Timed sled runs down the 355-meter-high Mt. Kanpu in Oga, Akita Prefecture, started on December 27 to attract winter visitors. The event, organized by the local tourism department, will continue every Saturday and Sunday until February 15.
In Oga, Akita Prefecture, timed sled runs on the snowy Mt. Kanpu have launched as a winter tourism initiative. The city's tourism department organized the event with support from Akita Kanko, the company operating the Kanpu Zan cafe near the summit.
On the opening day of December 27, families enjoyed sliding down an approximately 80-meter course on natural grass close to the mountain's peak. A second-year elementary school student from Ota Ward in Tokyo smiled and said, "The snow was cold, but it was fun."
The trials run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no advance registration required—visitors can sign up at the cafe, where sleds are available for rent. This activity highlights Mt. Kanpu's winter appeal, drawing more people to the northern Japanese site.