Feb 9, 2014 - 1 min read

Muikamachi Hakkaisan Ski Resort

A ropeway up and a long way down

By Rufus Starbuck

Community writer

A view up to the top as the blue skies break through.

Cloudy at the top, looking down the main run.

One of the restaurants in the base building had an interesting menu. The Mega Chicken Sandwich - home-made bread and chicken from the rotisserie.

Or how about the Tenchijin Burger - deep fried maitake mushroom and local pork burger sandwiched between two rice patties

Muikamachi Hakkaisan is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this winter

Muikamachi Hakkaisan is a hidden gem of a ski resort on the slopes leading up to Mount Hakkai. The ropeway runs all year long and is busiest taking up summer and autumn hikers keen to conquer one of Japan's famous 100 Peaks. For snow-lovers though it comes into its own in winter when it whisks you up to the top of the resort in a few minutes giving you access to three kilometers of slopes back down to the bottom. There are steeps, trees and a very long, leg-burning groomed run to explore. It doesn`t look much on a map but it is a long way down. There are also a couple of chair lifts which access a couple of different slopes.Down in the base building is one of the best slopeside restaurants you are likely to find. Soup curries, home-made breads, and chickens slowly roasting on a spit. Picking just one dish is a very difficult task.