Maiko Snow Resort

A Maiko is an apprentice geisha or geiko in Kyoto Japan, and in a similar vein the Maiko Ski Resort is ideal for apprentice powder hounds learning the art of skiing or snowboarding, considering there are lots of mellow beginner and intermediate slopes. Maiko Snow Resort doesn’t have any particularly steep pitches (the maximum piste gradient is 32 degrees), but it can also be a bit of fun for apprentice off-piste riders.

The Maiko Ski Resort in the Yuzawa region is a popular spot for day ski trips from Tokyo, or it’s good for a day or two as part of a week-long Yuzawa skiing extravaganza. Any more, and a powder hound might be itching for something a bit more exciting.

Pros and Cons of Maiko Ski Resort

Pros

• Maiko is easily accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area by train. It’s also easy to drive there because it’s only 1 minute off the Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange of the Kanetsu Expressway.
• Maiko is very child friendly, although if you want child care, the staff might not speak English, and lessons are only offered in a private format (ie more expensive if only one pupil).
• The slopes are ideal for beginners.
• There is ski in ski out accommodation at the base of Maiko Ski Resort.
• The ski patrollers are not Mako sharks about heading off-piste.
• The resort has modern amenities.

Cons

• The terrain is unlikely to attract the attention of strong intermediate to advanced riders for more than a day (or half a day).
• Weekends can get very congested.

Maiko Ski and Snowboard Terrain

The Maiko Snow Resort is moderately sized relative to some of the pee wee resorts in the Yuzawa area. It has 11 lifts (including one gondola and 4 quad chairs), 26 courses (ie named runs), and 660 metres of vertical (260-920m).

The Maiko area on the right hand side of the resort (lookers’ right) has the Maiko Kogen Hotel at the base, and various green runs, some of which are so flat that you’ll need good wax on your skis or snowboard. A little further up are some short intermediate runs. The Maiko area also has night skiing.

The Nagamine area on the lookers’ left has the day base and a gondola, and is a smidgeon steeper than the hotel side. The Okusoechi area includes the back bowl, a mix of piste terrain, and powder stashes that are fair game although you have to register and wear an armband to ride in the trees. 

Where is Maiko Japan?

Maiko is one of the Yuzawa ski resorts and is only 9km north of Yuzawa, although it’s officially located in Minami Uonuma.

From Tokyo you can catch the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa Station (about 80 mins), which connects with a free shuttle bus to Maiko (about 20 minutes). 

Maiko Hotel and Accommodation

There’s not really a village per se at Maiko, but rather a handful of accommodations including the Maiko Kogen Hotel. This modern hotel is ski-in ski-out, has western style rooms, and has its own onsen. The Maiko Kogen Hotel has some ugly colours on the outside but it’s attractive on the inside and thankfully it’s not a towering monstrosity.

Maiko Accommodation Listings

Or you can stay in one of the Yuzawa hotels or in other Minami Uonuma accommodation.

Ski Resort Facilities

Maiko Snow Resort is rather modern and has lots of amenities and services. Kids are well catered for with child care, a kids’ room, two kids’ parks, a sledding course, banana boat rides, mini snowmobile rides, and private ski lessons in English.

There is also snowsports school for adults, and equipment and clothing rentals. Maiko also has an onsen and a relaxation room with big comfortable recliner chairs, so you don’t have to take a nap at a table in the cafeteria like the locals do at most Japanese ski resorts!

Maiko has various options for dining.

Guiding

Triforce offer guided tours of the off-piste areas, which isn’t really necessary. They also offer backcountry tours and backcountry lessons, although group numbers may be rather large as is often the case with Japanese guiding outfits.