Nekoma Mountain is pairing two new tree-run zones with a functional bunk lodge, an evening beer venue and a planned season stretching from late November into May.
Nekoma Mountain is adding a simple new accommodation option at its southern base while expanding its designated tree-run areas for winter 2026/27. Hoshino Resorts announced the changes on 27 October, presenting them as part of a broader effort to make the Fukushima mountain work better both during the day and after the lifts close. The plans include BunkLodge NEKOMA, two additional tree-run zones, a free hike-and-ride area and an evening beer venue inside the southern resort centre.
The season is currently planned to begin in the north area on 28 November and continue there until 9 May, a 163-day operating window if conditions allow. The southern area has a shorter published period, from 12 December to 4 April. That distinction matters when arranging accommodation or buying multi-day tickets: the headline season length does not mean every lift and course will operate throughout all 163 days. Nekoma’s website also states that the dates may change with snow conditions.
The most substantial on-mountain change is the expansion of the controlled tree-run programme from three zones to five. Black Valley and White Valley add 7.5 hectares, taking the designated total to 27.5 hectares. These are managed areas within the resort, but they are not presented as ordinary groomed routes. Nekoma requires helmets, strongly recommends body protection and warns that rescue costs can be charged. Openings will depend on patrol assessment, and guests must follow ropes and signs rather than treating the new acreage as unrestricted access.
A separate Umaya Hike and Ride Area will allow visitors to climb and descend under their own power. The resort describes it as a place to practise for backcountry travel, with the Batou chair available free during the first season. The distinction between a training area and independent backcountry travel should remain clear. Weather, avalanche conditions, equipment and route knowledge still need to be considered on their own terms, and the resort’s published operating rules should be checked before setting out.
BunkLodge NEKOMA addresses a different operational issue: where keen visitors can stay close enough for an early start without booking a full-service resort hotel. The announced facilities include a drying room, a tuning area and a communal lounge, with the lodge intended for anything from a single night before fresh snow to a longer stay while waiting for good conditions. Hoshino Resorts has not yet published a room count, opening date or complete price schedule in the announcement, so those details should be confirmed before travel plans are fixed.
The evening offer is also being extended. Bandai Shokudo in the southern resort centre will become BeerHouse Matatabi later in the day, serving Fukushima craft beer and food. This is a modest addition, but it fills a practical gap for guests staying around the southern base who would otherwise need to drive for dinner. At a destination spread across two sides of a mountain, an extra place to eat can be as useful as a new attraction, especially for visitors who prefer not to move the car after arrival.
Nekoma Mountain was created by connecting the former Alts Bandai and Nekoma ski areas. The combined resort lists 13 lifts, 33 courses and 189 hectares, with the north and south bases serving different access routes and operating periods. The southern address is around 20 minutes by car from Bandai-Kawahigashi Interchange, according to the operator. Owners and repeat visitors therefore need to think about which base they use most often, not simply whether a property is described as being near Nekoma.
Taken together, the winter changes are less about one headline project than about extending the usable day. The new tree-run zones and hike-and-ride area broaden the mountain offer, while the lodge, drying and tuning facilities and evening food make repeated visits easier to organise. The northern opening remains a target rather than a guarantee, and several lodge details are still to come, but the direction is clear: Nekoma is building a more complete base for people who want to stay close and use the mountain over a longer season.