Oogaya Kokriate Business Development—comprising Awakura Village in Aida District, Okayama Prefecture, and Kayak, among others—will open “MOUNTAIN TRACK Oogaya” in the spring of 2028 on the site of the former Oogaya Ski Resort (1094 Oogaya, Nishi-Awakura Village, Aida District, Okayama Prefecture).
This activity park, which makes use of the mountain’s natural terrain, will open as a place where visitors can discover their own ways to play and take on challenges, guided by the keywords “Challenge,” “Liberation,” and “Circulation.” It will also serve as a new model for revitalization, transforming snow resorts struggling with the seasonal imbalance between summer and winter—as well as ski resorts across the country that are closing one after another—into destinations that can be enjoyed year-round.
The “Snake Run,” a course approximately 330 meters long that makes use of the natural slope of the ski resort, was designed by professional snowboarder Kazushige Fujita. This course, where riders glide down the mountain slope as if surfing, can be enjoyed on a variety of vehicles, including surfskates, BMX bikes, mountain bikes, and mountain karts.
Throughout the mountain, we’ve set up lodging cabins and saunas made from locally sourced timber, so you can either relax here or use them as a starting and ending point for the trail courses that crisscross the village. We are planning three types of cabins that offer different ways of interacting with the forest: cabins with windows of various sizes that offer glimpses of the Nishi-Awakura Forest; cabins with distant views of the forest; and cabins where guests can become one with nature and fully enjoy the forest.
The former Café Terrace building will be renovated to create an indoor adventure play area and workspace using wood from Nishi-Awakura Village. The facility will feature bouldering walls and a kids’ gym, allowing visitors to enjoy playing in the woods while interacting with the wood—even on rainy days.
Prior to the grand opening, the “MOUNTAIN TRACK Ogaya Kickoff Event” will be held on November 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The venue will be the “Muramikke Cultural Festival 2026,” taking place around the Awakura Kaikan and the Nishi-Awakura Village Office. The event will feature gear test rides, a photo exhibition and awards ceremony for the Oogaya Photo Contest, a talk event by Mr. Fujita, and a display of renderings of the completed project.
© Source travel watch