Booking a ski trip to another country sounds like an awesome concept. Experience a new culture, see a new area, and explore new terrain. The last thing you’d want to do is book a trip and find the same thing you’d run into in North America, mainly crowds. If you’re looking to guarantee a remote, crowdless ski or snowboard experience in the mountains of Japan, you should take a good look at the Anaba Lodge.
“Anaba” in Japanese means “hidden gem” or “secret spot”, and that’s precisely what the creators of this lodge were aiming to create. It’s far from the tourism hotspots, tucked into the mountains of the Tohoku powder region. Just two minutes away lies a near-private ski area on Mt. Moriyoshi.
Following a complete renovation in 2022, the Anaba Lodge is now home to a simple cafe, restaurant, and near full-service bar. They offer both breakfast and dinner in addition to proper coffees and a good selection of draft beer, local whiskeys, sakes, wines, and other alcohol. Guests are shuttled to the resort in the morning but can ski almost fully back to the lodge at the end of the day.
The building is heated with a handmade masonry wood stove, built with locally sourced cedar, and finished with organic plaster. Plus it includes an outdoor sauna and snow plunge for post-ski relaxation.
Ani Ski Resort, just a few minutes from the lodge, is an understated powder haven. A gondola and two double lifts access some decent groomers, but the biggest highlights come in Ani’s ski treeing. It’s also one of few locations in all of Japan with lift-accessed snow monsters.
For the best skiing and snowboarding out of the Anaba Lodge, putting in a little bit of effort can unlock some unbelievable backcountry terrain. Ani does not have any restrictions on off-piste skiing, and for a daily rate between ¥75,000-¥100,000 for up to 5 people, guests can hire a personal guide to access it all.
Despite its remote location, the Anaba Lodge is just 45 minutes from the closest airport, Odate-Noshiro Airport (ONJ). 2-3 direct flights a day come from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), and a share-taxi service can take you straight to the lodge from ONJ for just around ¥3,500 (around $20 USD). There are plenty of train options as well, and driving to the lodge from other nearby resorts can make for a great road-trip style ski trip.
If you’re interested in booking, you can do so here. Don’t miss your chance this winter, they’re filling up fast.
