Speaking of Ishiuchi Maruyama, it is a long-established ski resort that boasts the largest scale in the Kanetsu Expressway area and has been open for 73 years. The ski resort is dotted with restaurants run by locals, and is frequented by local skiers and snowboarders. It is a ski resort that continues to be loved not only by tourists but also by locals.
When Ishiuchi Maruyama asks local skaters, they all say, "Night skiing is good," and "Today is a good day for night skiing."
I, the author of this article, also live in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, and am a fan of Ishiuchi Maruyama night skiing. Let's unravel the charm of the Ishiuchi Maruyama night game as told by the locals.
The benefits of night skiing are immeasurable!
What is the appeal of Ishiuchi Maruyama's night games that captivate visitors?
I would like to point out four major attractions.
Advantage 1: Good visibility
This is because even on days when the temperature rises and fog occurs during the daytime, the temperature drops at night and the fog often disappears. It is at the point where the undulations become clear. If you can't see the unevenness of the slope, it's not fun to ski, and there's a danger of collisions and falls. Good visibility is an advantage beyond imagination.
Advantage ② Wide sliding area
If you drive through Minamiuonuma City at night, there are several ski resorts that are open for night skiing, but Ishiuchi Maruyama's night skiing is exceptionally bright. Ishiuchi Maruyama has a maximum of 5 lifts and gondolas, and you can ski a total of 9 courses (the longest running distance is 3000m). It boasts one of the largest night skiing areas in Japan. The area is wide enough for a night game, so it's enough to ski at night.
Merit ③ Snow is light anyway
Ishiuchi Maruyama is covered with a lot of snow due to the moist air from the Sea of Japan, but at night the snow is much lighter than during the day. It goes without saying that snow falls at night, but even snow that piles up during the day becomes dry at night. So, night skiing on a snowy day is definitely recommended.
Advantage 4: Not as crowded as during the daytime, so slippery
As with all ski resorts, during the daytime the ski slopes are crowded with people. However, it is easy to slip at night because people are a little calmer. You can enjoy carving to your heart's content, or you can monopolize the falling powder. In other words, Ishiuchi Maruyama's night game has a wide running area and the night game lighting is bright and easy to see. And since there are fewer people than in the daytime, it is slippery. I will say.
When it comes to night skiing, most ski resorts have the image of being able to ski at night, but at Ishiuchi Maruyama, in some cases, it's more fun to ski at night than during the day. That's what it means. Locals know it well. There are many people who use night skiing on a daily basis, and ski and snowboard enthusiasts in Minamiuonuma City gather together for nighttime weather like The Day with snowfall. The warm atmosphere of Ishiuchi Maruyama is one of the charms of Ishiuchi Maruyama.
How to enjoy night games
How to Enjoy Part 1: Powder Day Edition
~Enjoy reset powder with heavy snowfall~
On days with a lot of snowfall, Mt. Competition is fierce during the day, but at night the competition is lower than during the day. This means that you can relax and enjoy the vast powder area and eat all-you-can-eat powder snow. As mentioned above, the snow is light at night, so it's also a point that you can ski on the finest fluffy powder. Therefore, the recommended powder course is here.
・Daimaruyama Slope
・Devil Down Course
・Poppy Hiller Course
The Daimaru Slope is located at the highest point of the night skiing area, so the quality of the snow is the best.
The Devil Down course is a slope with a slope of about 30 degrees, and it is a very slippery slope. It's not hard to imagine that with snow piled up on such a steep slope, you'll be able to make your voice come out on the slopes. We also recommend the “top to bottom” that connects the Daimaruyama slopes to the Devil Down course via the Sailer course. Feeling a pleasant tiredness in my thighs while skiing is irresistible. If you want to turn compactly, the Popi Hiller course is good. You can ski efficiently using the Tyrol Triple Lift.
How to Enjoy Part 2: Night View and Starry Sky Ride
~ Carving on a vast slope while enjoying the scenery ~
You can enjoy the night view on sunny days without snow.
Ishiuchi Maruyama is in a perfect position to view the Uonuma Plain from north to south. You can see the night view of Minami Uonuma City and Uonuma City. Slipping while immersed in such an extraordinary space will be an unforgettable memory. Also, even on sunny days, Ishiuchi Maruyama is not a stiff ice slope, but the snow is a little crisp and slippery, so the Pisten Barn is also slippery. The edge is chewy, so it is attractive to have a high degree of freedom, such as carving freely on the slopes and playing with the terrain. You can practice freely on a wide slope.
There is a time ticket that you can enjoy such a night game efficiently
There is good news for those who think, "But a night game ticket is required separately, and the expense is a little bit...". From last season, Ishiuchi Maruyama's one-day ticket has been reborn as a "time ticket" that can be used for 8.5 hours after first passing through the ticket gate. For example, if you pass through the ticket gate at 11:00, you can ski until 19:30. Also, from this season, the half-day ticket has been reborn as a 4-hour ticket that flexibly responds to the needs of "I want to ski just a little" or "I want to go skiing in the evening", so it can be used from morning to afternoon or from evening to night. has also become possible.
This has made it possible to skate flexibly and efficiently without worrying about the time borders of morning, afternoon, and night. I want to ski in the morning! I understand the feeling, but there are road conditions and errands, and even if you arrive around noon, you can ski efficiently until the night game.
On the other hand, on days when the conditions look better at night, one way to do it is to arrive slowly in the early afternoon. We recommend a special plan where you can ski in the afternoon, rest at a restaurant in the evening, and start skating again around 18:00 to enjoy the night view and night skiing.
With the advent of lift tickets that can be used for 8.5 hours or 4 hours, the degree of freedom in how to slide has expanded. Even those who have been hesitant to use night skiing until now, I want you to use this and enjoy it all day long. By staggering the time, there is also the advantage that you can leave slowly in the morning and avoid traffic jams on the return highway.
With the advent of more convenient lift tickets, it has become easier to enjoy the enduring charm of Ishiuchi Maruyama.
If you haven't skied at night lately, why not come and enjoy the night at Ishiuchi Maruyama?
There is also a rental service where you can borrow that board you care about
Also, since last season, Ishiuchi Maruyama is different from regular rentals.
We have started a "performance model rental" service that allows you to rent high-spec skis and snowboards. The number of models available for rent has increased significantly this season. We have a lineup of models that "I want to use them, but I can't buy them easily...", so if you are interested, please check them out and try them out at Ishiuchi Maruyama.
Click here for other discount lift tickets
■Information
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
1655 Ishiuchi, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture 949-6372
Official website: https://ishiuchi.or.jp/Official
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