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Maiko Snow Resort in Niigata Prefecture offers a diverse range of 26 courses for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers, plus you can enjoy the longest run of 6000 meters! It's a popular resort for a reason.
The popularity of Maiko Snow Resort isn't just because of the size of the slopes, but also its great accessibility. It's just a minute away from the Kan-Etsu Expressway's Shiozawa-Ishiuchi Interchange to the resort's parking lot! Most of the drive is on a smooth highway with few sharp turns, making it really comfortable. Plus, with short travel time considering the distance, you’ll have plenty of time to ski, even on a day trip. That's why it’s one of the most popular ski resorts with a fantastic repeat rate among all the bus tours!
Plus, Maiko Snow Resort has great facilities and dining options! There’s a food court in the center house, and you’ll find a variety of unique restaurants scattered across the slopes. The diverse food options are known for being delicious beyond your imagination!
Let’s dive into the attraction of Maiko Snow Resort that makes you want to hit the slopes with your friends!

Thanks to the convenient day-use ski center, bus tours are super comfortable!

Maiko Snow Resort's slopes are made up of the 'Nagamine and Okusoechi area' with a gondola, and the 'Maiko area' where the Maiko Kogen Hotel is located at the base. The gondola side has a parking lot that can accommodate 1,200 cars, and this is where the tour buses arrive. Once the bus arrives, you head to the day-use ski center right next to the parking lot. This comfortable facility has everything you need for your preparations before skiing and for after you're done, including ticket sales, rentals, and changing rooms. Let’s start by introducing this awesome facility!
As soon as you enter the center, you'll find the rental desk on the right. If you need to rent equipment or gear, just take care of it here!
Maiko uses the 'BRAND VIKING RENTAL SYSTEM,' so you can freely choose the snowboard, boots, and gear you want to use. If you’re not sure what to pick, feel free to ask the staff for advice and help with your selection. Plus, as long as it’s during the rental period, you can swap out your gear whenever you want! You can enjoy snowboarding in the morning and switch to skiing in the afternoon!
There’s a wide variety of rental gear available! You can choose your favorite designs and colors, and mix and match sizes for your top and bottom. Pick your own style and have fun on the slopes!
If you don’t have your own accessories like beanies or gloves, you can either bring them from home or buy them at the shop inside the center. They have a great selection of ski and snowboard gear, so even just browsing around can be a lot of fun!
Especially popular at the shop are goggles and gloves. Many people rent their favorite gear at Maiko and then buy goggles and gloves to match their outfit!
On the fourth floor of the ski center, there's 'Spa Maiko Onsen,' which is super convenient for rinsing off after skiing before hopping on the bus back. The entrance fee is 1,000 yen. They also offer towel rentals (requires a fee), so you can easily make use of the facilities!
The bath (the photo shows the men's section) is spacious! It’s the perfect place to relax and warm up your body, easing away the fatigue from skiing before heading home!
After your bath, you can enjoy some relaxation time as long as you want with the sofas and manga available in the hallway!
Also, there’s a super comfy free relaxation area on the third floor of the ski center that only a few people know about. It’s a spacious tatami-matted area where food and drinks aren’t allowed, but you can chill and rest until 5 PM, so keep that in mind!
On your way back, don’t forget to stop by the shop on the first floor of the ski center for souvenirs. They have a great selection of local specialties from Niigata, including snacks made with rice. There’s also delicious sake available, making it a perfect gift for any sake lovers!

There’s a wide variety of courses to enjoy, no matter your skill level!

Sorry for the lengthy intro, but let’s dive into the features of the slopes at Maiko Snow Resort!
For beginners and those new to skiing, it might be a bit daunting to head straight to the top via the gondola. Instead, I recommend taking the Nagamine No. 1 Quad Lift and skiing down the lower part of the Run Run Course along the lift!
As you can see in the photo, it’s a super gentle slope where you can pretty much glide along on your board with ease. The straight and open course gives you a clear view, making it less likely to feel scared. That’s why anyone can have fun skiing here! If it’s your first time or you haven’t skied in a while, it’s a great place to get comfortable and practice!
Once you can stop and turn properly, hop on the gondola and head towards the Okusoechi area at the top of the slopes!
You might have noticed in the photo, but the Maiko Gondola features a total of eight cabins designed to resemble the yellow buses of Orion Tour!
If you're lucky enough to ride on one of these special collaboration cabins, that's a huge win! On the day I was there for the interview, I randomly got to ride the Orion Tour cabin just once, completely by chance and no staging involved. I was so nervous waiting for my turn, and when the yellow cabin finally appeared, it was an emotional moment! (LOL) The more you ski and ride the gondola, the better your chances might be!
If the weather is nice, make sure to enjoy the scenery while riding the gondola!
Intermediate to advanced skiers should hit the slopes in the Okusoechi area at the top, where you can enjoy great snow quality, stunning views on sunny days, and the natural contours of the landscape. Even when it’s snowing and visibility is poor, you can still have a blast riding on the light, powdery snow!
And the best part about Maiko is that skiers of all levels can enjoy a long run from the top all the way to the bottom. The Okusoechi Run Run Course to the Nagamine Run Run Course offers a maximum run of 6,000 meters, which even beginners can enjoy!
Intermediate and advanced skiers can switch to the Byun Byun Course partway through the Run Run Course, and it’ll still connect back, so you can challenge yourself while skiing alongside your beginner friends!
At the bottom of the Run Run Course, there’s a 'Shuttle Pair Lift' that gives you access to the Maiko area. And of course, there are lift stations in the Maiko area too, making it easy to come back!
When you get off the Shuttle Pair Lift, you'll start by gliding down a lovely course through the forest. Unlike the expansive Okusoechi and Nagamine areas, the Maiko area is more compact but offers a variety of fun for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers!
The “Champion Course,” which hosts qualifiers for a global freeride competition, is compact but offers powder runs and tree runs when it snows. If the course is open, advanced skiers should definitely give it a try! If the Champion Course is too challenging for intermediate skiers, there’s a layout that allows you to take a detour to the wider Dolphin Course.
When the Champion Course and Dolphin Course merge, there’s a spot where you can look down and see the Maiko Kogen Hotel and the Uonuma Plain. This area has relatively few skiers, making it a hidden gem with a nice, easy slope to enjoy!
At the top of the Maiko area, there’s a snow park that’s super popular, featuring a variety of kickers and jib sections. On weekends, they also offer one-point lessons and host events!
If you want to get better and really improve your skills, I definitely recommend taking advantage of the school. You'll level up in no time! Plus, the 'Maiko Snow School' offers a free 30-minute introductory lesson called the 'Smile Lesson' to safely and comfortably help you kickstart your snowboarding journey.
In the Smile Lesson, you'll learn the basics, like how to attach your board and adjust your bindings.
This isn’t a scene of dancing on the slopes! (LOL) In the lesson, you’ll work on using your ankles to control your heels and learn how to maneuver your board while sliding. The content might vary a bit depending on the number of participants.
In the regular lessons, you'll dive into more enjoyable techniques to make your skiing even better. Plus, during the lessons, you get priority access to the lifts! This is super convenient, especially during busy weekends, so you can make the most of your time learning.
As you learn the basics in the school and gain access to more slopes, the fun just keeps growing, and you’ll be able to discover even more of what makes Maiko Snow Resort so special. So, have fun and go for it!

Just like you should expect fun on the slopes, get ready for some delicious mountain food that Maiko takes pride in!

Maiko Snow Resort is not only known for its awesome slopes but also for its delicious mountain food! A great spot for lunch is the food court 'PIXY PLAZA' on the first floor of the ski center. Here, you'll find mouthwatering options like gourmet burgers, curry, rice bowls from local favorites, and the must-have ramen at any ski resort—there's so much to choose from!
Minami-Uonuma City in Niigata Prefecture is famous for its premium Koshihikari rice, and since Niigata faces the Sea of Japan, you can also enjoy fresh seafood. That's why you can find something unique on the mountain food menu: delicious seafood rice bowls!
You can’t help but smile, right? (LOL) The seafood rice bowls from 'Uonuma Kamakura Maiko' are limited in quantity, so make sure to order early! And the authentic burgers from 'Whistler Cafe' with a Canadian vibe are super hearty and absolutely delicious!
The 'Salmon Ikura Bowl' is also a big hit with women and highly recommended! You’ll definitely want to think carefully about whether to go for that or the seafood rice bowl.
The 'Avocado Cheese Burger' is super popular with women, while the guys should definitely go for the 'Maiko Big Burger.' And don’t miss out on the 'Poutine' in the back of the photo, which features fries topped with rich sauce and cheese—it's a must-try!
Another great spot for mountain food is 'café at the top ITADAKI,' right in front of the gondola summit station. You can enjoy your meal or drink while taking in the breathtaking panoramic views!
At ITADAKI, you can find plates featuring curry, hamburgers, and more, along with options like fried chicken, fries, and onion rings. A top lunch recommendation is the luxurious 'Itadaki Plate,' which comes with curry topped with fried chicken or a hamburger steak!
The drink menu is great, and they also have pancakes, making it a perfect spot for a break!

If you want to create lots of memories with your friends, the tour packages that include accommodations are a great deal and highly recommended!

Orion Tour offers not only day trip tours to Maiko Snow Resort but also packages that include accommodations. The place we stayed at during this tour is “Kou Shichi Ryokan,” just about a 5-minute drive from Maiko Snow Resort. It’s known for its reasonable rates and the chance to enjoy delicious food and fun!
What makes Kou Shichi Ryokan special is, of course, the meals featuring Koshihikari rice. It’s so delicious that you could eat it by itself all day long! And don’t underestimate the tastiness of the side dishes, which will make you devour even more rice. You’ll definitely leave feeling full!
And having a drink in your room before bed will surely lead to fun memories with friends. After lots of skiing, eating, drinking, and sleeping, you’re guaranteed to feel happy!
By the way, there’s a free shuttle bus running between the ryokan and the ski resort, so be sure to take advantage of it. It’s just a 1 to 4-minute walk from the ryokan arranged by the tour to the shuttle bus stop, and it takes about 5 to 7 minutes to get to the ski resort!

Create the best, most fun memories with Orion Tour!

Orion Tour's bus tours take you and your friends to various ski resorts, starting with Maiko Snow Resort, for a fun and easy experience!
Going on a day trip to different ski resorts with friends is a blast, and an overnight tour for non-stop fun is just the best!
Whether it's sunny or snowy, whether the snow is great or not, the time spent playing together at the ski resort and the memories made will surely become valuable treasures.
Not just for the joy of skiing, but to create plenty of memories with friends—let's hit the slopes with a bus tour!
Photo & Text by Tomohiro WATANABE

オリオンツアー

This popular tour company offers bus tours to over 100 ski resorts across Japan, focusing on those in Nagano, Niigata, and Gunma Prefectures, stretching from Fukushima in the north to Hiroshima in the south. They provide day trips that can start in the morning or the previous night, and their overnight tours allow for accommodation selection, along with affordable options that include lift tickets and rentals. Especially popular among students, Orion Tours makes it easy for first-time snowboarders and skiers to enjoy their time on the slopes!

Maiko Snow Resort

Located just off the Kanetsu Expressway at the Shiozawa-Ishiuchi Interchange, this resort boasts excellent access. With a diverse range of 26 courses, it caters to everyone from beginners and families on expansive gentle slopes to advanced skiers seeking steep challenges. Beginners can enjoy a long 6,000-meter cruising experience using the gondola. The resort features appealing facilities such as a food court, rental services, hot springs, and childcare services, ensuring a satisfying day trip. There are also comprehensive school options, including a dedicated ski and snowboard school for kids

Facility Information

舞子スノーリゾート
Address
〒949-6423　新潟県南魚沼市舞子2056-108
URL
https://www.maiko-resort.com/

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