Maiko Snow Resort Ski Center — Attraction in Minamiuonuma

Highly recommend this ski resort for beginners and first timers. There are two ski areas, consisting of the Maiko Kogen Hotel and the day ski centre. The day ski centre has a nice long and wide beginner main course and very gentle course at the top of the chairlift which is great for practice. The course from the top of the gondola is more challenging with many people, narrow turns and steeper sections. The Hotel side has more difficult beginner slopes compared to the day ski centre and slower lifts. There is a connecting chairlift between the two sides as well. Finally, the shuttle bus from Yuzawa is spacious (less waiting time compared to other resorts due to full buses) and has a luggage compartment for your gear, which...

reasonably well equipped place for day trippers though could be better. The day centre is right next to the slopes though so right after changing you can immediately get on a lift to the slopes. They do also have a shower/onsen which I've never tried before so far and they do have a shop selling essentials but not a lot. Food-wise seems to be lacking but that might be just me. Convenient bus stop right outside the day centre which takes you back to Echigo...

Maiko is great resort for a day out. It has a good mix of terrain that will have something to suit most people. The resort is split into two sides connected with a horizontal chairlift. One side has the Maiko Kogen Hotel and the terrain park, the other has the ski center, long gondola and access to some of the steeper runs. It is a very good resort for beginners as some of the runs are...