While this resort has massive potential under Hoshino management, the current operational logic is deeply frustrating for anyone who actually enjoys skiing. From baffling lift schedules to poor customer service, here is a breakdown of why this experience missed the mark.
The "Early Closure" Problem..
It is frankly bizarre that major connection lifts and slopes begin closing as early as 2:40 PM and all lift at 3:20 PM.,some even earlier than that, If you buy a full-day ticket, you expect access until at least 4:30 PM /5:00 PM like other resorts, Instead, because the back of the resort shuts down so early, everyone is funneled into the same few lifts at the end of the day, creating massive lines.
Second point is the terrible Value for Money
The pricing structure for "Half-Day" tickets is predatory:
Full Day: ¥6,300 (approx. 7 hours)
Half Day (Starting at 12:00): ¥5,800
Paying nearly full price for only 2.5 hours of actual ski time (due to the early closures) is unacceptable. The half-day ticket should start at 11:00 AM and be significantly cheaper.
I lost my entire morning due to a system glitch. Despite topping up my lift pass online correctly, the card failed at the gate I waited an hour in the lift line for,I then had to Wait in a 30-minute ticket line to fix their system error,I took them 20 minutes to fix it.
Wait another 30 minutes in the lift line.
The staff offered no refund or compensation for the hours of skiing I lost due to their technical fault. Furthermore, seeing slope lofts closed left and right side of the marking and high-speed lifts sitting idle while huge lines form at slower lifts suggests they are prioritizing saving electricity over the guest experience.
And finally the Safety and Slope Management..
The layout is beautiful, but the management is questionable.
Restricted Terrain: Keeping the far left and right sides of the mountain closed forces everyone into the middle.
Danger on Black Runs: Because certain green runs were closed, beginners (including a parent with a 3-year-old) were forced onto Black Diamond slopes. This is dangerous for them and frustrating for advanced skiers. There needs to be better signage or staff at the top of steep sections to vet skill levels.
Also beginners make the slope conditions bad in the end of the day.
The food is good, but the lack of outdoor seating is a missed opportunity. On a beautiful, warm day, guests want to sit outside, yet everyone is crammed indoors.
The mountain is great, but the management doesn't seem to understand the logic of skiing. Until they extend lift hours, fix the pricing, and open the high-speed lifts, it’s hard to justify the price.
Solid ski area with a variety of runs. Lifts are kind of old and the area you get off on some lifts can be a bit sketchy, but the courses are logical and the snow is really quality.
Rentals are Burton step ons which is kinda cool. Rental shop area is tiny and gets crowded. Restaurant offerings are very tasty but at lunch time gets very crowded.
Overall worth the price of the lift pass, which is reasonable.
Great mountain but so so hotel. Basic onsen and both breakfast and dinner are repeated. Although it was yums. Great “izakaya go” nights out though.
Thanks for this beautiful week of snowboarding. The alts express downhill was hell of a run. It left a forever soft spot in my heart. 🤍
Not a small ski resort, beginner slopes can get pretty flat in some sections, good intermediate slopes. Food courts offer both Japanese and western food. Kids under 12 get free ski rentals. The Rider’s cafe up the slope has good burgers. Overall had a good skiing experience
