Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort

Hakkaisan is so much more than just an award winning sake. The mountain itself is home to the Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort, which is primarily serviced by the Hakkaisan Ropeway. Muikamachi Hakkaisan is just a small little ski area, but it’s reasonably steep and if you’re into moguls then you’ll be in heaven. Moguls aside, there is also some other fun terrain for powder hounds to explore, so long as you can appear invisible and have well developed avi savvy and good route finding skills.

Pros and Cons of Muikamachi Hakkaisan

Pros

• Hakkaisan Ski Resort has good off-piste and amazing sidecountry terrain, and a consistently steep-ish fall line that’s a bit of a rarity in Japan.
• Hakkaisan is far enough away from Yuzawa to keep the crowds to a minimum and there are very few powder chasers there.
• Hakkaisan is a snow catcher and renowned for receiving very heavy snowfall.
• The combination of the terrain and the lack of crowds add up to Hakkaisan being an amazing destination for powder hounds when the snow is on.
• It seems only apt to sample the award winning Hakkaisan sake and microbrew whilst you’re there
• Due to its proximity to an abundance of other Yuzawa ski resorts, it’s easy to include Hakkaisan on a multi-resort trip. You can either DIY or go on an organised trip.

Cons

• This is a small ski area with minimal piste terrain, and there’s very little on offer for beginners or intermediates.
• The slope orientation is not conducive to great snow quality and it’s a complete roll of the dice with respect to picking the conditions. When it’s on it’s great but when it’s off, it’s a bit sour.
• The sidecountry has lots of hazards and terrain traps, and combined with the southerly aspect, it is rather prone to avalanches.
• The lifts are slow and whilst the ropeway is fast, it’s not that efficient.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

• Muikamachi Hakkaisan is renowned for its moguls if that’s what you’re into, but it only has 2-3 black runs and they quickly get rather boring.
• You risk losing your lift pass if you head into the very tasty sidecountry. The guiding company has a monopoly on this area and will charge you a lot to be guided in a big group of 12 people.
• Kids 12 and under ski free, but this isn’t really the most family friendly place.
• It's not that easy to access, which helps to keep the crowds away.

Hakkaisan Ski and Snowboard Terrain

With 792 metres of vertical and only 15 courses and 4 lifts, Muikamachi Hakkaisan is mostly a long and narrow ski resort. The base area has a few beginner runs and a baby terrain park, the middle part has a couple of intermediate runs, whilst the top third is steeper and dominated by a couple of black runs.

The Hakkaisan Ski Resort has some fun off-piste skiing near the cable car and the short cuts between the snaking green trails, but the real fun is the sidecountry terrain that includes interesting tree skiing as well as chutes, rock littered slopes, and cliffettes. It can be rather avalanche prone so avalanche safety equipment and know-how and great care is needed, although you’ll also need care to stay away from the ski patrol.

In true Prince Resort style, off-piste skiing is not permitted and it’s strictly policed at times. An exception is made for a guiding service that seems to be cahoots with ski patrol to “try” to “force” people into tri-forcing it! The guides claim that the Hakkaisan backcountry is their private space!

Hakkaisan Snow

Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort possibly receives about 10 metres of snow on average across a 3 month season, so it does well in the quantity stakes. On a powder day it’s generally awesome, but the Hakkaisan snow quality can sour quickly considering it has mostly southwest facing slopes

Where is Muikamachi Hakkaisan?

The Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort is located near Mt Hakkai, 15km southeast of the city of Minamiuonuma in the Niigata Prefecture. The ski resort is 13km northeast of the town of Muikamachi and 228km northwest of Tokyo. Hakkaisan is 30km northeast of the town of Yuzawa, and is considered part of the collection of Yuzawa ski resorts.

See the Hakkaisan travel page for information on getting there, although it’s easiest if you have a car or are on a multi-resort tour.

Accommodation

There isn’t a village at the base of the ski resort. There are a few rustic pensions nearby. Otherwise you can stay in the town of Minami Uonuma, or stay in Yuzawa if you’re planning to visit other nearby ski areas. In addition to having lots of ski resorts, Yuzawa has an abundance of restaurants to explore.

Minami Uonuma Hotel Listings

Yuzawa Hotel Listings

Facilities

In addition to a mid-mountain restaurant, the ski resort amenities are housed in two buildings at the base. Facilities and services include ski and snowboard rentals, ski lessons in English (private lessons only), a restaurant, and a couple of other eateries. You can sample some of the local beer and sake at the restaurants.

There is also a retail shop selling Hakkaisan sake, Hakkaisan souvenirs, basic ski and snowboard accessories, and the obligatory confectionary gifts. Near the base is a kids’ sledding area.