Matsushiro Family Ski Resort, located in Matsushiro, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, is a Tokamachi City-run ski resort that opened in 1991. It is located in the mountains along National Route 253, which connects Tokamachi City and Joetsu City, and access from outside the prefecture is not particularly good. However, for locals, it is cherished as a place to try skiing for the first time and a place for office workers to relax after 5pm
Our proud main course is more satisfying than it looks
Matsushiro Family Ski Resort is compact, with an elevation of 185m-380m, a longest run of 800m, and a maximum slope of 24 degrees, but it is suitable for a wide range of skiers from beginners to intermediates
Of the two lifts, one that goes up to the top of the mountain only operates on holidays, and normally only the other lift that goes from the base of the slope is in operation
Taking the first lift from the base of the mountain gives you access to three courses. One is a detour course for beginners, another is an intermediate course with banks on both sides, and the third is a wide, perfectly groomed intermediate/night skiing slope that is very popular with intermediate and advanced skiers.
The summit slope, reached by taking the second lift, is ungroomed and perfect for enjoying powder snow.
Once you ski down this intermediate/night slope, you'll understand that Matsushiro Family Ski Resort is a "good ski resort." It's a wide, flat, single run that allows for easy, large turns and little change in the terrain. The slope is just right, and the distance is neither too long nor too short. In short, it's perfect for practice
The slopes are filled with skiers and snowboarders aiming for competitions and certification tests. Their
compact design allows for consistent practice.
A man passionate about Matsushiro Family Ski Resort
Miyazawa Hideshi has been working at this ski resort for the past 10 years, and is helping to make it a locally-focused ski resort
. After working for a year on probation at the Iwahara Ski Resort of Joetsu Kanko Kaihatsu Co., Ltd., he decided that working at a ski resort wasn't for him and resigned. He started his own businesses, including a SUP and snowboard school, when he was contacted again by his former boss at Joetsu Kanko Kaihatsu Co., Ltd., and has been working as the manager of Matsushiro Family Ski Resort since he was 32 years old.
Since becoming manager, Ms. Miyazawa has been focusing on creating an environment that families with children can enjoy.
The ski resort's center house has a snack corner and a kids' space so that children can have fun even when they're not skiing.
"Ski resort facilities place a high priority on turnover, so I think it can be difficult for people with children to relax. However, we want even these customers to be able to relax in peace, so we've installed a raised tatami area, children's books, interior decorations for children, a drink bar and snacks. This not only serves as a place for children to relax, but also for parents who want to let their children play without worry, and it also serves as a place to exchange information. Even if there is an age difference between siblings, dad can enjoy the slopes with the older child, while the younger child can relax in the restaurant with mom, making it the perfect place for a weekend family outing."
Miyazawa himself was an alpine snowboarder until this season. He also rides snow groomers. Being a top snowboarder himself, he knows what kind of ski resorts are fun and what kind of slopes are comfortable
"Since I became the resort manager, I've implemented a lot of bold measures, such as launching unique advertisements, providing child-friendly services, grooming the entire resort for night skiing, and building banked courses. The reason behind this is that a foreign snowboarder once said in a video that Japanese snowboarders don't take risks. That made me really angry...I'm not actually going on adventures myself, but I started to want to run a ski resort that's exciting, like an adventure, rather than a small, compact one."
The real highlight is night games
The reason why Matsushiro Family Ski Resort is loved not only by families but also by hardcore skiers is its night skiing
This intermediate and night skiing slope is re-groomed before nighttime hours. The ski resort is open during the day from 8:30 to 16:45, with a one-hour re-grooming period followed by nighttime hours from 18:00 to 20:45. The perfectly
groomed slopes make for an exhilarating night skiing experience that is hard to find at other ski resorts, attracting many intermediate and advanced skiers. This pre-nighttime re-grooming used to be limited to half the course for students' pole practice, but since Mr. Miyazawa took over as manager, they decided to groom the entire intermediate and night skiing course.
"In the old days, snow groomers needed to be warmed up before driving and were slow. But now that snow groomers have improved and can easily groom the entire surface, we decided that one pass or two passes wouldn't make much difference, so we started grooming the whole area.
Then, word of mouth spread about the appeal of night skiing, and customers started coming. Now it's become a place for office workers to relax after work."
Just as he said, when night skiing began, cars started to enter the parking lot one after the other. Some were single, others were families. Mr. Gyoda, a local resident who visits five times a week for night skiing, gives his stamp of approval that this ski resort is great for both skiing and snowboarding
The slopes are dotted with jibs, parks, and waves, and are frequented by many young skiers and snowboarders. I spoke to Mr. Yanagi, a local junior high school student, and asked him if I could take some photos of the park
This compact ski resort is visited by people of all ages, and night skiing is a daily occurrence for local residents
There's even a surf-skate ramp in the ski center garage
Miyazawa's enthusiasm wasn't limited to the slopes, as he used the empty space in the ski center to set up a surf skate ramp, which was rare even in Japan at the time
"The surf skate ramp was built for free by a local construction company I know. It took a lot of trial and error, so we actually rebuilt it three times, all for free (laughs). We've had a lot of help from local people. We decided to build it because we wanted people to be able to enjoy it all day after they've finished skiing down the slopes. This ski resort is on the way to the Sea of Japan, so surfers can stop by on their way back from riding the waves."
Despite running a small ski resort, Mr. Miyazawa is putting a lot of effort into various initiatives. What is the driving force behind this?
"When we managed to keep the ski resort open during the pandemic, customers who came would say to us, 'Thank you for keeping the ski resort open despite the situation.' Of course, it's our job, so that's only natural... But it made me so happy, and even though it was a tough situation, it made me want to keep going.
We patrol and lift staff work hard for our customers, and our customers feel that and come in droves. That makes me happy."
Miyazawa has also announced his retirement from snowboarding technical championships this season. He says that now that he's retired from competition, he's able to relax and enjoy snowboarding even more
"Until now, I've been working as a competitor and ski resort manager, and I've forgotten how to simply enjoy snowboarding. This year, I've been trying out backcountry skiing, trying out snowboards I've never used before, and being a snowboarder again, enjoying all kinds of different types of skiing, and now I'm having the most fun. I'll continue to make the ski resort even more exciting so that people can enjoy this fun, so please come and visit."
Featured on local TV, gaining even more popularity
Matsushiro Family Ski Resort has been featured on local television in Niigata Prefecture, and is becoming even more popular.
Please watch the video below to hear firsthand accounts from local residents who love this ski resort.
The Matsushiro Family Ski Resort office is located right next to the dining hall and rest area used by customers, and the door is always open. Customers can see what's going on at any time, and customers can see the hard work of the staff. I felt that the close relationship between customers and staff is what makes this ski resort so beloved
Photo/Daigo Onozuka
[Information]
Matsudai Family Ski Resort
5265 Matsudai, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture 942-1526 TEL/FAX: 025-597-3330 Official Website: https://ski.matsudai.jp/