Maiko Snow Resort is located in Minamiuonuma, just to the north of Yuzawa town, in Niigata Prefecture. Varied courses, a few tree run courses for experienced riders, great snow conditions, fast ski lifts, spectacular views and excellent ease of access make Maiko Snow Resort a popular resort.
Maiko Snow Resort has three main Areas and two 'bases'. Nagamine Area is home to the Maiko Gondola and about 2km from the exit of the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC of the Kanetsu Expressway. The Maiko Gondola takes you up to the Okusoechi Area, offering spectacular views of close-by Mt Iiji-san and the surrounding Minamiuonuma mountains. The Maiko Area of the resort is closes to the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC, the closest lift is just a few hundred meters from the IC exit, and night skiing and snowboarding is available in this area.
2025-2026 Season Topics
First Track CAT Tours are new for this season, allowing access to untouched powder before the ski lifts open. See below for details.
Autogate systems and IC lift tickets! Haglöfs Tree Run Areas are available in the upper Okusoechi area of the resort. This area is suitable for skilled/experienced riders and prior online registration is required. On the day, you need to check-in and receive a (returnable) armband to enter the tree run areas.
The Snow Escalator will be operating specially for the Kids School.
The Off Piste Zone in the Nagamine Area of Maiko Snow Resort is an ungroomed powder course, with a length of 1,000m and a maximum gradient of 32 degrees. It is a challenging course and highly recommended for those who enjoy untouched powder. (* Please note that the opening of this course area is dependant on the current snow and weather conditions on any given day).
First Track Cat Tour
The special "Haglöfs First Track Cat Tour" takes you to the summit by snowcat before the lifts open, giving you the chance to ski or board on freshly groomed untouched slopes! Riding on the silent morning slopes in crisp early morning conditions... a luxurious winter sports experience indeed!
Schedule:
Late January to Early March 2026 (tentative)
Meeting Location:
Day Trip Ski Center, in front of the ticket booth on the 1st floor
Capacity:
Maximum of 7 people.
A minimum of 3 people is required for the event to proceed. The event will be canceled if there are only one or two participants.
Participation Fee:
25,000 yen including a 1-day lift ticket
20,000 yen for those who already have a 1-day lift ticket
Application:
Advance reservations and payment are required.
Saturday, Sundays, and national holidays schedule:
6:00 AM: Meet
6:10 AM: Snowcat departure
6:35 AM: Arrive at the top of Nagamine No. 2 Quad Lift <1st Run>
7:40 AM: Board the Gondola <2nd Run>
8:00 AM: Board the Okusoechi Quad Lift <3rd Run>
Weekdays schedule:
6:30 AM: Meet
6:40 AM: Snowcat Depart
7:05 AM: Arrive at the top of Nagamine No. 2 Quad Lift <1st Run>
8:10 AM: Board the Gondola <2nd Run>
8:30 AM: Board the Okusoechi Quad Lift <3rd Run>
Please note that tour content may change due to weather and slope conditions. If conditions are right, you can experience up to three fast tracks
Day Ski Centre
The Day Ski Centre is open from 7am until 5:30pm on weekdays and until 6:00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The Day Ski Centre acts as a base to the resort and offers a variety of facilities - including the Spa Maiko Onsen and also the Gondola... be the first up to the slopes in a morning!
Ski Rental
Ski and snowboard rental is available at from 3 locations at the resort:
Day Ski Centre 8:00am - 5:00pm weekdays; 7:30am - 5:00pm holidays
Maiko Kogen Hotel 8:30am - 7:00pm weekdays; 8:00am - 8:00pm holidays
Maiko Parking Centre 8:30am - 7:00pm weekdays; 8:00am - 8:00pm holidays Some personal identification may be required for rental of equipment.
Ski and snowboard lessons in English & Chinese!
Maiko Snow Resort offers ski and snowboard lessons in English courtesy of Snow Country Instructors (call +81 (0)90 2400 5303), and in Chinese courtesy of JSKI Chinese Ski Snowboard School (call +81 0(80) 3529 6777).
Opening times
1st Floor
Ticket counter: 7:30am-4:30pm (8:15am-4:00pm weekdays)
Restaurant: 10:00am-4:30pm
Smiley Crepe: 9:30am-5:00pm
Shop: 7:45am-5:00pm (8:15am-5:00pm weekdays)
Omiyage souvenirs: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12:00pm-8:00pm weekdays)
Rental: 7:30am-5:00pm (8:00am-5:00pm weekdays)
Locker rooms: 7:00am-6:00pm (7:00am-5:30pm weekdays)
Changing rooms
Toilets
2nd Floor
Smile Kids Park: 9:30am-4:30pm (10:00am-3:30pm weekdays)
Mama Miki Kids Snow School: 9:00am-4:30pm
Hikidas Kids Snowboard Academy: 9:00am-4:30pm
Kids Room: 8:00am-4:00pm (8:30pm-4:00pm weekdays) * closed 12:00pm-1:00pm
3rd Floor
Restaurant:11:00am-3:00pm (closed weekdays)
Rest Room:8:30am-6:00pm
4th Floor
Spa Maiko Onsen: 2:00pm-6:00pm (2:30pm-5:30pm weekdays)
Restaurants
There are a number of restaurants around the resort, both at base and on the slopes offering a wide range of menus to choose from.
How to get to Maiko Snow Resort
By bus:
A free shuttle bus service is available from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Maiko Snow Resort - the journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Echigo Yuzawa Station is around 80 minutes from Tokyo Station using the Joetsu Shinkansen.
By car:
The Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC exit on the Kanetsu Expressway is less than 1km from the Maiko Area and about 2km from the base of the Nagamine Area. National Route 17 is less than 2km from the resort.
More information:
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