Okutone Snow Park

“I had a delightful experience skiing at Okutone Snow Park. The park offers the convenience of night and early morning skiing, allowing me to easily fit in my skiing time. The layout of the park is thoughtfully designed, featuring a main course which repeatedly branches off and merges, providing an interesting and varied skiing experience. Conveniently placed rest houses can be found at the middle and lower sections of the slope, and once I decided my route, it was straightforward without fear of getting lost. The top part of the slope is wide and gentle, featuring a snowdrift course where well-constructed parks are often set up. With the addition of walls and bumps, I was able to engage in diverse skiing experiences all in this single area. The middle section of the slope provides a broad, steep downhill for a more thrilling ride, especially delightful on a powder day. The lower part of the slope offers an exciting forest course where I spotted several interesting items. The center house, located at the base of the slope, boasts a recently renovated and cleanly maintained facility. However, I must note that the hood could be a bit stronger. One of the highlights of my visit was the DJ events, where I could request my favorite music, adding a fun and personal touch to the skiing experience. Overall, my experience at Okutone Snow Park was highly enjoyable.”

“At Okutone Snow Park, a ski resort located on the Pacific side, natural snowfall is minimal. Despite significant efforts to supplement with artificial snow, there were still areas where bushes and stones were noticeable. Nonetheless, many of the courses were well-designed, making carving a delight. The staff, ranging from lift operators to the cafeteria crew to the public address personnel, were notably amiable. The resort gave off the vibe of a small, well-managed establishment. Previously, I had only visited ski resorts with abundant natural snow, but this experience has made me appreciate the efforts of resorts like this one.”

“My first time at Okutone Snow Park was a bit daunting, especially if you're new to snow sports. The only gentle slope was located halfway up, and the detour course was steep and somewhat intimidating. It felt like the only way back to the base was either through this or a steep slope of uncompacted snow. However, the park has its merits. The areas on both sides of the third lift are suitable for beginners with some experience under their belts. I found the "Mukoyama Slope" to be relatively slippery, even though it wasn't very compacted. The slope did become steep after this point, and while I could ski in any direction I wanted due to the clear division between compacted and uncompacted snow, I found it a little too challenging for my intermediate level of expertise. The entrance to the newly established tree run course was hard to find. I visited the park on a Sunday, and it was bustling with people. With only lifts 1A, 2B, 3A, and 4 in operation, the lines at the main stations 2 and 3 were long. The low-speed two-seater lifts were crowded, and with the parallel lifts not operating, everyone was waiting their turn. The single eating place was also busy, with a queue stretching outside the facility. Despite these issues, the park could be enjoyable for those with an intermediate skill level or higher. There's a certain sense of achievement to be had from conquering these slopes. The view from the top was awe-inspiring, providing a real sense of altitude as you gaze down at the road far below. As you begin to slide, the slope gradually increases, presenting a thrilling challenge that can be quite thrilling. Overall, my experience was enjoyable, but the lift system could use some improvements for a smoother experience.”

“During my visit to Okutone Snow Park in March 2023, I observed that there was relatively less snowfall. The snow at the higher altitudes was compact and enjoyable, however, it became increasingly heavy midway up the mountain. I found the DJ in the facility to be an entertaining element of the experience.”