: Yuki Furihata (right)
A former halfpipe competitor who traveled the world. Currently, she is pursuing the best powder mainly in the backcountry areas of Tohoku. She also runs her own shop, "DREAD HOUSE," and continues to liven up the snowboarding scene.
Instagram:@yukifurihata
■Information
Geto Kogen Ski Resort
〒024-0322 Iwate Prefecture, Kitakami City, Waga Town, Iwasaki Shinden National Forest
Official Website:https://www.getokogen.com/winter/
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