The Joetsu area of Niigata Prefecture is known for having some of the best ski resorts in Japan, such as Myoko and Arai. Cupid Valley, in particular, has been gaining attention in recent years as a gathering place for avid skiers and snowboarders. This season, the resort installed one of the fastest lifts in the country, dramatically improving the convenience of skiing. Let's take a closer look at the appeal of the newly renovated Cupid Valley
Cupid Valley, known for its heavy snowfall
Cupid Valley is characterized by its heavy snowfall. It is located in the mountains, just one road away from the main road. As you approach the ski resort, the walls of snow along the road suddenly become higher. They are about 3 meters high. Despite the constant snowfall almost every night, this is a family ski resort, so there isn't much competition for powder snow. It's a spot only known to those in the know
Cupid Valley now has one of the fastest quad lifts in Japan. It is an extension of the second quad lift located halfway up the ski resort. It has been extended by 400m from the previous lift, covering a total distance of 1,400m
The new lifts connect the bottom of the ski resort to the summit, lengthening the run. Previously, once you had completed the long run of "Soleil," you could no longer take the second quad to the summit and had to descend to the base, then take two more lifts to get back up to the summit. However, thanks to the recent restructuring, you can now access the summit directly with just one lift
Below is the map from the 2023-2024 season. Comparing them, you can clearly see the impact of the change in lift
This time, skier Ken Hirose, a Cupid Valley enthusiast, accompanied snowboarder Takaoki Hashimoto on a trip that was his first visit since the resort's renovation
A lift that travels 5 meters per second, shortening ride time by one minute
They visited on a certain day in January. First, check out the video to see how much fun they had. The speed of the lift should be easier to understand in the video
The sun was shining brightly at Cupid Valley, which is unusual for the high season. However, it seems that there had been snowfall near the summit, and the trees were covered in snow.
First thing in the morning, I skied top to bottom from the summit to warm up my legs. I took the first quad lift and headed to the second quad lift.
You can tell at a glance that the lift cabin is new. It has only just started operating, so it is currently undergoing test runs. I wait for it to start operating so I can be one of the first to ride.
Now that it costs hundreds of millions of yen to set up a lift, just being able to ride a new lift is a valuable experience in itself.
After waiting for five minutes, the lift began operation. The boarding was slow, just like a regular quad lift. However, the difference was immediately apparent as soon as we left the boarding area. It was clearly faster than previous lifts. While a typical lift operates at 4 meters per second, this latest lift can operate at 5 meters per second.
To travel a distance of 1,425 meters, at 4 meters per second it would take 5 minutes and 56 seconds, or roughly 6 minutes.
However, at 5 meters per second, it would take just 4 minutes and 45 seconds, a reduction of more than a minute. This difference is significant for skiers and snowboarders who want to travel every second faster and get every run they can.
Indeed, if it's more than a minute faster, it feels noticeably different. You ascend as if cutting through the wind. What's more, it's quieter and there's less shaking. You arrive at the summit in literally no time, without any stress
With the addition of the new lift, the number of available runs has doubled from four to eight, and the total run distance has also expanded from approximately 4,500m to 7,600m. From the summit, you can ski down any run you like
It's fast, so you won't miss that precious time first thing in the morning
First thing in the morning, we headed to Soleil to enjoy the firm, groomed runs. We enjoyed the longest run of 2.6km
"First thing in the morning is the best! Maybe it's because of the high altitude? The snow quality is outstanding even within Joetsu City!" says a very pleased Hashimoto.
"Mornings at Cupid Valley are really recommended! There are many slopes to ski, so you won't have to worry about overlapping with other customers, and the lifts change over, so you can ski for a long distance," adds Hirose as he shows us around.
Once you've warmed up, head to the ungroomed tree run area. There's powder everywhere in Cupid Valley, so you don't have to rush to find it first thing in the morning
Cupid Valley has three ungroomed areas and two large tree run areas
First, we head to "Liberte," recommended by Hirose. Here, you can enjoy the groomed runs of Soleil while gaining speed and entering the powder, so on snowy days you can get the ultimate floating feeling. Previously, if you skied here, you had to go down to the foot of the mountain and take two lifts to get back to the summit, but this place is also within the coverage area of the new lift. You can get to the summit in no time
Next, head to the vast tree run area. Get off the second quad lift and enter from the right. The wide, bowl-shaped slope is left in its natural state, so you can ski anywhere and however you like. You can draw lines freely depending on your mood
As you exit the second quad lift, you'll come to the tree run area on your left, lined with a comfortable grove of trees. It feels just under 1000m long, so it's very satisfying. The undulating slopes offer a variety of slopes to enjoy.
Next to it, Marriott is also an ungroomed area. This slope also has a lot of ups and downs, making it a lot of fun for advanced skiers who are tired of skiing on well-maintained slopes. Read the terrain and conquer it, then ski down your ideal line. This is a course that will leave you feeling just the right amount of tired and confident that you've improved your skills after you've finished skiing.
So the two enjoyed the newly reborn Cupid Valley. What kind of ski resort did Cupid Valley look like to them?
Hirose: "What's great about Cupid Valley is that there's always powder even in the light snow season. It's also worth noting that there are many ungroomed areas, including runs and tree runs. But because few people come specifically for the powder, sometimes the powder remains for two or three days after it snows. Plus, the new lifts have increased the number of runs you can ski, and the runs are longer, making it the perfect ski resort for ski lovers. The faster the lifts, the more skiing you can do, and you won't miss out on the great morning conditions. It's frustrating when the lifts are slow on good days. Cupid Valley also has a wide variety of slopes, making it the perfect place to practice before heading to a full-scale backcountry."
Hashimoto: "Located deep east of Joetsu City, this is a wonderful field rich in nature and deep in snow. Looking up at Mt. Hishigatake, the course makes the most of the natural terrain and on clear days you can see the Sea of Japan. The longest run is 4,000m, so it's a challenging experience, and the hot springs are fed directly from the source, so you're sure to be very satisfied! It was a wonderful time, relaxing and enjoying the quality of the snow, the scenery, the food, and the hot springs! The lift, one of the fastest in Japan, was incredibly fast and smooth. It's worth coming just to ride it!"
There is an abundance of snow and the runs are interesting. In addition, the lifts are state-of-the-art, which is sure to attract more visitors. This is a great thing for the ski resort. Why not try out the lifts, which are among the fastest in Japan, moving at 5 meters per second?
Left: Takaoki Hashimoto
, nicknamed "HASSY," is a professional skateboarder and snowboarder who has been affectionately known for many years. Based in Osaka and Nagano, he spends his winters exploring his home mountain, the Five Mountains of Hokushin, while also carving lines on numerous slopes from all over Japan to Alaska. With the all-round skills he has cultivated over many years of skateboarding, he has many fans who can be seen smoothly clearing difficult sections.
Instagram: @takaokihashimoto
Right: Ken Hirose
Born in Hokkaido, currently living in Gunma Prefecture. Using the techniques he developed in alpine skiing, he is active in the freeride competition scene. Based in Numata, he visits various fields, including Mt. Tanigawa.
Instagram: @kenny_fjc