Seki Onsen is very no-frills, so the ski resort facilities and services just cover the basics. You know it’s low key when you arrive at the base of the ski resort and need to go to the bathroom. You have to wander through the family lounge room, and past mama-san who is selling lift tickets, to go to the bathroom. On the way out you can pat the cat that may be lounging on the sofa (the sofa has plastic covered lace on it – the type your grandmother used to have way back when….).

Ski and Snowboard School

Feel free to visit the ski school if you speak fluent Japanese. Hopefully if you’ve come to ride Seki Onsen, you already know how to ski or snowboard!

That being said, there are a couple of package tours that visit Seki Onsen and offer instruction on how to ski or snowboard in powder (where better to learn?!) e.g. Myoko Progression Tour.

Seki Ski and Snowboard Rental

Along a similar vein, hopefully if you’re riding the powder of Seki you’re likely to have brought your own gear, either from home or one of the Myoko ski rental shops.

There is a Rossignol service centre at the ski resort which has old school equipment for rent, and hopefully you can speak fluent Japanese so you can explain what it is that you’re after.

Eating On Mountain

Restaurant Taube is a cute mid-mountain cafeteria, located part way down the groomed run of Seki Onsen. You can purchase a lift ticket package that includes a meal voucher for this cafeteria, which provides good value for money. Taube sells the usual range of fare you come to expect for a Japanese ski resort, except that the prices are a bit cheaper. Taube also has beer. Shame they don’t sell gas masks because this is old-school Japan where smoking is allowed and there is no air conditioning whatsoever.

Another option if you want to escape the stinky smoky mayhem of the cafeteria is to head down to a little café at the base of the ski resort (near the big red pole that’s used as a measuring stick for the snow base). The décor here is even simpler and they sell homemade cakes and coffee and a few other treats.

Facilities for Children

Ha! You might want to stay in Myoko Akakura if you need facilities for children.

Shopping

The little café at the base doubles as a ski-osk, selling very basic ski and snowboard accessories. For example they sell retro ski gloves. I don’t think they’re second-hand retro, I think they’ve just been sitting in stock since the 80s! If the retro gloves don’t appeal, you’ll need to head to one of the Myoko ski shops (but keep your expectations pretty low there too).

There is a funny little shop in the village of Seki Onsen, selling unrefrigerated drinks and some snacks (if you understand the Japanese language, I’d suggest checking the use-by-date!). The shop also sells a little bit of “local produce” such as chutney or the like, various Japanese souvenirs, and trinkets from the 70s.

Banking Facilities

BYO cash and don’t expect anywhere to take your credit card.