Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, is a snow area with excellent access, about two hours from the city center on the Kanetsu Expressway. Among them, Maiko Snow Resort is by far the most convenient for transportation. 1 minute from Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC. There is a ski resort just a stone's throw away. Why is it that people say, ``If it's THE DAY, it's Maiko?'' Let's explore while listening to the stories of two people who know Maiko well.
Great slope for powder runs with excellent access
Maiko Snow Resort is a ski resort that is popular with students and families because of its easy access and frequent tour buses. The lower part of the ski resort has many gentle slopes, making it easy for beginners. However, this is an area that boasts some of the heaviest snowfall in the country. During the high season, it snows almost every night, and it's not uncommon for the snow to be up to your waist in the morning.
Maiko in particular has a wealth of uncompacted snow courses, so for advanced skiers and locals who are used to skiing, Maiko is the perfect ski resort for powder runs, so much so that Maiko is the place to go for THE DAY. We were guided around by Mr. Saiki, the principal of Maiko Snow School, who knows everything about the appeal of ski resorts, and Mr. Koshigoe, who runs Snowcase, a local company that builds snow parks.
Principal of Maiko Snow School, certified instructor of the All Japan Ski Federation,
knowledgeable about all genres of skiing, from basic to powder. Although he is the principal of the school, he is active in participating in freeride competitions such as FWQ.
is the representative of Snowcase, a local company that creates snow parks and operates restaurants. Due to my position, I am busy during the winter, but I always remember to have fun while skating. Maiko Snow Resort is my home mountain.
Mr. Saiki: ``Maiko Snow Resort is a ski resort that can satisfy all kinds of customers, including children, ski/snowboard beginners, elderly people, and experts.
The ski resort is said to be ``perfect for beginners,'' but it also has slopes that will thrill even advanced skiers, so there's no problem even if you come in a group with different skill levels. That's why you can continue to enjoy it even as you improve or get older. I'm from the area, and I've been skiing Maiko ever since I was a child when I belonged to a local ski club, and even when I was working at another ski resort as a member of society, I used to ski on my days off. So much so that I came all the way back to Maiko and skated there (lol).
Now that I'm in my 40s, I've returned to my hometown and am working at Maiko, but Maiko Snow Resort is a place where people of all generations and ages can enjoy it in many different ways.''
Mr. Koshigoe: ``It's hard to describe the charm of Maiko Snow Resort in just one word, but first of all, it's the scenery.When you get up the gondola, you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the snowy mountains, centered on Mt. Mt. Makiki, one of the 100 famous mountains in front of you. I want a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. This is because Maiko is located at a high altitude.The day after it snows, the trees turn completely white, so you can enjoy the outstanding scenery that is typical of a snowy country. I also recommend taking it slow."
Maiko is a large ski resort divided into three areas.
The ski resort is divided into three areas: Maiko Area, Nagamine Area, and Okuzoeji Area. The Maiko area has ski-in/ski-out hotels and many gentle slopes, making it popular among beginners and intermediate skiers. There is also a snow park here. You can take a long gondola ride in the Nagamine area. The Okuzoeji area has uncompacted snow areas and steep slopes, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. Since each has its own distinct characteristics, it can also be described as a combination of three ski resorts.
There are two entrances: Nagamine area and Okuzoeji area start from the gondola station, while Maiko area's entrance is from the hotel side on the right side of the map.
One of the charms of Maiko is that if you use the gondola, you can quickly go up to an altitude of about 850m and quickly access the Okuzoe area, which is rich in uncompacted snow courses, and find the best snow.
With so many things to see in Maiko, where is the best powder run and what is the best routine? I was told this by two people.
Mr. Saiki: ``The Okuzoeji area is located deep in the mountains, so it gets relatively little sunlight, so there's a lot of good snow.People often get a negative impression that the snow in Niigata is heavy. However, there are days when the snow in Okuzoeji is as light as in Tohoku.
Additionally, the courses in the Okuzoeji area face a variety of directions, so the snow quality varies widely. There are so many courses that even after a long time, there will always be powder left somewhere.
A highlight of the Okuzoe area is the Haglöfs tree run area. This tree run area has a relatively gentle slope, making it perfect for beginners. There are three gates: Gate 1, Gate 2, and Gate 3. 1 is the steepest slope, 3 is the gentlest slope. It's a different kind of fun than an open powder run, and it's also perfect for practicing before heading into the backcountry.
On days when it snows, I think most people head to the Gungun Course, which is located at the far end of the Okuzoeji area. This is a one-piece slope, so it's exhilarating to slide on.
However, what I actually recommend first thing in the morning is the off-piste zone in the Nagamine area. This course is a little lower in altitude than the Gungun course, so it's a course you'll want to ski first. Since there is less competition, it's okay to slowly get on the fast track.
Many locals choose off-piste zones rather than the highly competitive courses. Or you could just go ahead and go to FWT ZONE, which is located in the hotel area on the right side of the ski resort. Since there are many families in the hotel area, competition on uncompacted snow slopes is low. So, you can enjoy the powder slowly here as well. My usual pattern is to calm down and then go for a tree run."
The Okuzoeji area has good snow, and there are many uncompacted snow courses. Although it is a standard course first thing in the morning, Mr. Saiki's routine seems to be to deliberately deviate from it and aim for the first track without competing. Haglöfs Tree Run Area is a course where you must apply in advance at the ticket counter or gondola mountaintop cafe ITADAKI.
The Top to Bottom slide from the top of Okuzoeji to the foot of the mountain is highly satisfying.
Mr. Koshigoe: ``The day after it snows, we call it THE DAY, and we ski in the best conditions, but on days when it rains at Maiko Snow Resort, we usually ski powder without stepping on steep slopes. Because the course is covered with snow, the "powder surface" is beautiful. It's the best feeling to speed up and make long turns. That's what it feels like.
One of the features is that you can ski the tree run for dessert after sliding down the entire course. The distance between the trees is just right, so you can enjoy the tree run by cruising slowly while avoiding the trees. The trees are well maintained, so there are many lines to choose from, so no matter how many times you slide, you'll never run out of fun. I don't think the course would be this interesting if it wasn't designed by someone who loves skiing! (Laughs) At Maiko, the staff who run the ski resort all love to ski. ”
``My recommended routine is
① Pattern gondola ride that arrived first thing in the morning
→ Gungun course in Okuzoeji → Thrilling course → Off-piste zone → Tree run → Coffee at ITADAKI
② Pattern I was late for
Nagamine 1st ride and then Nagamine 2nd Ride → Off-piste zone → Bumpy course with slips and falls → Tree run → Nagamine free run → ITADAKI And coffee
. I'm fully expecting a pattern of being late (lol).
Another thing I would like to introduce is the free run from the summit of Mt. Okuzoe to Nagamine 2nd platform. Your legs will be so fluffy! First thing in the morning, I skied while carving at high speed, picking up powder here and there and hitting the walls of the detour course. The real thrill of freeriding is packed into one. Not only during the high season, but also in the spring when the walls start to grow. It's always fun from the time the ski resort opens until the end of March when the ski resort closes! ”
Lastly, please watch the video of two people who know Maiko thoroughly enjoying their day together.
Whether it's skiing or snowboarding, people of all ages and tastes have different ways of skiing, and Maiko Snow Resort is a resort that can satisfy all kinds of people. There are so many ways to enjoy it, such as powder riding, free riding, park riding, and carving, that you won't get bored even if you ski all day. Anyone who visits at least once will realize the depth of Maiko's compassion.
■Information
Maiko Snow Resort
2056-108 Maiko, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture 949-6423
Official website: https://www.maiko-resort.com/Official
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