Maiko Snow Resort (Minamiuonuma, Niigata)
www.maiko-resort.com
Friday 14th December 2018 until Sunday 7th April 2019 (*closed 1st-5th April)

Maiko Snow Resort is located in Minamiuonuma, just to the north of Yuzawa town, in Niigata Prefecture.  Varied courses, great snow conditions, fast ski lifts, spectacular views and excellent ease of access make Maiko Snow Resort a popular resort. Topics for the 2018-2019 season here.

** More details and snow & weather report for Maiko Snow Resort can be found here **

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. Maiko Snow Resort: Maximum elevation: 920m Minimum elevation: 260m Vertical: 660m 40% beginner level 40% intermediate level 20% advanced level Courses: 70% groomed 20% ungrommed 10% moguls 400m sledge course 26 courses in total 6,000m longest skiable course Steepest course 32 Lifts: 1 Gondola (2800m) 4 quad lifts 1 triple lift 4 pair lifts 1 single lift

Courses

Lifts

2018-2019 Season Topics

New items and a renewal of the Maiko Snow Park 'Garden' park, in the Maiko Area of the resort.

For the 2018-2019 season, the new Hikidas Kids Snowboard Academy will offer snowboard lessons for children. Mama Miki Kids Snow School will be looking after ski lessons for children.

The 'Bank Yard' park area on the Dolphin Course (M13) in the Maiko Area is a popular park area featuring bank, wave, mound, table top and other park items.

The 'HIKE UP PARK' is located on the Paradise Course (M19).

The 'Tree House' on the Mori no Stage (M25) course of the Maiko Area offers a fine place to rest and watch what is going on - you might even spot some wild animal tracks in the snow!

The Peak Performance '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).

Special 'Kids Areas' - in the Maiko Area and the Nagamine Area. The entry charge is 500 yen for children ages 3 and over - that charge includes sledge rental and use of the snow escalator.

Tours are available for first tracks - ask at the Day Ski Centre.

Day Ski Centre

The Day Ski Centre is open from 11:45pm from 28th December 2018 until 23rd March 2019, closing at 7pm - changing rooms and onsen are open during this time, allowing you the chance for first tracks and excellent early morning snow conditions.  At other times during the season the Day Ski Centre is open from 7am until 6pm.

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!

Lift Tickets

*1 Day Pass - from open on first day until close on first day
*2 Day Pass - from open on first day until close on second day
*3 Day Pass - from open on first day until close on third day

Floodlit night skiing and boarding from 4pm until 8pm in the Maiko Area.

Banana Boat ride: 500 yen per person (5 years and over)
11am-3pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

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.

Other equipment is available for rent including helmets (500 yen).

Ski and snowboard lessons in English!

This year Maiko Snow Resort is introducing ski and snowboard lessons in English, courtesy of Snow Country Instructors.  For more information on Snow Country Instructors, please visit their website or call +81 (0)90 2400 5303.

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.

Events 2018-2019 Season

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.

Maiko Kogen Hotel is located right by the slopes in the Maiko Area of the ski resort. More information on Maiko Kogen Hotel can be found here.

www.maiko-resort.com