Ishiuchi Maruyama, Japan resort intro page

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Introduction

Ishiuchi (pronounced Itchy-Ootchy) is quite a large resort by Japan standards and linked to Gala Yuzawa. The resort boasts some excellent wide slopes, 4 terrain parks and 2 halfpipes making it one of the best freestyle resorts in Japan. The resort was opened in 1952 and is owned by 4 different lift companies

At 350-930m it doesn’t reach the elevation of connected Gala Yuzawa, and conditions can suffer when compared to other nearby resorts, but you shouldn’t forget that this area on average gets over 11m of snow a year.

The pistes are very well maintained and there is plenty of long wide runs that can be taken at speed or equally taken slowly as you learn those turns.

From the end of December to end of March the resort offers night boarding on 13 pistes.

The 3 base areas, and the row of bars and restaurants at the bottom of the Kanko No.3 chairlift, look like they have been lifted straight out of a wild-west film set and painted in lurid colours. They do however serve some excellent and cheap food.

Around 90% of visitors are day trippers from Tokyo, and it is a 15min free bus ride from the main train station at Echigo Yuzawa.

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Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Dec to April

Lifts

Total Lifts: 32
Chair lifts: 32
Max people per hour: 44,826
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 31
Total ride area: 301acres
Longest run: 2.5miles (4km)

Top lift: 920m
Vertical drop: 664m
First lift: 256m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 40%
Red runs: 40%
Black runs: 20%

Lift Passes

Lift Passes: Day pass: 4200 yen / 4900 yen ( 3 mountain) 8am till 5pm
2 Days: 7300/7900
Half Day: 3500 yen 12-5pm
Season pass: 51,000 yen
Lift times:[No information]

Snowfall

Average annual snowfall: 11metres
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 0%

Facilities

Night Riding: : 2000 yen from 5pm-9pm everyday for the majority of the season
Snowboard Hire: Board & Boots day: 2,500yen.
Board only 2000 yen

Heliboarding: : Not available
Snowmobiles: Not available

Further information

www.ishiuchi.or.jp
Email:info@ishiuchi-web.com

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Summary

Excellent parks & halfpipes makes this one of the best resorts in Japan for freestylers. Good number of long runs will please those who like to stick to the pistes

ON THE SLOPES European style

OFF THE SLOPES Good traditional town