Hunter Mountain Shiobara

“Returning to Hunter Mountain Shiobara after 19 years, I found it to be remarkably unchanged. The only difference, however, was the absence of my office.”

“I visited the Hunter Mountain Shiobara, a ski resort affiliated with Tokyu, and found it to have a broad array of slopes despite being so close to Tokyo. It's important to note that the road conditions can be tricky, especially on the Momiji Line, which tends to freeze even with little snowfall. This is particularly true when coming from the Kinugawa direction. During my visit, I found that the resort's restaurant can get quite busy around lunchtime. However, they do offer the option to reserve lunch online, which I found very convenient. There's also a Mos Burger on-site. One downside was the crowded nature of the gondolas, and I found myself waiting for up to 25 minutes on busier days. So, once I reached the top, I preferred to stay up there and only descended for lunch. What I enjoyed most about the resort was the course layout. Many areas are relatively wide, allowing for the enjoyment of carving turns. The hump slope at F.D.R was a particular highlight. I also appreciated the fact that all the courses are groomed neatly every day, ensuring a great skiing experience.”

“I visited Hunter Mountain Shiobara, a ski resort in Tochigi. The resort has only two lifts and gondolas that lead to the top of the mountain and during holidays, the waiting period can stretch to over 20 minutes. One might be tempted to use the seemingly less crowded gondola sharing lane, however, that's not the best choice. I initially assumed that they organized the seats in a fair manner, like adding one person from the normal lane to one person in the shared seat. However, they actually group four people together in the shared lane. After about 10 groups from the regular lane are passed, you are then directed to the shared seating lane which results in a much longer wait than the regular lane. Moreover, the facilities close earlier than expected, at 3pm, leaving those who arrive by bus with no options for purchases until they leave. Some items, however, can be bought from outside stores. The size of the lockers and changing rooms also left much to be desired. They are quite small. My tolerance for these inconveniences is manageable on weekdays, but I tend to avoid visiting on holidays.”

“My first visit to Hunter Mountain Shiobara was quite a delightful experience despite it being so close to Tokyo. The range of courses available were impressive, catering to intermediate and advanced skiers, providing an enjoyable and satisfying skiing session. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of queues for the lifts and gondolas, even on a weekday, despite the ample amount of parking spaces. During my visit in late February, the snow was slightly icy in certain areas due to the warmer weather, however, it remained overall quite slippery, perfect for skiing. The variety of dining options, including Mos Burger, 31 and multiple cafes, was quite appreciable. While the crowds were manageable on weekdays, it's worth noting that the area can become quite busy during lunch times on weekends and holidays.”