STEEP is currently selling a special package called " GO GREEN + SNOW PASS " which includes summer activities and a winter lift ticket . This package introduces the summer attractions of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, one of the participating ski resorts. Located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, Ishiuchi Maruyama has a history of over 70 years and boasts one of the highest levels of recognition in Japan due to its vast area and rich terrain. It features 23 diverse courses, one of the best in the Yuzawa area, spectacular views overlooking the Uonuma Plain, and one of the largest night skiing facilities in Japan. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art gondola "Sunrise Express" and the high quality of the on-site food attract many repeat visitors.
What is GO GREEN+SNOW PASS?
Let's check our answers about winter skiing at a summer resort
In summer, Ishiuchi Maruyama is a place full of discoveries unique to skiers, where you can "check your answers" to your winter skiing memories. The more you know about the characteristics of Ishiuchi Maruyama in winter, the more you'll find it to be a place full of unexpected discoveries during the green season
Boarding the "Sunrise Express" bound for the Grand Terrace halfway up the slope, and ascending the snow-free mountain, you'll be greeted by a surprising sight below.
The first thing that's surprising is the tranquil fields stretching across the ski slope. Depending on the timing, you might even spot a postal delivery motorcycle going up the slope. In fact, many residents live within the ski resort, so you can catch a glimpse of everyday life within the resort grounds. This is a unique landscape that you won't often see at other ski resorts.
Furthermore, what comes into view partway up the gondola is the same undulating terrain from which you used to soar high into the air in winter. Looking closely at that spot, it becomes clear why the terrain wasn't flattened. The paved roads that run through the resort are left exposed. The joy of replaying your winter riding in your mind and realizing, "Ah, this is where I used to take off," is a privilege only skiers can enjoy
If you continue riding the gondola, you'll arrive at the viewpoint with the Grand Terrace in no time
Located at the top of the gondola, this cafe boasts the best view in Minamiuonuma. Enjoy a variety of activities
Mr. Katsumata from Ishiuchi Maruyama shared an example of how to enjoy the green season, starting from the summer base, "Grand Terrace."
Take the gondola up to the terrace, enjoy the view while having tea, and then take the sightseeing lift to see the scenery from a slightly higher vantage point. When you come down, you can enjoy a menu featuring local ingredients at the cafe.
Right now, I recommend buggy riding. The Ishiuchi course doesn't have many flat sections, but that's actually a good thing for 4WD buggies. It's fun to actively race through the dedicated off-road course.
Enjoy the changing gradations of the Uonuma Plain's rural landscape with each passing season
For skiers, the snowy landscape of the Uonuma Plain viewed from the winter slopes is a familiar sight, but from summer to autumn, Ishiuchi Maruyama offers a breathtaking view like a giant canvas, with colors that change dramatically depending on the season and time of day
From the observation terrace, the Uonuma Plain stretches out below, offering beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons. In winter, it's a vast, white snowfield, but during the green season, its colors change depending on the time of year
In May and June, immediately after rice planting, the flooded rice paddies spread out like a patchwork quilt, becoming a giant mirror reflecting the sunlight, the blue sky, and the sunset. This panoramic view can only be enjoyed for about two weeks before the rice plants grow, making it a precious photo opportunity
As the rice plants grow in July and August, the plains transform into a vibrant blue-green carpet. The contrast between the vivid green of the mountains and the green of the rice paddies creates a breathtaking sight unique to this time of year
In September and October, when the rice stalks ripen, the entire plain begins to glow golden. Especially in the one to two weeks just before harvest, the whole area literally becomes a golden world. At dusk, the sunset in the sky and the rice stalks on the ground resonate with each other, dyeing everything in sight in an amber hue. It is a beauty that even the locals are left breathless by
Another sight only visible during the green season is the rainbow. After a sudden downpour or evening shower, typical of the mountainous regions in summer, a gigantic rainbow can appear against the backdrop of the vast panorama of Minamiuonuma.
The contrast between the crisp air after the rain, the deep green of the mountains enhanced by the rain, and the rainbow stretching across the plains is a miraculous moment that you can't expect to see. Those who witness it are truly lucky.
Savor the "story of heavy snowfall" that underpins winter skiing
One thing you absolutely can't miss when visiting Ishiuchi Maruyama is the story of the water behind "Minami Uonuma Koshihikari" rice.
In winter, the sheer volume of snow that covers the ski resort in a blanket of white is the foundation for cultivating this brand of rice, which is considered one of the best in Japan.
The Tanigawa mountain range, towering behind the ski resort, is hit by winter snow clouds, bringing heavy snowfall to this region. Even after Golden Week, large amounts of snow remain on mountains over 2000m, such as Mt. Makihata and Mt. Hakkai. From this abundant remaining snow, cold, clear "snowmelt water" flows continuously into the rivers throughout the summer, and combined with the extreme temperature difference between day and night unique to the Minamiuonuma basin, it creates an ideal environment for rice cultivation
Visiting this place in the summer allows you to visually enjoy the sight of winter snow transforming and flowing noisily down the cold river, the lush green rice plants growing thanks to its bounty, and the golden gradient of the rice paddies in the autumn
During the autumn season, the café on the Grand Terrace will offer luxurious rice balls made with this top-quality new harvest Koshihikari rice, as well as other locally sourced menu items
The bounty of winter snow creates the scenery of summer, and returns to our bodies as the food of autumn. This entire story can only be experienced with all five senses during the off-season. Eating rice balls while gazing at the slopes you skied all winter will surely bring deeper insights than mere sightseeing
This STEEP-exclusive special value ticket was created with the hope that skiers and snowboarders would visit Ishiuchi Maruyama during the green season, a place brimming with such charm. It's a special package that includes a round-trip gondola ticket for The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama 2026 green season + a 1-day lift ticket for the 2026-2027 season (valid for 8.5 hours)
STEEP Special Value Ticket | Limited to 100 tickets | ¥7,000 (tax included)
[Package Contents]
① Round-trip gondola ticket for The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama 2026 Green Season (includes observation terrace and upper sightseeing lift)
② 1-day lift ticket for the 2026-2027 season (valid for 8.5 hours) (Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort)
If you're planning to buy early bird lift tickets for the season, be sure to grab these tickets early and enjoy Ishiuchi Maruyama from summer through autumn as well
A message from the staff of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
"For us locals, this is a familiar off-season landscape, but when you look at it again from the perspective of skiers and snowboarders, I think there are many 'new discoveries' to be made, such as the interesting terrain that is only revealed in summer, and the rich food culture that is nurtured precisely because of the heavy snowfall in winter. Come and visit
Ishiuchi Maruyama in the green season, which is a little different from winter, to 'check your answers' about winter."
Ken Katsumata, Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
Information
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama
Operating period: July 18th (Sat) - November 8th (Sun), 2026
Operating hours: Sunrise Express (gondola) 9:30 - 16:30
*Last ascent 16:00 / Pets allowed (cages required)
Green Lift 9:30 - 16:00
*Pets allowed
Official website:https://ishiuchi.or.jp/green/
Official social media:Instagram|Facebook | X | LINE