Minamiuonuma City in Niigata Prefecture is surrounded by mountains on all sides and boasts abundant snowfall thanks to its basin topography. The city is home to many ski resorts, and Muika Snow Resort, located close to the city center, is a particularly friendly resort perfect for families and students. However, in recent years, the abundant snow and vast powder fields have also attracted hardcore skiers and snowboarders. It is a particularly popular slope for those who want to experience powder and backcountry skiing.
This time, Igeta Mami, who has been skiing for three years and recently wanted to try powder snow and backcountry skiing, was guided by Saiki Shinji, principal of a local ski school.
Conveniently located about 5 minutes by car from the Kanetsu Expressway
Located about a five-minute drive from Muikamachi IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway, Muika Snow Resort is not only easily accessible, but also has a slope designed with gentle slopes in mind, making it a popular destination for families and student groups.From the middle of the slope, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Minamiuonuma city and the Echigo Sanzan mountain range, including Mt. Makihata and Mt. Hakkai.
Its great views and abundance of gentle slopes are part of the reason for its popularity, but Muika has more to offer. Once you reach the top of the third pair lift, you'll find the hike-up zone, with a vast off-piste field near the summit.
Beyond that is the "non-managed mountain course." You can ski on this course after applying at the ticket office before skiing, and after applying in advance and wearing a helmet and wristband.
The day of the photo shoot was a perfect day for skiing, with a sea of clouds spreading across the sky. Check out the video to see what it was like.
A ski resort with a spectacular view of the sea of clouds
The group gathered early in the morning on a clear, blue February day. Their goal was to ski in the powder before heading out into the backcountry, but the groomed runs were in perfect condition.
Igeta and Saiki decided to start by enjoying some carving to warm up their legs. After taking the No. 1 Quad Lift and No. 3 Pair Lift to the top of the ski resort, the first thing that caught their eye was a sea of clouds covering Minamiuonuma City, followed by the Echigo mountain range. The Uonuma Plain is prone to sea of clouds due to its extreme temperature difference and basin topography. This is a sight that can sometimes be seen at Muika Snow Resort.
Igeta, who usually works surrounded by the buildings of the Kanto region,
was captivated by the extraordinary scenery, saying, "It's amazing to be able to see a view like this and the grooming burn is so pleasant!"
Off-piste fields and mountain courses outside of managed areas
After enjoying the grooming, we finally headed to the off-piste field. We started walking together from the top of the third pair lift. The temperature rose, the sea of clouds cleared, and we could see the whole town of Minamiuonuma below.
There had been no snowfall for several days prior to the photo shoot, so we ended up skiing on the remaining powder, but the snow quality was still good as there was a powder field at the top of the mountain.
After warming up on the powder, it's time to head to the non-managed mountain course. This course reuses the slopes of an old ski resort. Although it was an old course, it follows the natural terrain, so you can experience skiing just like in the backcountry. The non-managed mountain course is an introductory course for those who want to try backcountry skiing but are worried about the high risk of heading straight into the mountains.
This area is 1,500 meters long and has a wide variety of slopes, from gentle to steep. After you finish skiing, you can easily return to the base of the slope, so it's a special feature of this area. The course is basically a combination of gentle and medium slopes, so it's not a particularly difficult slope with a steep gradient.
Although it is outside the ski resort, there are signs on both sides of the course marked with pink tape and bamboo poles to prevent you from going beyond these points, so there is no need to worry about getting lost.
Igeta, who is eager to try out full-scale backcountry skiing one day, was
if he would be able to ski properly
. After Saiki explained the course to him and gave him tips on how to ski on the ungroomed course with its varied terrain, he set off.
Unlike the off-piste fields, there were also untracked slopes, and Igeta thoroughly enjoyed the first track. What did he actually think of Muika Snow Resort?
"Muika Snow Resort is easily accessible from central Tokyo and is close to Muikamachi IC on the Kan'etsu Expressway, so there's less driving on snowy roads and it's a safe and easy place to get to.
The ski resort is compact, but the population density is lower than at larger ski resorts, so you can enjoy long runs first thing in the morning.
There are many easy runs, so it's a great place to go with experienced skiers and aim for grooming first thing in the morning, or if you're with friends who've just started skiing or with small children, it's a great place to enjoy the slopes all day long!"
"The powder fields and non-managed mountain courses can be accessed from the lift, and the finish line is right next to the parking lot, making it an extremely easy environment to try. I
was able to enjoy a variety of terrain in one run that you can't experience on the slopes, such as the powder remaining at the top, trees, and skiing along ridges.
Backcountry skiing is a sport that lets you experience the risks and harshness of nature, so it was exciting to prepare with a sense of tension and there was a lot to know, so I found the planning and learning stages interesting as well. I
think the best time to visit Muika Snow Resort is during the high season, when you can enjoy both the powder and the groomed slopes. There is a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains from the top of the slopes, so I definitely recommend visiting on a nice day!"
Mr. Saiki from the ski school who guided us this time said the following.
"Muika Snow Resort is perfect for beginners and is popular with families and students. The slopes are generally medium to gentle, but if you apply in advance and have the necessary equipment, you can ski on designated mountain runs outside of managed areas. It can also be used for serious backcountry practice, and there are slopes that will satisfy even the most experienced skiers. The powder field is an ungroomed slope that can be accessed by walking a short distance from the third pair lift. You can have fresh snow all to yourself with just a short walk, so it's also recommended for powder lovers."
Mami Igeta (left)
works for a sports manufacturer, but is also immersed in mountain activities such as mountain climbing, trail running, and skiing. In recent years, she has become passionate about backcountry skiing in addition to skiing on the slopes, and is fascinated by the beauty of nature.
Shinji Saiki (right)
, Principal of Maiko Snow School and a certified instructor of the Ski Association of Japan,
is well versed in all types of skiing, from basics to powder. Despite being the principal of the school, he is also an active participant in freeride competitions such as the FWQ.
Video / Yuki Murayama
Instagram = @yukimurayama_film
Information
Muika Snow Resort
2910-114 Oguriyama, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Official website: https://www.muikamachi.com/ski/Official
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