Rating overall
7/10
Summary
Freeride - 65%
Fun, challenging & good offpiste policy
Freestyle - 10%
atural hits only
Pistes - 30%
Reasonable intermediate groomers
Mountain stats
Top lift:1280
Vertical drop:951
Bottom lift:329
Lift count :
1 x Gondolas
4 x Chairlifts
157km2 OF PISTES (11 PISTES)
Easy
Intermediate
Advanced
Pass (Low/High Season) :
6,000.00 Day
, 25,700.00 6-day
, 25,700.00 6-day linked area
, 0 Season pass
Lotte Arai, Rider Andrew Kelly / Photo: Keith Stubbs
Lotte Arai / Photo: Keith Stubbs
Lotte Arai, Rider Tia Tan / Photo: Keith Stubbs
Introduction
Back with avengence after a 12 year absence from Japan’s ski resort line-up, Lotte Arai had its first year of operation in the 2017/2018 winter. And boy have they joined the party!
The original Arai Ski Resort was established in 1993 by the offspring of the founder of Sony. Big money was pumped in to create some particularly impressive infrastructure and a fully-inclusive, up-market resort. Fast forward 13 years through a big decline in Japan’s domestic ski industry, to the point where Arai closes its doors and puts literally everything into containment-style storage.
Lotte Arai
Photo: Keith Stubbs
A decade later, the Korean hotel conglomerate Lotte Group steps in with ambitious goals, deep pockets, and a team of real professionals ready to push the standards in accessible Japanese freeriding. They are even hosting a 2* Freeworld World Tour Qualifier event in March 2018!