Ishiuchi Maruyama

Twenty-three courses spread across 236 hectares with legitimate variety - 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and crucially 30% advanced terrain including official in-bounds tree runs on the north-facing upper mountain. The 4km longest run gives you proper leg burn, and with base at 256m rising to 920m, you get everything from mellow groomers to legitimate steeps that'll wake you up.

Mostly Japanese weekend warriors and serious local skiers who know good snow when they see it. Midweek it's beautifully empty, weekends see families mixing with skilled intermediates who've graduated from the tourist hills. Zero Instagram posing, maximum actual skiing - this feels like a mountain that exists for locals who happen to let tourists in.

"this might be one of the best snowboarding experience i had in Japan... you can see spectacular view here at all time, all the way down the snow course"

— Google Review

• ✓Intermediate skiers ready for actual challenges instead of just surviving the run back to base
• ✓Tokyo weekenders who want real terrain variety without the Niseko price tag or circus
• ✓Night skiing addicts - this has some of the most extensive lit terrain in Japan

• ✗You're a complete beginner - reviewers warn this isn't the place to learn, try nearby Naeba instead
• ✗You need perfect English support and panic without translated menus - this is solidly local
• ✗You're chasing the deepest powder in Japan - it's good but Hokkaido and higher Honshu resorts get better snow

Early January through mid-February for the best Uonuma powder - the resort sees 50cm+ overnight dumps during strong Sea of Japan storms. Avoid New Year week (Dec 28-Jan 4) when Tokyo crowds descend, and remember that the low base elevation means marginal conditions in December and late March.

1. Not bringing equipment locks and losing rental gear to theft
2. Assuming the third lift to summit will be running - wind closures are common
3. Staying too far from the resort and missing the best morning snow conditions

1. Take the gondola to mid-station then immediately hit that third lift to the summit - if it's running, because wind closures strand you halfway up the mountain
2. Rental snowboards come with Burton's StepOn bindings by default - ask for traditional strap bindings if you prefer them
3. Skip this if you're staying in Echigo-Yuzawa town - the bus ride means you'll miss first chair every single day and that's when the snow's best