The power of the local ski slope Muika Snow Resort. A long powder run in the enchanting Mentsuru area

Minamiuonuma City in Niigata Prefecture, along with the neighboring towns of Tsunan and Yuzawa, is known as a region with heavy snowfall.
It's home to ski resorts familiar to skiers in the Kanto region, such as Ishiuchi Maruyama, Maiko, and Hakkaisan.

Among these is a local ski resort that boasts the enchanting Mentsuru powder area:
Muika Snow Resort .

If you head north on the Kan'etsu Expressway, you will first come across ski resorts in Gunma and the Yuzawa area, followed by major ski resorts such as Maiko, Ishiuchi, and Joetsu Kokusai, so Muika may not be very familiar to skiers and snowboarders in the Kanto region.
However, due to its proximity to Niigata City and Nagaoka City, it is a ski resort that attracts more visitors from within the prefecture.

Muika has long been used as a beginner's slope, and has been a popular location for school trips from both within and outside the prefecture, as well as for ski lessons for local elementary, junior high, and high school students.
With its gentle slopes, it is a perfect ski resort for beginners who want to start with wedge turns.
For this reason, Muika has a strong image as a place for beginners and intermediate skiers, and many people move on to other ski resorts once they have mastered skiing to a certain level.

However, it seems that this slope has been reborn since the 20th season. And locals have been saying that the reborn Muika is "actually really good." This area, which has not been looked at by advanced skiers until now, is about to become a new powder area in the Kanto region

A 1,500m long, ungroomed powder area suddenly appears on the beginner slopes

Muika was once a slope for beginners and intermediate skiers with three lifts, but in recent years there have been two major changes. First, the area around the former No. 6 lift at the summit has become an off-piste field for hike-ups. Second, an off-piste mountain course has been opened that has been approved for use outside the managed area

The off-piste field is reached by descending the third pair lift and hiking up about 150m (about 15 minutes) to the summit of the ski resort (748m), from where you can ski on ungroomed runs. Muika has a distinctive mountain shape, with an elevation of less than 1000m near the summit, but with a sparse forest that feels like the tree line. Once you hike up and head to the off-piste field, you'll find yourself in a mystical world of trees scattered across the vast slopes

The world is covered in white silver and you can slide around freely

This hiking zone is only paved with snow groomers, so you can walk barefoot. However, on days when it snows heavily, walking barefoot can be a bit difficult. On days with heavy snowfall, it's safer to bring climbing skins or snowshoes.
Also, since the hiking distance is only 150m, it's recommended for those who want to practice walking with climbing skins before heading out into the full-scale backcountry.

Head to the unmanaged mountain course with its fascinating slopes

The unmanaged mountain course on the right side of the ski resort is a spot that even locals call a hidden gem. According to old documents from the ski resort, this area was called the "MS course" and was a listed course

As a result, the ridge is dotted with trees and offers an open view. It is not flat and is an undeveloped slope that allows you to enjoy the natural terrain as it is, making it a great freeride slope

The summit, beyond the hike-up zone, is 748m above sea level, with an elevation difference of 400m from the base. If you ski non-stop from the summit along the mountain course registered as an unmanaged area, you can enjoy an ultra-long run of 1500m in total. This is quite long compared to the lift-access backcountry areas of other ski resorts.
The boundary of the area is marked by a pole on the left side from the skier's perspective and a pink ribbon on the right side, so be careful not to go beyond that point.

Please watch the video to see the whole story

We spoke to Mr. Yagi, who oversees the ski resort's operations, about how Muika decided to open its off-piste, non-managed mountain course, which had previously been known as a slope for beginners and intermediate skiers

"For a long time, I had been curious about the slope on the right side when riding the lift at the ski resort. So I looked through old documents and found that it had apparently been used as a course in the past. When I went to investigate, I found that the trees were widely spaced and the environment was similar to an open burn. I thought this would be a place that customers could enjoy, so I applied to the relevant authorities and opened it up. To be honest, I love skiing, so I also have a strong desire to ski there (laughs). But
because it is outside the managed area, visitors must decide whether it is suitable for their skiing ability and come at their own risk, but I would like people who want to get started in backcountry skiing to come and ski there."

To enter this unmanaged mountain course, you must apply in advance at the ticket counter at Muika Ski Resort and wear an armband. (A 1,000 yen deposit is required for the armband, which will be refunded when you return the armband.)

The defining feature of this powder area is its gentle slopes. It's not a place where you can find steep slopes or dense tree runs, but rather a field with vast, gentle slopes where you can enjoy cruising. Of course, there are some steep sections, but the slopes are not difficult.
This makes it easy for people who are unsure about backcountry skiing or are inexperienced to come and ski, making it the perfect area for a first step.

Hirose Ken, who has participated in the freeride skiing festival FWQ many times, says,
"Muika has gentle slopes, so even those who aren't yet comfortable skiing steep slopes can come here with peace of mind. It's only a 15-minute hike to get there, so I think it's the perfect place for those who are unfamiliar with backcountry skiing and want to try it out. If you ski from the off-piste area, it's a long run of 1,500m. If you ski with momentum, you can have a great time, even though the slopes are gentle overall."

This mountain course, registered outside the managed area by Muika Snow Resort, has suddenly appeared on the beginner and intermediate slopes. It is still a little-known spot, and is a good place to practice for those who want to start backcountry skiing. As mentioned above, although the altitude is not high, it is a unique place that is not found in other areas, as it is a sparse forest area.
If you visit, you will be amazed by the limitless possibilities of Muika.

Supported by: PeakPerformance , Vector gride , Sweet Protection

■InformationMuika
Snow Resort
2910-114 Oguriyama, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 949-6636
Official website: https://www.muikamachi.com/ski/
Official social media: Instagram | Facebook | LINE