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On this trip we are headed to Niigata to try our hand at skiing in powder in the Myoko area. Trip departs Friday night from Ikebukuro station. 4 nights lodging, 1 day breakfast are included in trip fee.
Actual resorts and days will be dependent on snow conditions. If we head to Seki Onsen, then we are also happy to take anyone who prefers to Akakura that day as there is more moderate terrain there. We have 5 resorts as options and we will choose based on the weather and everyone's ability and preferences. If we have the right conditions for Seki Onsen then those who do not want to ski deep ungroomed steep runs can remain at Suginohara for another day or get dropped off at Akakura on the way for easier terrain.
Lotte Arai
Arai Mountain is known for having huge dumps of snow and big deep powder! This resort is one of our top priorities if there are good conditions.
The Arai Ski Resort is long and reasonably skinny with a big 951 metres of vertical (329 - 1,280 metres). Like many Japanese ski resorts, there isn't a lot of piste terrain (only 11 "courses" ie runs), but there's extensive off-piste terrain. The Arai ski area is serviced by 5 lifts: a gondola; 2 hooded fast quad chair lifts; and 2 double chair lifts (one of them is a detachable lift).
The piste statistics are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced, so there's enough variety for beginners.
The avalanche controlled off-piste areas are mostly towards the top of the resort, which includes a variety of open slopes, sub-alpine with light trees (including my "Happy Place"), and tree skiing. From the top lift you can hike up the additional 149m vertical to the summit for some extra freshies. Considering the potential for significant avalanche risk, these areas are opened and closed by the patrollers depending on the snowpack.
Akakura Onsen
At Akakura Onsen Ski Resort skiers can enjoy a 4 kilometre run from the top of the hill starting at 1,500 metres+. Or you can do whatever else fits your skills and interests: powder skiing, moguls, terrain parks, hit the trees or just fun family cruising. Slalom races are held in February and March, with entry available to anyone.
There is a nice selection of restaurants scattered over the mountain and in the village. At the foot of the mountain is an onsen spa town where steam and the scent of hot springs fill the air – the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Japan apres experience. Below the resort a grand panorama spreads out, offering beautiful views of Lake Nojiri and, in the distance, the Sea of Japan.
Seki Onsen
One review stated Seki Onsen as, “a resort which understands the needs of the powder hounds” in an area that, “…can provide Japan’s best powder snow skiing”. The appeal of Seki Onsen Ski Resort (関温泉スキー場), open as late as May, is its soft and pure powder snow. In January 2008 Seki Onsen was Japan’s only resort represented in the Travel Channel’s “Skiers World” series. The resort is owned and run by a local family and the home ski area for Masanori Takeuchi – a well-known Japanese snowboarder. Little grooming of the slopes is done, if at all. There are only two small lifts. Off Piste and Back Country are no problem at this resort, but you need to be prepared for the conditions and do not head out of bounds alone.
**If snow conditions are less than ideal then heading to a larger resort is the plan and we have chosen the following as backups.
Myoko Suginohara
Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort (妙高杉ノ原スキー場) rates highly amongst the legions of ski slopes in Japan with beautiful views of the lakes on the plain below. Suginohara is recommended for those who like long cruisy trails because it possesses the longest ski run in Japan at around a massive 8.5 km.
It boasts many varied slopes, great snow, short ski lift lines, and a halfpipe for snowboarders. Covering 1124 metres in vertical drop Myoko Suginohara dishes up a diverse range of ski trails with plenty of easy, mid-level runs as well as long downhill trails suitable for beginners. The ski lifts at Suginohara ski resort transport riders up to 3 km in one stretch, and it has three connecting lines of quad lifts that can carry skiers to the peak. There are 15 ski lifts in total, with a capacity to lift 16,000 people per hour. The upper reaches of the Suginohara ski slopes have premium snow quality and a magnificent view, even of Mount Fuji on a clear day. There are some ungroomed slopes and plenty of tree areas to jump into some powder.
Madarao
At Madarao, 60% of the courses are ungroomed, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to enjoy a fluffy, deep powder when you ski. Mt. Madarao stands 1382 meters tall and has 30 separate courses. There are 15 ski lifts at the resort. The ski area features a unique bowl-shape. Since Madarao was host to Japan’s first Freestyle Skiing Competition, there are many unique courses to choose from. There are groomed courses, ungroomed courses, the Tree Run courses, Free Ride Park, Kid’s Park, and wave courses - Madarao can be enjoyed by everyone from first timers to advanced skiers! There is also a great back country run with a 20 minute approach for those with the right gear and experience.
Lodging
Thursday to Saturday nights we will be staying at a lodge right on the slopes of Myoko Suginohara, Soratobu Usagi. Rooms are log cabin style Japanese style large rooms with 3~5 people in each. Breakfast is included on the day we ski at Suginohara.
*Trip departs Thursday night from Ikebukuro station
*1 day Myoko Suginohara Lift ticket is included in the trip fee
Lift tickets will cost between 4500 yen and 6500 depending on resort, we are able to get tickets cheaper than the standard price, and you just pay actual cost.
Actual resorts and days will be dependent on snow conditions. If we head to Seki Onsen, then we are also happy to take anyone who prefers to Akakura that day as there is more moderate terrain there. We have 5 resorts as options and we will choose based on the weather and everyone's ability and preferences. If we have the right conditions for Seki Onsen then those who do not want to ski deep ungroomed steep runs can remain at Suginohara for another day or get dropped off at Akakura on the way for easier terrain.
Lotte Arai
Arai Mountain is known for having huge dumps of snow and big deep powder! This resort is one of our top priorities if there are good conditions.
The Arai Ski Resort is long and reasonably skinny with a big 951 metres of vertical (329 - 1,280 metres). Like many Japanese ski resorts, there isn't a lot of piste terrain (only 11 "courses" ie runs), but there's extensive off-piste terrain. The Arai ski area is serviced by 5 lifts: a gondola; 2 hooded fast quad chair lifts; and 2 double chair lifts (one of them is a detachable lift).
The piste statistics are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced, so there's enough variety for beginners.
The avalanche controlled off-piste areas are mostly towards the top of the resort, which includes a variety of open slopes, sub-alpine with light trees (including my "Happy Place"), and tree skiing. From the top lift you can hike up the additional 149m vertical to the summit for some extra freshies. Considering the potential for significant avalanche risk, these areas are opened and closed by the patrollers depending on the snowpack.
Akakura Onsen
At Akakura Onsen Ski Resort skiers can enjoy a 4 kilometre run from the top of the hill starting at 1,500 metres+. Or you can do whatever else fits your skills and interests: powder skiing, moguls, terrain parks, hit the trees or just fun family cruising. Slalom races are held in February and March, with entry available to anyone.
There is a nice selection of restaurants scattered over the mountain and in the village. At the foot of the mountain is an onsen spa town where steam and the scent of hot springs fill the air – the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Japan apres experience. Below the resort a grand panorama spreads out, offering beautiful views of Lake Nojiri and, in the distance, the Sea of Japan.
Seki Onsen
One review stated Seki Onsen as, “a resort which understands the needs of the powder hounds” in an area that, “…can provide Japan’s best powder snow skiing”. The appeal of Seki Onsen Ski Resort (関温泉スキー場), open as late as May, is its soft and pure powder snow. In January 2008 Seki Onsen was Japan’s only resort represented in the Travel Channel’s “Skiers World” series. The resort is owned and run by a local family and the home ski area for Masanori Takeuchi – a well-known Japanese snowboarder. Little grooming of the slopes is done, if at all. There are only two small lifts. Off Piste and Back Country are no problem at this resort, but you need to be prepared for the conditions and do not head out of bounds alone.
**If snow conditions are less than ideal then heading to a larger resort is the plan and we have chosen the following as backups.
Myoko Suginohara
Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort (妙高杉ノ原スキー場) rates highly amongst the legions of ski slopes in Japan with beautiful views of the lakes on the plain below. Suginohara is recommended for those who like long cruisy trails because it possesses the longest ski run in Japan at around a massive 8.5 km.
It boasts many varied slopes, great snow, short ski lift lines, and a halfpipe for snowboarders. Covering 1124 metres in vertical drop Myoko Suginohara dishes up a diverse range of ski trails with plenty of easy, mid-level runs as well as long downhill trails suitable for beginners. The ski lifts at Suginohara ski resort transport riders up to 3 km in one stretch, and it has three connecting lines of quad lifts that can carry skiers to the peak. There are 15 ski lifts in total, with a capacity to lift 16,000 people per hour. The upper reaches of the Suginohara ski slopes have premium snow quality and a magnificent view, even of Mount Fuji on a clear day. There are some ungroomed slopes and plenty of tree areas to jump into some powder.
Madarao
At Madarao, 60% of the courses are ungroomed, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to enjoy a fluffy, deep powder when you ski. Mt. Madarao stands 1382 meters tall and has 30 separate courses. There are 15 ski lifts at the resort. The ski area features a unique bowl-shape. Since Madarao was host to Japan’s first Freestyle Skiing Competition, there are many unique courses to choose from. There are groomed courses, ungroomed courses, the Tree Run courses, Free Ride Park, Kid’s Park, and wave courses - Madarao can be enjoyed by everyone from first timers to advanced skiers! There is also a great back country run with a 20 minute approach for those with the right gear and experience.
Lodging
Thursday to Saturday nights we will be staying at a lodge right on the slopes of Myoko Suginohara, Soratobu Usagi. Rooms are log cabin style Japanese style large rooms with 3~5 people in each. Breakfast is included on the day we ski at Suginohara.
*Trip departs Thursday night from Ikebukuro station
*1 day Myoko Suginohara Lift ticket is included in the trip fee
Lift tickets will cost between 4500 yen and 6500 depending on resort, we are able to get tickets cheaper than the standard price, and you just pay actual cost.
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Included in the Trip Fee
-Roundtrip Van transport from Tokyo to Myoko area -Lodging in at a ski in / out lodge at Suginohara -1 day breakfast -1 day lift ticket at Myoko Suginohara Ski area Participation Fee: 41,500 yen |
・Meeting Location:
-Ikebukuro Station (7:30 p.m. Friday Night) Click here for Pickup Location Details and Map ・Required Equipment: Overnight Toiletries, Towel, Change of Clothes, Onsen Kit, Ski / Snowboard Gear
・Maximum Participants: 9
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