Charmant Hiuchi | A ski resort that boasts one of the largest snowfalls in Japan and advocates "uncompacted snow" | Niigata

The area around Mount Hiuchi in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, is famous for its heavy snowfall. Charmant Hiuchi in particular has undeniable potential, with over 500 cm of snow falling for several days in a row during the peak season. What's more, the cold air blowing in from the Sea of ​​Japan creates dry powder, attracting many skiers.

The ski resort management also aims to allow visitors to enjoy the abundant snow in the best possible environment, and the keywords they use are "uncompacted snow" and "untouched nature." They continue to make an effort not to compact the snow, and it's surprising that around 70% of the resort's slopes and courses are set up as ungroomed areas and courses.

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DATA

SNOW DATA from 2015 to 2019

	Late December	January	February	March
average snowfall	261cm	420cm	500cm	490cm
average temperature	-3.7℃	-4.3℃	-4.3℃	0℃

Recommended powder course

A. Hiyama: A long, powdery run of 1,100 meters

The first thing you want to try is "Tobiyama," which is a long run of over 1km that is full of technical elements such as changing slopes and standing trees

running distance	1100m
slope	up to 26 degrees
direction of the slope	north
Shortest access method	Quad Lift No. 1
Lift operation start time for access	8:30
Number of people queuing before lift operation starts on weekends and holidays	Average of 20 to 50 people

B. "Princess Bowl" - the steepest slope in the ski resort with an outstanding floating sensation

There are just the right amount of trees growing, making it easy to slide around

running distance	780m
slope	Maximum 32 degrees/
direction of the slope	north
Shortest access method	Quad Lift No. 1
Lift operation start time for access	8:30
Number of people queuing before lift operation starts on weekends and holidays	About 20 to 50 people

C. "Zen" - A great introduction to tree running with an exquisite sense of the trees

This course is also recommended for tree running beginners. With a distance of 278m and a gentle slope of up to 21 degrees, it is perfect for beginners

running distance	278m
slope	Maximum 21 degrees/
direction of the slope	north
Shortest access method	Quad Lift No. 1
Lift operation start time for access	8:30
Number of people queuing before lift operation starts on weekends and holidays	About 20 to 50 people

There are also plenty of other courses for intermediate and advanced skiers, such as the rugged "Surge" and the densely timbered "Oriya." Create your own unique tracks on a variety of courses

Recommended topics

If you want to enjoy the deep snow even more, try the "Expert Rental" service, which offers a wide selection of skis to choose from. This system allows you to rent skis from a full lineup suitable for gliding on ungroomed snow, and you can change them at any time. What's more, if you rent 10 times, you'll be entered into a lottery to win a pair of powder skis

If you're leaving from the Tokyo metropolitan area and want to catch the first lift in the morning, we recommend staying the night before at a lodging facility near the ski resort. There are many guesthouses and hotels that exude a local atmosphere, so you can experience the true joy of a ski trip even more. If you want to enjoy sightseeing in the area, head to Marine Dome Nou, where you can find Kaniya Yokocho, famous for its crabs

* The information posted is the information as of December 2020.

Re-edited from 2020 BRAVOSKI vol.1