Lotte Arai Resort Japan

The Arai Ski Resort is a "new old" resort! Arai Resort is somewhat unique for a Japanese ski resort in that it was initially built after the bubble economic era and opened in 1993 as the very luxurious Arai Mountain Resort and Spa. What wasn't unique for Arai Ski Resort was that the bubble burst and things went awry, and like too many other Japan ski resorts, it had to cease operations in 2006 (sadly closing with a snow base of 6 metres!). Now that skiing in Japan is on the increase, particularly with international guests, Arai was able to re-open under new ownership from Lotte in December 2017. The Lotte Arai Resort has been grandly refurbished, reinvigorated and reinvented. No expense was spared, and it is now the new "IT" destination resort for discerning powder hounds and families.

There are only a couple of Japanese ski resorts that cater to the luxury ski market as well as the off-piste powder chasing crowd, and Lotte Arai Resort near Myoko is leading the charge here. Or if paying for luxury accommodation and cuisine isn't within your budget, Lotte Arai is also great for a day trip from Myoko Kogen.

Pros and Cons of Arai Ski Resort

Pros 

• Arai Resort, like the other Myoko resorts, gets dumped on with lots of snow – an average of about 15m+ of Japow per season.
• Somewhat rare for a Japanese ski resort, the Arai skiing includes some above treeline terrain (sub-alpine) in wide open powder bowls.
• The resort has avalanche controlled areas where off-piste skiing and snowboarding is permitted.
• The upscale Lotte Arai Resort Hotel at the base provides very easy access to and from the slopes.
• Lotte Arai Resort has an international snowsports school (Myoko Snowsports), offering group ski and snowboard lessons in English for kids (as well as private lessons for children & adults). There are only several Japanese ski resorts that offer this, so this is a huge pro!
• Child care services are provided by the resort hotel, and along with tubing and trampolining, it adds to the family friendliness of Lotte Arai Resort.
• The lift infrastructure is impressive and includes a roomy gondola and 2 fast hooded quad chairs.

Cons

• Arai Ski Resort doesn’t have extensive piste terrain and intermediate riders in particular may get a little bored. If the snow isn't good the terrain options are limited, but this could also be said of most Japanese ski resorts.
• If you're looking for an unadulterated authentic Japanese village atmosphere, Arai may not be for you as the base area primarily consists of just a couple of luxury hotel buildings and a few shops.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

• The hotel accommodation and the facilities and services are deluxe and are not suited to those on a budget ski holiday.
• The food at the hotel also caters to discerning guests willing to pay more for nice meals.
• The ski resort caters well to Anglophones with an abundance of English signage, snowsports lessons in English, and the hotel has some staff that speak English, but you’re unlikely to experience a lot of Japanese culture

Arai Ski and Snowboard Terrain

The Arai Ski Resort is long and reasonably skinny with a big 951 metres of vertical (329 - 1,280 metres). Like many Japanese ski resorts, there isn't a lot of piste terrain (only 14 "courses" ie runs), but there's extensive off-piste terrain. The Arai ski area is serviced by 5 lifts: a gondola; 2 hooded fast quad chair lifts; and 2 double chair lifts (one of them is a detachable lift).

The piste statistics are 25% beginner, 40% intermediate and 35% advanced, so there's enough variety for beginners, but it equates to only 4 blue runs for intermediates. At least the blue runs are long and likely to provide some lovely thigh burn.

The avalanche controlled off-piste areas are mostly towards the top of the resort, which includes a variety of open slopes, sub-alpine with light trees (including my "Happy Place"), and tree skiing. From the top lift you can hike up the additional 149 metres of vertical to the summit for some extra freshies. Considering the potential for significant avalanche risk, these areas are opened and closed by the patrollers depending on the snowpack.

There are also a couple of areas within the resort boundaries that are roped off and permanently off limits. Unlike at some Japanese ski resorts where patrollers put up ropes for what seems like no good reason, these zones are aptly out of bounds considering the massive snowfalls, terrain traps and history of significant avalanches.

Where is Lotte Arai Resort?

The Arai Ski Resort is in the Niigata Prefecture, only 21km north of Akakura Onsen of Myoko Kogen. To get there, you can catch the bullet train to Joetsumyoko train station, then get one of the free shuttles or a taxi for the 15km trip to Lotte Arai.

To get to Arai from Myoko Kogen, you can head there as part of a guided tour or there's a Myoko shuttle that does a couple of trips a day between Akakura Onsen and Arai Resort (it takes about 50 minutes).

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Arai Accommodation

The Lotte Arai Resort Hotel consists of two very conveniently located hotel buildings at the base of the ski area. The hotel offers deluxe western-style accommodations, a range of lovely dining options, lounge bars, a child care centre, onsen baths, indoor swimming pool, a small gymnasium, and a day spa. There is even a karaoke room if you really want to get your singing game on.

Lotte Arai Resort Hotel Bookings

Facilities & Services

In addition to the facilities at the hotels, Arai has very well developed amenities for skiers and snowboarders. Ski and snowboard lessons with English speaking instructors are provided by Myoko Snowsports, either in group or private format. Kids from 3 years of age can have lessons, and adaptive ski school is also provided.

High quality ski and snowboard rentals are available at the gondola base building, where there’s also a food court. At the top of the gondola there is another restaurant. You won’t go hungry!

Activities

Besides the skiing and snowboarding at the Arai Ski Resort, and the onsen, there are a few other Arai activities on offer. Indoor activities include bouldering walls for kids and adults, and trampolines. Or if you love going fast downhill, zip lining is another option - this is not for the faint of heart.