A spectacular slope with state-of-the-art facilities! "Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort" in Niigata Prefecture
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About 80 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Once you exit the tunnel, you will arrive at the pure white snow country "Yuzawa Area". There are many ski resorts in this area, but one of the most popular is "Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort", which has a history of over 75 years and has been loved by fans for many years.
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Located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort opened in 1949, and many skiers have been heading to this slope and excited by the charm of the mountain since long before the ski boom. The special experiences that can only be found here, such as abundant natural snow, spectacular views of the Uonuma Plain and the Echigo mountains, and the food culture unique to snowy regions, have remained loved by many people who enjoy snowy mountains, unchanged from the past to the present. While preserving tradition, in recent years, we have introduced facilities such as the state-of-the-art combination lift "Sunrise Express" so that even customers who are new to snowy mountains can stay with peace of mind, proposing a new charm of snowy mountains that combines tradition and modern comfort to meet the needs of the times. In addition, from the summer of 2022, it will evolve into a year-round outdoor resort as The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama. In a luxurious location surrounded by beautiful scenery and rich nature, you can discover a new Ishiuchi Maruyama every time you visit, regardless of the season.
- Table of Contents
- What is Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort?
- The latest combination lift, "Sunrise Express"
- Come empty-handed! We provide all the services you need for the snowy mountains in one place☆
- Enjoy the snowy mountains even if you don't ski! "The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama"
- Experience glamping on snow in a transparent dome tent
- Multilingual support available! Buying tickets online is convenient and saves money!
- Only 80 minutes from Tokyo! Enjoy skiing and natural snow on a day trip
- Summary of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
What is Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort?
The biggest attraction of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is its scale, boasting a total area of 236 hectares.
With a total of 13 lifts and gondolas, an elevation difference of 664m, and a longest run of 4,000m, this is one of the largest ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture. There are 23 different courses, including plenty of courses for beginners and kids, so you can have fun with peace of mind.
What's more, all courses have great views, and you can enjoy the spectacular location unique to Ishiuchi Maruyama, overlooking the Uonuma Plain and the Echigo Sanzan mountains.
The area around Ishiuchi Maruyama is blessed with an abundance of natural snow, making it one of the snowiest areas in Japan, and when it snows you can enjoy plenty of natural snow. On heavy days, the snow can pile up to more than 50 centimeters in one night.
In addition, there is a high-quality snow park that takes advantage of the abundant snow, and one of the largest night slopes in the country, making for an excellent skiing experience! Conquering the slopes at Ishiuchi Maruyama is even considered a status symbol for advanced skiers.
The latest combination lift, "Sunrise Express"
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is a long-established ski resort that opened over half a century ago in 1949.
Despite this, in recent years it has become a much talked about ski resort with the latest facilities appearing one after another and being renovated into a new ski resort.
One of the most symbolic features of Ishiuchi Maruyama in recent years is the world's most advanced combination lift, the Sunrise Express.
Sunrise Express is a mixed lift that operates on one line with a 10-seater gondola cabin and a 6-seater chairlift. It is very quiet during operation and provides a first-class ride.
The 10-seater gondola cabin features wide, highly cushioned leather seats, and the hooded 6-seater chairs are equipped with seat heaters, making them comfortable even on cold days.
Come empty-handed! We provide all the services you need for the snowy mountains in one place☆
The Ishiuchi Maruyama Resort Center at the central entrance of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort opened at the foot of the mountain in the same year as the Sunrise Express and is a landmark of the resort.
The symbolic design is based on the beautiful surrounding mountains, and the all-glass building creates a bright and open atmosphere. The information center, shops, rentals, and other facilities necessary for a ski resort are all concentrated here, providing a sense of security.
There is free Wi-Fi and a lounge space where you can relax and unwind. The powder rooms are clean, and the women's changing and locker rooms are equipped with large mirrors and hairdryers, which is a nice touch.
Ishiuchi Maruyama Resort Center also has a rental shop with the latest gear, and using good gear is a shortcut to improving your skills.
There are also shops that stock ski accessories and original souvenirs, as well as stores that stock brands such as GOLDWIN and THE NORTH FACE, and a wide range of high-performance wear and apparel that you won't want to miss.
The cafe stand also serves hot coffee and freshly baked bread, making it a convenient place to take a break and meet up with friends.
Enjoy the snowy mountains even if you don't ski! "The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama"
The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama is an observation area at the top of the gondola mountain. It has an observation terrace overlooking the Uonuma Plain and an adjoining cafe, as well as a variety of activities, so you can experience the snowy mountains in the open, silvery world, even if you don't ski.
The cafe's popular "Snowy Mountain Pancakes" feature a unique dough inspired by snowy mountains and are topped with colorful fruits, and many visitors to Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort just to try this dish.
From the observation terrace, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Uonuma Plain and the Echigo Sanzan mountains below.
The interior of the store is designed to resemble a mountain resort, and the main floor on the second floor is a relaxing space with a flickering bonfire. Come and soothe your tired body and mind after a day of skiing.
Right next door is "ROKKA," a restaurant themed on experiencing the food culture of snow country, where you can enjoy drinks and food made with Japanese sake and koji.
See more about The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama▶
Experience glamping on snow in a transparent dome tent
The most popular feature at The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama is the dome tent.
The transparent dome tents set up on the snow create a private space that allows you to feel one with nature while also being comfortable. If you pick up some takeaway food from the cafe, you can easily get the feeling of glamping on the snow!
What's more, families will be delighted to know that there will be a snow play area set up in front of the dome tent.
You can use the slides as much as you like, so adults and children can have fun playing in the natural snow to their heart's content.
Multilingual support available! Buying tickets online is convenient and saves money!
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is also moving forward with digitalizing lift tickets, which is extremely convenient.
Tickets sold online can be purchased at a discount compared to the regular counter price, and you can collect your tickets smoothly without having to wait in line at the counter by simply holding the 2D barcode issued over a special machine (some tickets are not eligible).
In addition, the online site is available in up to 17 languages, making it convenient for users from overseas.
There are also English and Chinese speaking staff on hand at the local information desk, so please feel free to consult the staff if you run into any problems while you're there.
Only 80 minutes from Tokyo! Enjoy skiing and natural snow on a day trip
Another big attraction of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is its easy access.
You can get there directly from Tokyo on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen, and it takes about 80 minutes to reach the nearest station, Echigo Yuzawa Station.
Once you get off at Echigo Yuzawa Station, head to the East Exit where a free shuttle bus runs daily and will take you to the ski resort in about 10 minutes.
If you are driving, the nearest interchange is Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway. From the interchange to the ski resort, there are no mountain passes and it is only about 3 km, so it takes about 5 minutes to get there.
Summary of Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
What do you think? Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is not only vast in scale and has a spectacular location, but also boasts new facilities and equipment such as the Sunrise Express and The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama.
This winter, be sure to come and experience a new snowy mountain experience at Ishiuchi Maruyama!
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
949-6372 1655 Ishiuchi, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort is located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Since its opening in 1949, many skiers have been heading to this slope and excited by the charm of the mountain, long before the ski boom.
The special experiences that can only be found here, such as the abundant natural snow, the spectacular views of the Uonuma Plain and the Echigo mountains, and the food culture unique to snowy countries, have remained loved by many people who enjoy snowy mountains, unchanged from the past to the present.
While preserving tradition, in recent years, we have introduced facilities such as the state-of-the-art combination lift "Sunrise Express" so that even customers who are new to snowy mountains can stay with peace of mind, proposing a new charm of snowy mountains that combines tradition and modern comfort to meet the needs of the times.
In addition, from the summer of 2022, it will evolve into a year-round outdoor resort as The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama.
You can enjoy a luxurious time surrounded by beautiful scenery and rich nature.
You can discover a new Ishiuchi Maruyama every time you visit, regardless of the season.
Located in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort opened in 1949, and many skiers have been heading to this slope and excited by the charm of the mountain since long before the ski boom. The special experiences that can only be found here, such as abundant natural snow, spectacular views of the Uonuma Plain and the Echigo mountains, and the food culture unique to snowy regions, have remained loved by many people who enjoy snowy mountains, unchanged from the past to the present. While preserving tradition, in recent years, we have introduced facilities such as the state-of-the-art combination lift "Sunrise Express" so that even customers who are new to snowy mountains can stay with peace of mind, proposing a new charm of snowy mountains that combines tradition and modern comfort to meet the needs of the times. In addition, from the summer of 2022, it will evolve into a year-round outdoor resort as The Veranda Ishiuchi Maruyama. In a luxurious location surrounded by beautiful scenery and rich nature, you can discover a new Ishiuchi Maruyama every time you visit, regardless of the season.
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