Minakami Hodaigi
The Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort feels like a locals’ mountain even though it is visited by lots of Tokyo-ites, and whilst Hodaigi (also spelled Houdaigi) is definitely not undiscovered by the Japanese, this Minakami ski resort is rather off the beaten track for westerners.
Mount Hotaka (Hotakasan) in Gunma has various ski resorts sitting on its flanks, yet the Hodaigi Ski Resort is located on the northwestern slope and many of the runs face due north, so the snow quality is particularly nice. For powder hounds, the Ho-daigi Ski Resort is a great place to retreat to when the big storms roll in and close nearby
Tenjindaira.
Pros and Cons of Minakami Hodaigi
Pros
- The terrain is very well suited to beginners and intermediates, and you can get ski and snowboard lessons with an English speaking instructor as part of a Tenjin Guides Learning package.
- Hodaigi Ski Resort has some lovely sidecountry.
- The snow quality at this Minakami ski resort is generally very good to excellent. It’s Gun Powder and the aspect is favourable.
- Fresh tracks are reasonably easy to come by.
- If you have a car, it’s reasonably quick to get there from Tokyo (if the traffic is OK!).
- Minakami Hodaigi and the surrounding areas provide a traditional Japanese experience. The ski resort has some charm.
Cons
- There is no après ski in the Minakami area, although this is common to a lot of Japanese ski resorts that haven’t been westernised.
- Weekends can get congested but the crowds are bearable.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- Ho-daigi has some lovely tight steep tree runs. The pros of tight trees are that the snow rarely sees the sun and many people don’t have the skills to ride them, so they don’t tend to track out too quickly.
Hodaigi Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The Hodaigi Ski Resort might be the largest Minakami ski resort, but don’t get too excited because it’s small without being tiny. The ski area lay-out is compact and user friendly with 7 lifts, 16 courses, and 570 metres of vertical (830-1,400 metres).
Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort has a spread of piste terrain that’s rated for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Unlike many Japanese ski resorts, a few of the black runs are aptly rated and have a bit of pitch (one hits a maximum angle of 40 degrees) and as to be expected, they tend to mogul up pretty quickly.
Adjacent to these black runs are some fun tree lines; well fun if you love steep tight technical trees! As is often the case with Honshu ski resorts, off-piste skiing is officially not permitted but it seems like doing it in practice is tickety-boo not taboo. The sidecountry is lovely and the ski patrollers will definitely turn a blind eye to heading outside the boundaries.
Where is Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort?
Minakami Hodaigi is situated 15km northeast of the town of
Minakami in the
Gunma Prefecture, 190km northwest of Tokyo, on the flanks of Mt Hotaka. The highly renowned powder hound destination of
Tenjindaira is 17km (about a 20-25 minute drive) to the west.
Accommodation
There are a few Houdaigi lodgings at the base of the ski area such as
Lodge Uenohara Yamanoie which offers simple Japanese style rooms and half board (breakfast and dinner).
Or you could stay at the
Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku, which is 5km away from the ski field. This old ryokan sits on the very famous Takaragawa Onsen (one of the largest outdoor hot springs in Japan) and offers very traditional Japanese style tatami rooms.
Or you could stay at
Tenjin Lodge near the base of the Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Resort, where a free daily shuttle to and from the Houdaigi Ski Resort is provided.
Minakami Hotel Listings
Ski Resort Facilities
The ski resort amenities and services are middle of the road for a Japanese ski resort. There is an equipment rental shop, a small retail shop, and a few choices for dining at the base and mid-mountain.
There are a few amenities for kids including child care on weekends, a kids’ snow play and sledding area, and the local ski school (private lessons only in English).
