The Uonuma area in Niigata Prefecture is one of the best ski areas in Japan and ski/snowboard enthusiasts should check out.
Where is Uonuma area?
The Uonuma area is located in the south of Niigata Prefecture, and is known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan.
It is easily accessible from Tokyo. Echigo-Yuzawa, which is part of the Uonuma area, can be reached in about 70 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
In the book, "Hokuetsu Seppu [北越雪譜]" describing life in snow country, which was published in Edo (Tokyo during the Edo period[1603 – 1868]) in 1837 and was a bestseller, it is written that Uonuma area is the place where the snow falls the deepest in Japan. The heavy snowfall in the Uonuma area has already surprised people since the Edo period.
While famous ski resorts such as Hakuba in Nagano Prefecture and Niseko in Hokkaido are lined up, the Uonuma area is still unknown to the rest of the world. So it'll be great experience to explore the best powder spots and interesting ski resorts in Uonuma area.
Short film by Antti Autti
Antti Autti, a professional snowboarder, also made a short film in the Minamiuonuma (South Uonuma) area.
8 ski resorts in Uonuma area
Here are 8 ski resorts in Uonuma area.
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Area
Ishiuchimaruyama Ski Resort has a total of 23 courses and a wide range of night skiing areas.
The upper part of the resort is connected to the GALA Yuzawa ski resort in the neighboring town of Echigo Yuzawa, which can be enjoyed with a common lift ticket.
Ishiuchimaruyama Ski Resort is also known for the quality of its snowpark, with a full-scale half-pipe 170m long, 22m wide, and 5.4m high.
Half-pipe competitions are also held during the season.
More information : https://ishiuchi.or.jp/en/
Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort
The slopes are characterized by their vast area and are divided into four areas. With 22 courses and 25 lifts, beginners and advanced skiers alike can enjoy a variety of courses.
The Hotel Green Plaza Joetsu is directly connected to the slopes, so access is convenient.
More information : https://www.jkokusai.co.jp/english
Maiko Snow Resort
A variety of courses are available, from beginner courses to bumps for advanced skiers.
There is also an off-piste area supported by the Scandinavian outdoor brand "peak performance". Although the area is only open under certain conditions, it has a long run distance of 1,000 meters and has an unpressurized area with steep slopes.
It is also the venue for the Freeride World Qualifier, a qualifier for the Freeride World Tour.
Night skiing is available every day during the season.
More information : https://www.maiko-resort.com/winter/
Hakkaisan Snow Resort
Hakkaisan Ski Resort is a long, vertical slope featuring a 5.5 km straight downhill course from the top to the bottom. There are also bumps and powder zones near the summit, and many skiers come here for the powder.
More information : https://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/hakkaisan/index.html
Muika Snow Resort
An off-piste field is available from the top of the mountain, allowing skiers/snowboarders to easily enjoy the powder. The Muika Onsen Hotel is directly connected to the slopes, making it easy to access.
More information : https://www.muikamachi.com/ski/
Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort
This is a rare ski resort that temporarily closes in January and February, the top winter season, due to too much snowfall.
It opens in late March, and for spring skiing in April, there is a 4km long forest course in fresh greenery, with a park and half-pipe in a well maintained environment until mid-May.
As a base for spring skiing, it is crowded with many people.
More information : http://okutadami.co.jp/English-okutadami/skiresort.html
Suhara Ski Resort
Although it is a small ski resort in terms of size, it attracts powder lovers with its high quality snow.
More information : https://www.suhara-ski.com/
Matsunoyama Onsen Ski Resort
This is a rare ski resort that offers a variety of snow activities other than skiing and snowboarding, such as snow biking, air boating, snow skating, snow surfing, and kick boarding.
More information : http://www.matsunoyama-ski.com/
Interesting ski resorts gather in Yuzawa area.
In addition to the ski resorts introduced above, Echigo Yuzawa, one of the Uonuma areas, is also home to many ski resorts.
Echigo Yuzawa is well known as a ski resort in Japan, and has a wide variety of courses and skiing facilities.
