Explaining the pro`s of Yuzawa’s many ski resorts

focus on food – convenience – terrain

The Yuzawa valley is a hot spot for winter tourism, with a wide range of different ski resorts up and down the valley. Hidden gems are all over for food lovers, and you can get a real sense of the locals` food tastes at almost any restaurant you go to. All this with the easy convenience of getting here and getting around whilst your out on the mountain. This guide will suggest 5 different resorts for beginners, my recommended lunch option, as well as the convenience in getting here, and the terrain. The following order is how I like to do it when skiers come to Yuzawa for the first time.

For a first time skier there is a lot of worry about on your first day. The worry about skiing and the equipment can be a lot of stress. I reckon going to Daishin, a local rental shop on Onsen Street just next to Yuzawa Kogen ski resort is the best for convenience and price, you can get a multi-day package and lifts to and from resorts on later days as well as drying the boots, the rest you should dry yourself, especially goggles.

Today, however, no lift is needed as Daishin is perfectly positioned and right next to the first ski resort they recommend. The lower slope and chairlift are gentle and easy to use. Perfect for any beginner to use once they can start to slow down and stop. You can go just across the road for tonkatsu at Ninjintei when you’re ready for some lunch after mastering stopping. It`s a very popular place to eat, being filling, as well as close by. Head back out in the afternoon to start turning and enjoy the afternoon cruising about on a nice gentle slope.

The second day we move on to Maiko. It has a more exciting slope than Kogen as well as being a bit longer, with more variety in terrain available for you. Most rental companies will give you a lift from your hotel to their location and then the ski resort. You will want go to the hotel side, and I recommend starting with the two-man ski lift of the far side of Maiko Lodge, a central location on the slopes. This is normally the most quiet and has a good choice of downhill routes to keep you entertained. The gondola side will not be good on the second day so please go to the hotel side.  You can eat at the lodge or the hotel for something convenient. For those feeling adventurous ski down to the lower chairs and pop into town to find something to eat. All lower slopes will start to open up to you and you should find yourself happily cruising about by the end of the day!

On the third day I often take my guests to Iwappara ski resort. This is a must see for any beginner in Yuzawa. The resort is slightly steeper than Maiko which gives skiers the chance to pick up a bit of extra speed needed to make the next step in their skiing, parallel turns. This resort can also help give the confidence with wide open runs, and often being quiet it`s a fantastic option which is why I most often teach here. The first chairlift you will want to try is the two-man chair from the base of the clock tower next to the park. Please ask to be left at the center of the resort near the clocktower instead of the very bottom which would require you to take a chair and walk to get there. After this there is a four-man chair with a bit of a steeper start but twice as wide lower down and great for families. Go to the skiers left (left as you look down the slope) when you first get there. For lunch I would recommend the pizza restaurant which you can find near the base of the four man chair. This resort offers a lot for beginner-intermediate level skiers and most people can happily spend two days there.

If you are looking for somewhere new for the fourth day you could try to look at Kandatsu. Whilst the resort is famous for its amazing park it also has nice wide mellow slopes with some adventures for the bolder ones on chairlifts on the lookers left. The first chair that I would recommend skiing can be accessed by taking the first small chair up and at the top of that going to the left and then to the lone chair on that side. This has access to the park on the far side which can give some good entertainment whilst you’re riding up. Feel free to have a go after a good warm up but read and obey the rules and consider a lesson. For lunch the main option is the large building to the right side at the top of the first chair. I particularly like Kandatsu for its variety of terrain which can be fun for everyone and lets you give it a go!

The final day has to be Ishiuchi.  One of Yuzawa`s bigger resorts, it has the largest range of terrain. With three bases to start from it`s hard to know which to choose. I recommend starting at Hatsukashi which while being the busiest of the 3 starting points, is probably the most gentle. After mastering this area you should start to make your way up the mountain to the central or chuo area, this tends to be quite a bit quieter than the Hatsukashi area and offers fun with banks and slopes just off to the side of wide groomers. Lunch on the higher slopes is a personal favorite. With great views of the Minamiuonuma/Yuzawa area, you can really appreciate the fantastic town.

Another great resort for beginners on the 3rd or 4th day is Tashiro but being a bit further away, some ski rental services may not take you there.

For the more advanced skiers I think Kagura is a great option which has amazing free riding. Having a huge vertical for the area and the largest total area it’s hard to beat.