ski_03_lottearai
Lotte Arai
Lotte Arai Resort in Myoko is a luxury ski resort built for freeriders — vast off-piste Arai ski terrain, a 7 km longest run, and a private onsen waiting back at the hotel.
Buy Shinkansen ticket to Joetsumyoko →About the resort
A resort built for freeriders
Lotte Arai Resort (now branded Arai Mountain Resort), in Myoko, Niigata, pairs one of Japan's largest freeride fields with a genuine luxury hotel at the base. On clear days the Arai ski views run all the way to the Sea of Japan; on storm days, some of the region's deepest, least-tracked powder is right off the lifts.
🏔 Huge freeride terrain
One of Japan's largest in-bounds freeride fields, alongside 14 groomed courses.
📏 7 km longest run
A sustained, 960 m-vertical descent from the summit of Mt. Ogenashi.
♨️ Hoshizora Onsen
A hotel-side hot spring with sweeping mountain views — the reward after a big powder day.
🏨 True luxury base
A five-star mountain hotel with spa, pool, and multiple restaurants, built specifically for this resort.
Terrain by level
Getting there
Tokyo to Lotte Arai, step by step
Book your Shinkansen ticket online
Choose your date and train, pay online, and receive your QR voucher by email.
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo → Joetsumyoko
Print your tickets from your QR voucher at a station ticket machine, then board.
approx. 100–120 minFree shuttle: Joetsumyoko Station → Lotte Arai Resort
The resort runs a free shuttle bus from Joetsumyoko Station directly to the hotel. Reservation is required — book it before you travel. How to book ↓
approx. 30 min · freeRide the freeride zones
Vast off-piste terrain and a 7 km longest run await, right off the lifts.
Resort info
The mountain, by the numbers
Built at a scale most resorts can't match.
| Courses | 14, plus extensive open freeride zones |
|---|---|
| Longest run | 7 km |
| Vertical drop | 960 m |
| Top elevation | 1,429 m (Mt. Ogenashi) |
| Terrain mix | 20% beginner · 35% intermediate · 45% advanced/freeride |
| Season | Early December – mid-May |
| Onsen | Hoshizora Onsen, inside the resort hotel |
| Getting around | Free resort shuttle from Joetsumyoko Station (approx. 30 min, reservation required); Arai Station is the nearest local station |
Winter services
Five-star, on the mountain
Lotte Arai is built and run as a destination resort, not a village of small operators.
🎿 Rentals
Premium rental gear is available on-site, including freeride-specific setups.
🎓 Ski & snowboard schools
Private lessons and guided freeride sessions run daily, including English-language options.
🥇 Priority lift access
A first-class lift ticket option gets early, priority access to first tracks.
🚌 Free station shuttle
A free shuttle connects Joetsumyoko Station to the resort — reserve your seat in advance.
Village info
One resort, one hotel, no village needed
Lotte Arai is a self-contained resort — everything from lodging to dining to the onsen lives inside the hotel complex at the base.
- The resort hotel — A five-star mountain hotel with multiple room types, built specifically around the ski area.
- Hoshizora Onsen — The hotel's own hot spring, with panoramic views over the surrounding mountains.
- Self-contained — Nearly everything — dining, spa, activities, lift access — is inside or immediately beside the hotel.
- Good to know — This is a destination resort rather than a walkable village — expect to stay based at the hotel.
Restaurant & nightlife
Dinner without leaving the resort
Dining at Lotte Arai is entirely hotel-based, spanning several restaurants under one roof.
- Multiple restaurants — The resort hotel runs several dining venues, from casual cafes to more formal dinners.
- Local & international — Menus mix Japanese dishes with international options, reflecting the resort's international guest base.
- Onsen-side dining — Light dining and drinks are available near Hoshizora Onsen for a relaxed evening.
- Good to know — There's little dining beyond the resort itself — this is a stay-and-eat-in destination.
When to go
Lotte Arai season at a glance
Getting here
Joetsumyoko Station → Lotte Arai
There's no public bus to Lotte Arai — the resort runs its own free shuttle from Joetsumyoko Station, the Hokuriku Shinkansen stop, in about 30 minutes.
| Route | Joetsumyoko Station ⇄ Lotte Arai Resort |
|---|---|
| Fare | Free |
| Journey time | approx. 30 min |
| Reservation | Required — book in advance via the resort |
| Timetable | Fixed departures each day — check the current schedule when you book |
| Nearest local station | Arai Station (Myoko Haneuma Line) — but the Joetsumyoko shuttle is the standard route |
Good to know
Lotte Arai FAQ
How do I get from the station to the resort?
Is the shuttle bus really free?
Do I need to be an expert to ski here?
Do I need to stay at the resort hotel?
Is a day trip from Tokyo possible?
How does the Shinkansen ticket work?
Vast terrain.
A five-star landing.
Tokyo → Joetsumyoko Shinkansen · QR voucher by email
Buy your ticket →