Seki Onsen Ski Resort

Seki Onsen gets a staggering 14m+ of snow per season and leaves nearly all of it ungroomed. When the powder is fresh, this is one of the best experiences in Japan — tight trees, open faces, and virtually no crowds. Two vintage chairlifts keep things simple: ride up, find your line, repeat. There's no terrain park, no halfpipe, and no beginner area to speak of.

This is a family-run operation with a retro charm that's hard to find anywhere else in Japan. Expect to buy your lift ticket from the owner, warm up on plastic-covered sofas, and eat homestyle Japanese food at the base. If you want polished resort amenities, this isn't the place. If you want character and authenticity, you'll love it.

With almost no groomed terrain and steep, ungroomed runs as the default, Seki Onsen is genuinely difficult for anyone below intermediate level. Don't bring young kids here expecting a mellow day. Instead, pair it with a stay at nearby Akakura or Madarao and make Seki a day trip when conditions are right.