Seki Onsen Ski Resort

Seki Onsen Ski Resort is a boutique, family-run hill in the historic Seki Onsen hot-spring village of Myoko, Niigata Prefecture—about a 30-minute drive northwest of Akakura and 12 km from Myokokogen town.

• It operates just two vintage chairlifts that serve roughly four official runs, delivering 310 m of vertical drop from 900 m to 1,210 m.
• Storms rolling off the Sea of Japan dump an eye-watering 14–16 m of snow each winter (a staggering ~19 m fell in 2021/22), giving Seki legendary powder depth.
• Official trail stats list 20 % beginner, 50 % intermediate and 30 % advanced, but almost the entire mountain is left ungroomed and managed under an open-boundary policy, feeding quick laps through tight trees and sidecountry bowls.
• Public-transit access is simple: Sekiyama Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line lies 8 km away, with buses or a 10-minute taxi bringing you to the base in about 20 minutes.
• The surrounding Seki Onsen village is dotted with traditional ryokan whose natural hot-spring baths make après-ski soaking effortless.
• Expect a decidedly retro, no-frills vibe—ticket sales from mama-san’s living room and plastic-covered sofas included—which only adds to the resort’s charm.