Joetsu Kokusai

22 runs spread across four mountain faces with legitimate 817m of vertical - the stats look modest but the terrain delivers. The lower slopes are mellow family territory, but push up to the north-facing zones above O-ura and you'll find steep pitches and tree shots that hold powder for days. Just know you'll earn every turn with some of the world's slowest chairlifts connecting a sprawling layout that requires multiple lift connections to get anywhere.

Pure domestic Japanese ski culture - multi-generational families, ski schools doing synchronized warm-ups, and everyone politely queuing for lifts that move at walking pace. Weekdays feel like you have a private mountain; weekends bring the Tokyo crowds but maintain that distinctly Japanese orderliness. The base scene centers around Hotel Green Plaza's ski-in/ski-out setup, where the real action happens in the onsen after last lift, not at any bar.

"I really liked this huge ski with fantastic view. The terrain delivers if you don't mind spending time on the lifts."

— Google Review

• ✓Powder hunters who prioritize snow quality over convenience and don't mind working for their turns
• ✓Families wanting authentic Japanese ski culture without Niseko prices or crowds
• ✓Intermediates ready to explore a massive mountain where most tourists never venture beyond the front face

• ✗You need English support beyond pointing and gesturing - this is proper rural Japan
• ✗Slow lifts make you homicidal - seriously, you can walk faster than these chairs
• ✗You want après-ski nightlife beyond soaking in the hotel onsen and early bedtimes

Mid-January through February for the deepest, driest powder from those 10+ meters of annual snowfall. Avoid New Year week (Dec 28-Jan 3) when those already-slow lifts become truly unbearable with domestic crowds. Weekdays in January are your sweet spot for powder and sanity.

1. Not studying the trail map beforehand - you'll waste entire runs just figuring out how to get between mountain sections
2. Expecting rental equipment at base facilities - limited options mean bringing your own gear or booking hotel packages
3. Planning to grab lunch on the mountain - restaurants close unpredictably, so eat a big breakfast or bring snacks

1. Hit the north-facing slopes above O-ura first thing - while everyone queues for the main gondola, you'll have untracked powder for hours
2. Book the hotel package with dinner/breakfast/lift pass - solo dining options are basically nonexistent and the hotel food is solid
3. Plan your route carefully using the trail map - this place is massive and you can waste entire runs just getting from zone to zone on connector lifts