"It's actually a great local slope if you hit it," perhaps referring to Yuzawa Nakazato. Yuzawa Nakazato, with its heavy snowfall and captivating slopes, makes you think so. Local riders Kyohei Miyata and Kazuma Seta talk to us about the charms of this local slope
First, let's take a look at the edited footage of the two days they skated
Get to know Yuzawa Nakazato and get an overview of the ungroomed snow and tree run areas
Yuzawa Nakazato has a wide range of courses with good visibility, with 40% of its slopes being beginner slopes. It is a ski resort that is friendly to families and those trying out the slopes for the first time, but in recent years it has also been focusing on ungroomed areas and tree run areas. This is no surprise, as Yuzawa Nakazato is worthy of the name "Snow Country," and in the peak season it is an area of heavy snowfall where snow can fall up to waist height overnight
Yuzawa Nakazato consists of two mountains, and the mountain on the right side of the map is entirely an ungroomed, tree-run area, with the exception of one beginner course. The five ungroomed courses are Dynamic, Giant, Challenge, Extreme, and Training.
All of these courses have an average slope of over 20 degrees, and once it snows, you can ski on fluffy powder in a weightless state, so it's understandable why they focus on powder. The Challenge course has a maximum slope of 32 degrees, and the Dynamic and Giant courses are also advanced slopes with steep inclines of approximately 600m. The tree-run area has plenty of skiable space, except for under railway bridges and some dangerous spots.
Nakazato's greatest feature is its high turnover rate, which allows you to access such a comprehensive ski area with the first quad lift, and no matter where you ski you will always return to the base area. Being able to access five ungroomed runs and multiple tree run areas with just one lift is something you probably won't find at other ski resorts, even in powder paradise Japan
As you can see, Nakazato has plenty of elements that powder lovers will adore. In recent years, you can see a few people riding wide skis and waiting in line for the lifts first thing in the morning, but it's still a hidden gem known only to those in the know. It's a place that anyone looking to enjoy powder in comfort should definitely visit. However, with so many options, first-timers will likely be confused about where and how to ski.
So, we asked two local riders about the appeal of Nakazato's powder and their recommended lines.
A rider talks about Yuzawa Nakazato on a snowy day
The case of snowboarder Kazuma Seta
"Nakazato isn't at a particularly high altitude, but because it's located in the mountains of Yuzawa, it gets a good amount of snow,
and the snow is light. Its biggest appeal is the abundance of ungroomed, steep slopes. When there's heavy snowfall, gentle slopes make it difficult for snowboarders to pick up speed, but Yuzawa Nakazato is great because you can really go fast. The Giant Course is the longest of the ungroomed slopes, so it's my favorite. I love to blast down this slope first thing in the morning (laughs). The left side of the Dynamic Course has great terrain, so you can have fun jumping and sliding while you're sliding. Also, I think the upper part of the Challenge Burn feels like it has the steepest slope, but it's fantastic when it snows. If you pick up speed from the access course to the Challenge Burn, you can even jump in."
"I come to Nakazato with local snowboarders on days when it's definitely going to snow, like, 'When it snows
, go to Nakazato.' To be more precise, it's not just on a sunny day the day after it snows, but on a day when it snows steadily all day long and resets everything (laughs). There are a lot of steep slopes, so when it gets all bumpy, it's a little difficult to snowboard. So the best time to come to Nakazato is on a day when the tracks are buried in snow.
This time, there was a breeze when we were filming, but one of the characteristics of Nakazato is that the slopes face in various directions, from north to west. Even in conditions where the snow is blown away by strong winds, there's always some snow piled up on one of the slopes, so there's always some powder."
"The flow of the day starts with skiing down the Dynamic, Giant and Challenge slopes on the right side as seen from the base of the mountain. At Nakazato, they don't open all the runs at once when the ski resort opens, so that only the first people there in the morning get a chance to enjoy the powder. Instead, they open the runs one by one from the right side of the slope. This means you can enjoy the powder at your own pace, without worry."
"When the snow is ungroomed, I usually ski down these three courses for a while, then head to the tree run area.
The tree run area at Nakazato has some slope, but the trees are spaced far apart, making it easy to turn and fun for snowboarders. The reason it's so easy to ski is that they've cleared away any small branches that could get in the way, ensuring a safe skiing experience. I usually go to Nakazato on snowy days, so visibility can be poor at times, but you can still see well and ski easily in the trees. I recommend cutting your ungroomed slopes short and enjoying some tree runs instead."
The case of skier Kyohei Miyata
"I usually start the day with a light warm-up on the Joyful course. I don't participate in the competition for the first tracks on the powder, so I take it easy (laughs).
As Kazuma said earlier, there are lots of ungroomed courses that open up from the right, so even if you don't aim for the first tracks on the Dynamic or Giant courses, you can ski on ungroomed snow on some course or another, so there's no need to rush."
"Each of the ungroomed runs has its own unique terrain and characteristics, which makes it interesting, but Dynamic and Giant in particular offer long runs that can be viewed from the lift, allowing you to imagine things like, 'I'll hit it like this in this spot, and then I'll aim for the remaining powder here.' You can even see inside the trees between Dynamic and Giant from the lift. Giant is an open run, so I like to make big turns. The upper part of Giant is a little flat, so I like to hop there and then make a big four-turn halfway up the slope. The Challenge run is also interesting, with undulating slopes at the entrance and on the left side halfway up the run, allowing you to make jumps. It's located right in front of the ski center building, so it attracts a lot of attention, making it a real 'challenge.' I recommend it for people who want to be the center of attention (laughs)."
"Also, Nakazato has mash here and there in the tree run area. It's not just big ones, there are lots of little ones too, which is interesting. It's perfect for people who want to try powder jumping. Even among other ski resorts with great tree run areas, I don't think there are many with this many mash."
"Nakazato is a slope that can be enjoyed by skiers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. I often come to Nakazato when it snows and I want to ski with a group of friends. My friends are all different types, from skiers to snowboarders, and not everyone likes to ski hard, so I can teach them on the Joyful Course and let them experience the joy of skiing in powder on a wide range of giant skis. I think the charm of Nakazato is that even members of different levels can have fun together."
At the base of the mountain, there are plenty of amenities such as a kids' park, a snow play area, and free rest areas, making it a great place for families and groups. It's perfect for children, college students making their first foray into skiing, and first-time snow country users.
But that's not all this ski resort has to offer. If you visit on a snowy day during peak season, you'll quickly discover its charm.
Riders who skied this time
SKI: Kyohei Miyata (left)
Skis mainly in the Minamiuonuma and Yuzawa areas of Niigata Prefecture, and is an unusual rider who is an advanced-level skier as well as a snowboarder.
SB: Kazuma Seta (right)
Also skis in the Minamiuonuma and Yuzawa areas. He is active not only at ski resorts but also frequently visits the backcountry, mainly for filming.
■Information
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
5044-1 Tsuchitaru, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture 949-6103
Official website:https://www.yuzawa-nakazato.com/winter/
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