Lotte Arai Resort is on the east side of Mt. Okenashi, 1,429 metres, in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture. The top of the Zendana lift is 1,280 metres and the gondola base 329 metres, for 951 metres (3,120 feet) of vertical. It has 214 hectares, about 529 acres, with 14 courses rated 36% beginner, 36% intermediate, 21% advanced and 7% expert, and the longest run is 7 km. Five lifts serve the mountain: a gondola, two quads and two double chairs. Ten freeriding zones cover another 1.62 square kilometres, about 400 acres. Japan’s national tourism board puts the average snowfall at 18 metres a year.
The ski area opened in 1993 as Arai Mountain & Spa and reopened as Lotte Arai Resort in December 2017. The season usually runs from mid-December to early May.
Around Roppongi Station looks at the slopes around Roppongi station. With 951 metres between the top and the gondola base, snow and visibility up high can be quite different, so check the snow report on the same page for new snow and depth.
By car, leave the Joshinetsu Expressway at Arai Smart IC; the resort is about seven minutes away on local roads. From Tokyo, take the Kan-etsu Expressway to Fujioka JCT and change to the Joshinetsu Expressway. By train, the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Myoko in about 1 hour 46 minutes from Tokyo, and the resort runs a free shuttle from the west exit of Joetsumyoko Station for hotel guests, booked in advance. Niigata Airport (KIJ) is about 2 hours away by car, and paid shuttle buses run from Narita, Niigata and Toyama airports.
Niigata Prefecture’s road traffic rules require winter tires, chains or other anti-slip measures on snowy or icy roads, with a fine of up to 50,000 yen.
Lotte Arai is on the Ikon Pass with 7 days and the Ikon Base Pass with 5; the Ikon Pass lists it as Arai Mountain Resort. It isn’t on the Epic or Indy Pass.