Ishiuchi Maruyama is a ski area located in the Ishiuchi neighbourhood of Minamiuonuma City in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
This ski area has three base areas - the Chuo Entrance (Main on the English course map), the Kita Entrance (North in English) and the Hatsukaishi Entrance.
This ski area is connected with the Northern Area of the GALA Yuzawa ski area (in Yuzawa Town) at the top of the mountain. GALA Yuzawa is then connected with the Yuzawa Kogen ski area by a ropeway lift. A joint lift ticket valid at all three ski areas, known as Yuzawa Snow Link, is available during the main season.
There are currently 14 ski lifts at Ishiuchi Maruyama, including four quad and five triple lifts. There have been various developments at Ishiuchi Maruyama in recent years, including the Sunrise Express hybrid gondola and six-person lift, a triple lift and a new base Ski Centre building in the Main Entrance area.
In 2023, the ski area added a new pair ski lift (called Chuo Family) which covers the lower section of the Chuo area and effectively connects it with the Kanko Base. A new Resort Center Annex facility also opened and the main car park was expanded.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
920
Vertical (m)
664
Bottom/base (m)
256
Beginner runs (%)
40
Intermediate runs (%)
40
Advanced runs (%)
20
Longest course (m)
4000
Steepest slope (°)
35
Number of courses
23
Ski lifts
14
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
1
Quad lift (4-person)
4
Triple lift (3-person)
5
Pair lift (2-person)
4
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Ishiuchi Maruyama usually plans to be open from mid- to late December until early April. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
Ishiuchi Maruyama is normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm in the daytime.
Night skiing
This ski area has traditionally been famous for it's night skiing.
The Kita (North) base area is open for night skiing from 4:00pm until 8:00pm on the following dates:
Daily from Saturday 27th December 2025 until Saturday 28th February 2026
Fridays and Saturdays in March until 28th March 2026
Night skiing in the Hatsukaishi base area is only on Saturdays until 7th March 2026.
Park & off-piste
There are two park areas called Main Park and Beginner Park. The large 170m Gungho Monster Pipe is actually operated by Minamiuonuma city rather than the ski area itself. It is located in the central area of the ski area, near the top of the gondola lift. Is is normally open from 9:00am through 1:00pm on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the daytime and from 4:15pm through 7:45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when there are night skiing operations. Extra charges apply for the Monster Pipe.
The snow on in a five areas is left ungroomed and there are also two official tree run courses.
Families & children
The area known as The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama features a Snow Activities area as well as a Snow Escalator and Snow Terrace featuring 'dome tents'. The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama is close to the top of the Sunrise Express gondola and can be accessed using a gondola return ticket. Open daily from 20th December 2024 through 6th April 2025.
The Yuki Asobi Park ('Snow Play Park') is located close to the Resort Center building by the Main Entrance. Entry to that facility is 1,000 yen (or free with a valid lift ticket). Normally open on weekends and holidays (and over New Year), from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
Various types of 'kids tickets' are available for entry into facilities as well as lifts/gondola.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Ishiuchi Maruyama. There are a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Yuzawa area and offer lessons in English.
Rental
Ski and snowboard equipment & wear rental is available from various locations around the bases.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
8.5 hours
Adult: 7,900 yen
Child: 4,200 yen
Senior: 6,700 yen
4 hours
Adult: 6,300 yen
Child: 3,200 yen
Senior: 5,300 yen
10 hours
Adult: 12,000 yen
Night skiing
Adult: 3,800 yen
Child: 2,000 yen
Senior: 3,200 yen
All day ticket
Adult: 8,700 yen
Child: 4,600 yen
Senior: 7,400 yen
2 days
Adult: 14,800 yen
Child: 7,800 yen
3 days
Adult: 21,000 yen
Child: 11,100 yen
Senior: 1,7800 yen
4 days
Adult: 28,000 yen
Child: 14,800 yen
5 days
Adult: 35,000 yen
Child: 18,500 yen
1 point:
Adult: 500 yen
Gondola return
Adult: 3,500 yen
Child: 1,800 yen
The 2 Day ticket is valid for night skiing on the first night and until 5:00pm on the second day.
The 3 Day ticket is valid for night skiing the first and second nights and until 5:00pm on the third day.
Some tickets are available at lower charges when booked online in advance.
Historical snow depth data
The following ski season and official snow depth data have been independently compiled by SnowJapan for publication on this website. Where available, the data is updated annually after each ski season.
First and last dates of recent seasons
2025-2026 season: 19th December - 5th April (108 days)
2024-2025 season: 20th December - 6th April (108 days)
2023-2024 season: 20th December - 7th April (110 days)
2022-2023 season: 26th December - 2nd April (98 days)
2021-2022 season: 19th December - 3rd April (106 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 310cm on 1st February
2024-2025 season: 470cm on 25th February
2023-2024 season: 170cm on 28th-30th January, 13th-14th and 22nd March
2022-2023 season: 290cm on 6th January
2021-2022 season: 480cm on 24th February
2020-2021 season: 340cm on 10th, 19th-20th February
2019-2020 season: 260cm on 11th-13th February
2018-2019 season: 340cm on 29th January, 2nd February
2017-2018 season: 340cm on 28th-30th January
2016-2017 season: 300cm on 14th-16th February
2015-2016 season: 210cm on 11th-12th February
2014-2015 season: 410cm on 15th February
Resources
More information on Ishiuchi Maruyama
Official website [link opens in new window]
Daily weather & snow reporting on SnowJapan
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [links open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
Bears House (about 0.1km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 0.1km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 0.2km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 0.8km)
Takahan (about 2.5km)
Hatago Isen (about 3.8km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 3.8km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 6.3km)
Garden Cress (about 7.9km)
Osawakan (about 8km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 12km)
Ryugon (about 12.4km)
The Kinta Naeba (about 26.7km)
SnowJapan Directory: ski school listing in the region
Introduction to the region
Niigata Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of the main island of Honshu, and it is commonly associated with the Hokuriku subregion. The long Niigata coastline faces the Sea of Japan, and the prefecture borders Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, and Toyama Prefecture.
Niigata played a significant role in the history of skiing in Japan. After Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture, it is currently home to the third-most ski areas in Japan.
The ski areas of Niigata are scattered across the mountainous regions of the prefecture, and there is even one on Sado Island. The majority can be found in Yuzawa Town & Minamiuonuma City in the Chuetsu region and Myoko City in the Joetsu region.
Yuzawa Town and neighbouring Minamiuonuma City are currently home to 18 individual ski areas, including some of the most well-known in Japan. With easy and quick access by train and road and a wide choice in a relatively compact area, this region is one of Japan's most popular ski destinations. The region usually receives heavy, consistent snowfall each winter. Yuzawa is also known for its hot springs and as the inspiration for the Nobel Prize-winning novel Yukiguni (Snow Country).
Ishiuchi Maruyama is one of 7 ski areas currently operating in Minamiuonuma City.
About the information on this page
SnowJapan independently researches, checks and updates the information on this page at least once each year, in the lead-up to every ski season. We also update it whenever we become aware of other changes. The information published on SnowJapan is based on independent research using official Japanese-language sources and is not supplied by ski areas. If you are planning to visit a ski area, we recommend checking the official ski area website for the latest operational information. We take great care to keep the information on SnowJapan accurate and up to date. However, SnowJapan accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on information published on this website.
Learn more about how we research, check and update information on SnowJapan.