Yashima is a classic locals’ hill — one fast hooded quad serving a single frontside with six named courses and plenty of natural sidebanks to slash. On storm days, snow quality belies the 700 m high point thanks to Chokai’s coastal weather engine; you get soft, surfy turns first thing, then carvable goodness by lunch. The Family and Panorama lines are your long groomers for high-speed arcs; Expert and Paradise hold the steeper bite; Champion is lit for nights; and the park crew keeps a rotating set of jumps and rails fresh. Non-groomed pockets show up along berms and rollers after resets, but there’s no sanctioned tree skiing or gate system — keep it inbounds and enjoy the flow.

Riders who love quick-hit fun over big-mountain wandering. Intermediates will feast on the fall-line groomers; advanced riders who like to play with terrain features and carve trenches will be surprised how addicting this face is. If you’re hunting technical trees or long alpine shots, Yashima isn’t that — fold it into a Tohoku road trip alongside deeper, bigger venues.

If you want the full Chokai vibe, Hotel Foresta Chokai up the hill is the easy button — a forest-side hot-spring hotel close to the ski area, quiet at night, and perfect for a steam, a hearty set dinner, and early turns. Rooms are simple-comfortable, and you’ll feel removed from the world in the best way.

Prefer staying closer to town? Chokaiso (a public lodging with baths) and classic ryokan options like Mifune Ryokan in the Yashima area put you near local eateries and the station, with that homey Akita hospitality. Expect tatami rooms, set meals that lean seasonal, and staff who’ll stash your boards without fuss.

On a budget or road-tripping? Base in Yurihonjo city or Nikaho and day-trip up — business hotels are straightforward, parking is easy, and you can chase different storms around Akita. There’s not much nightlife anywhere in this zone, which is kind of the point: soak, sleep, shred, repeat.

On-mountain, SUNSUN cafeteria does what you want a tiny Tohoku hill to do: steaming bowls of ramen and miso ramen, katsu-curry, karaage set meals — generous, hot, and priced kinder than your coffee back home. No alcohol service in the cafeteria and it closes before night skiing; plan accordingly.

Down in Yashima, you’ll find small noodle shops and izakaya-style counters for post-ride calories. Think homestyle tonjiru, local fish, and rice that tastes like somebody’s grandma still checks it. Apres here is mellow; your “bar” is an onsen and a vending machine coffee, which honestly hits perfect after night turns.

Closest airport: Akita (AXT). From the airport or Akita city, it’s a drive toward Yurihonjo, then up into Yashima.
Trains: JR Uetsu Main Line to Ugo-Honjo, transfer to the Yuri Kogen Railway to Yashima Station, then taxi or ride share (~4 km uphill).
Driving: From Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway Honjo IC, budget about an hour on winter roads. Snow tires are mandatory; carry chains if a coastal cold blast is firing. The hooded quad handles weather well, but wind can be a thing — check morning ops before committing.

Public buses are limited; rental car wins for storm chasing this coastline and linking nearby hills.

• Lift hours: 09:00–16:00; night skiing 17:30–21:00 (Tue/Thu/Sat in Jan–Feb; Sat only in March).
• Night grooming: They re-groom before night ski; the break between 16:00–17:30 is real.
• Safety: No gate/backcountry program; keep it inbounds. Patrol will stop OB ducking.
• Snow pattern: Coastal storms bring frequent refreshes; temps can swing — edges matter.
• Language: Limited English; simple, friendly service. Point-and-smile goes a long way.
• Unique: Strong community park scene; rotating features through the season.
• Nearby hills to stack: Jeunesse Kurikoma (uncrowded trees and steeps for Tohoku), Oyasu Onsen and Kamuro over the border if you’re roaming.