Ishiuchi Maruyama is one of the largest ski resorts in the Kan'etsu Expressway area, and is a long-established resort that opened 73 years ago. There are restaurants run by locals scattered throughout the resort, and it is a popular destination for local skiers and snowboarders alike. It is a ski resort that continues to be loved by locals as well as tourists
When you ask local skiers about Ishiuchi Maruyama, they all say things like, "Night skiing is great," and "Today is a perfect day for night skiing." I, the writer of this article, live in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, and am a fan of Ishiuchi Maruyama night skiing.
Let's unravel the appeal of Ishiuchi Maruyama night skiing as told by locals.
The benefits of night games are immeasurable!
What is it about Ishiuchi Maruyama's night games that captivates visitors?
I'd like to highlight four major attractions.
Advantage 1: Good visibility
This is because even on days when the temperature rises and fog forms during the day, the temperature drops at night and the fog often clears, and even when fog is present, the slopes' undulations are clearly visible thanks to the numerous large night lighting fixtures. If you can't see the unevenness of the slope, skiing is no fun and there's a risk of crashing or falling. Good visibility has more benefits to skiing than you might imagine
Advantage 2: Large running surface
Driving through Minamiuonuma City at night, you'll find several ski resorts that are open for night skiing, but Ishiuchi Maruyama's night skiing shines brightly. Ishiuchi Maruyama operates up to five lifts and gondolas, and offers a total of nine runs (the longest run is 3,000m). This makes it one of the largest night ski runs in Japan. The resort is large enough to be satisfied with just night skiing, so there's plenty of fun to be had even at night
Advantage 3: The snow is extremely light
Ishiuchi Maruyama receives heavy snowfall due to the humid air from the Sea of Japan, but at night the snow becomes incomparably lighter than during the day. Not only snow that falls at night, but even snow that accumulates during the day becomes lighter at night. For this reason, night skiing on snowy days is highly recommended
Advantage 4: It's not as crowded as during the day, so it's easier to ski
As with any ski resort, the slopes are crowded during the day. However, at night, the crowds are a little quieter, making it easier to ski. You can enjoy carving to your heart's content, and you can have the powder snow all to yourself. In other words, the night skiing at Ishiuchi Maruyama has a larger runway, brighter night lighting, and easier visibility. And since there are fewer people than during the day, it's easier to ski. That's all there is to it
When it comes to night skiing, many ski resorts give the impression of "you can ski at night too," but at Ishiuchi Maruyama, in some cases, skiing at night is more fun than during the day. That's what the locals know well. Many people use the night ski resort on a daily basis, and on days when there is snowfall and it's perfect for night skiing, ski and snowboard enthusiasts in Minamiuonuma City flock to the resort. This warm, local atmosphere is one of the attractions of Ishiuchi Maruyama
How to enjoy night games
How to Enjoy It #1: Powder Day Edition
- Enjoy the fresh powder snow caused by continuous heavy snowfall
On heavy snowfall days, Ishiuchi Maruyama can snow up to waist-deep in just one day. Competition is fierce during the day, but at night it's less competitive than during the day. This means you can leisurely enjoy the vast powder area and eat as much powder as you want. As mentioned above, the snow is lighter at night, so you can ski on the finest fluffy powder. Here are some recommended powder courses
・Omaruyama Slope
・Devil Down Course
・Poppi Hiller Course
Daimaru Slope is the highest of the night skiing areas, so it has the best snow quality. The Devil Down Course is a challenging run with slopes of around 30 degrees. With snow piled up on such a steep slope, it's easy to imagine the kind of fun you'd get screaming at when you ski. We also recommend the "top to bottom" route, which connects the Omaruyama Slope to the Sailer Course and then to the Devil Down Course. The pleasant fatigue in your thighs makes skiing even more enjoyable.
If you want a compact route, the Popichler Course is a good choice. You can ski efficiently using the Tyrol Triple Lift.
How to Enjoy It #2: Night View and Starry Sky Ride
- Enjoy the scenery while carving on the vast slopes
On clear days with no snow, you can also enjoy the night view. Ishiuchi Maruyama is in a great position to view the Uonuma Plain from north to south. You can get a panoramic view of the night view of Minami Uonuma City and Uonuma City. Skiing while immersed in such an extraordinary space will be an unforgettable memory. Even on clear days, Ishiuchi Maruyama is not a hard icy slope, but rather the snow is often a little slushy and slippery, making the piste runs easy to ski on.
The edges grip well, so you can freely carve down the slopes and play with the terrain, giving you a high degree of freedom. You can practice freely on the wide slopes.
There are time tickets available that allow you to enjoy night games efficiently
But for those who think, "But for night skiing, you need a separate night skiing ticket, which is a bit of an expense...", there is good news. Starting last season, Ishiuchi Maruyama's one-day pass has been redesigned as a "time ticket" that can be used for 8.5 hours from the time you first pass through the ticket gate. Instead of the previous limit of "one-day ticket valid until 5:00 PM," for example, if you pass through the ticket gate at 11:00 AM, you can ski until 7:30 PM. Also, starting this season, the half-day ticket has been redesigned as a four-hour ticket that flexibly meets the needs of those who "just want to ski a little" or want to go skiing in the evening, so it can now be used from morning to afternoon, or from evening to night
This allows you to ski flexibly and efficiently without worrying about the time boundaries between morning, afternoon, and night. I understand the desire to ski in the morning, but even if you arrive around noon due to road conditions or other commitments, you can still ski efficiently until night skiing
On days when the conditions seem better at night, it might be a good idea to arrive late in the afternoon. We recommend a special plan where you ski in the afternoon, rest at a restaurant in the evening, and then start skiing again around 6pm to enjoy the night view and night skiing
The introduction of 8.5-hour and 4-hour lift tickets has given people more freedom in how they ski. Even those who have hesitated to ski at night can now try using these tickets and enjoy the whole day. Another benefit of changing your time is that you can leave more slowly in the morning and avoid traffic jams on the highway on the way back
With the introduction of more convenient lift tickets, it's now easier than ever to enjoy the timeless charm of Ishiuchi Maruyama.
If you haven't skied at night recently, why not come and enjoy the nightlife at Ishiuchi Maruyama?
Rental service available to borrow that board you're interested in
Also, starting last season, Ishiuchi Maruyama is offering something a little different from regular rentals. They have launched a "Performance Model Rental" service, where you can rent high-spec skis and snowboards. This season, the number of models available for rental has increased significantly.
The lineup includes models that you might want to try, but can't easily afford, so if you're interested, be sure to check them out and try them out at Ishiuchi Maruyama.
Other great deals on lift tickets are available here
■Information
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
1655 Ishiuchi, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 949-6372
Official website: https://ishiuchi.or.jp/
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