On April 27, 2024, the "YUKIGOI Mountain Clean" was held at Maiko Snow Resort in Niigata Prefecture. This was a cleaning event where everyone walked the spring slopes and picked up any litter they found. It was a spin-off project of the "YUKIGOI OUTDOOR MARKET," which brings together skiers and snowboarders in the area in the fall, and this year marks its third time
This event is limited to 30 participants, and as soon as registration opened in early April, it was so popular that it was filled to capacity within just two hours. Not only were there attractive perks such as a free one-day lift ticket for the next season and a lunch of local Koshihikari rice included, but Maiko fans, who wanted to express their gratitude to the slopes for allowing them to enjoy the snow in winter and want to enjoy the same slopes as a stroll in the spring, were rushing to sign up
What is YUKIGOI OUTDOOR MARKET?
YUKIGOI OUTDOOR MARKET is one of the largest outdoor markets in Japan, targeting skiers and snowboarders. Held every October at Maiko Snow Resort, the vast venue features a "brand mall" themed around snow and the outdoors, a flea market area, early bird lift ticket sales booths, and local food vendors. It's a unique event where you can prepare for a wonderful snow experience while praying for the best snowfall before winter arrives.
for the official YUKIGOI OUTDOOR MARKET websitehere
▶Scheduled to be held from October 19th (Sat) to 20th (Sun) in 2024
A lively event begins under the blue sky
The day was clear and the temperature was over 20°C from the morning. Participants, well-prepared for sun protection, began to gather at the reception area, Maiko Kogen Lodge. Participants ranged in age from small children to the elderly. Before the event started, an outdoor yoga class was held, open to everyone, and many people enjoyed a refreshing workout on the greenery
The mountain cleanup began with everyone traveling by bus from Maiko Kogen Lodge to the Sky Dome, located halfway up the slope in the Okusoji area. From there, participants picked up trash while carrying garbage bags and fire tongs, and then walked down the slope to the Day Trip Ski Center at the foot of the mountain
The snow has almost completely melted on the mountain, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. At our feet, wild plants and alpine plants such as butterbur shoots, bracken, and dogtooth violets are in full bloom. Everyone began picking up trash leisurely in the spring scenery, just like they were hiking. There were children fascinated by ladybugs and people who also enjoyed picking wild plants, and the atmosphere was truly peaceful
Cherry blossoms and dogtooth violets are in full bloom
In about two hours, we collected a lot of trash left on the slopes
The distance to the base is about 6km. We slowly descended, picking up trash as we went, and including breaks along the way, it took about two hours to hike. The amount of trash seemed to increase the closer we got to the base. Man-made trash is easy to find, as it stands out in the natural environment due to its shiny or white color. For example, there were a wide variety of items lying around, including half-empty plastic bottles, empty cans, portable hand warmers, sunscreen, and peeling shoe soles. Tissue paper didn't dissolve, but instead hardened and stuck to the grass, which was quite painful to look at. There were also an unusually large number of cigarette butts around the restaurant and lift station
There were all kinds of things left on the slopes. We went back to the foot of the mountain and sorted them into plastic bottles, cans, metal, flammables, etc. A huge amount of garbage had been collected
Enjoy a fun lunch and a surprise!
After cleaning up the mountain, we headed back to Maiko Kogen Lodge for a fun lunch. The menu consisted of koshihikari rice cooked in a large 3 sho (approx. 10.5 liters) pot and pork soup with lots of ingredients. The simple dish really brought out the flavor of the ingredients. Everyone piled their food into the bowls they had brought with them, and many asked for seconds. It was a blissful moment
The deliciously charred Koshihikari rice cooked in a pot is the ultimate treat!
There was also a pleasant surprise after lunch. This time, RCT Japan Co., Ltd., which imports and sells Scandinavian outdoor brands, had suddenly decided to sponsor the event, and all participants were provided with outdoor goods. With a wide variety of items available, the order of selection was decided by lottery. The participants were extremely excited about this unexpected gift. Of course, everyone was also given a one-day lift pass for the next season
Participants' excitement was heightened by the outdoor wear and goods provided by RCT Japan
After a thorough walk picking up litter, enjoying a delicious lunch, and even receiving lift tickets and unexpected gifts, all the participants seemed very satisfied. Comments included,
"I'm happy to have helped clean up Maiko, a place I skied at a lot this winter," and "I realized that even small pieces of trash don't disappear in nature. I'll be more careful when we ski too." And everyone seemed to have renewed their desire to "definitely enjoy skiing here again next season!"
, on environmental conservation efforts through the "YUKIGOI" event: "
Maiko Snow
Tatsuya Ijima, General Manager of
This 'YUKIGOI Mountain Clean' event saw participation from a wide range of age groups, from seniors to 4-year-old children. We were amazed by the overwhelming response, with registration filling up in just two hours after opening. Thank you all so much for your cooperation. We
hope that events like this will raise awareness of the amount of waste dumped in nature and encourage people to think about littering and reducing waste. We will continue our environmental conservation efforts through the 'YUKIGOI' event. We have a
'Mountain Clean' in spring, an 'OUTDOOR MARKET' in autumn, and we are planning an 'ON SNOW event' for the next season. We look forward to welcoming you to Maiko Snow Resort, where you can enjoy winter sports with fellow winter sports enthusiasts throughout the year. Let's all enjoy YUKIGOI!"
For more information about YUKIGOI OUTDOOR MARKET, check out the official website and social media below!