Hodaigi Ski Resort & Minakami Onsen Valley, Gunma

About this place

Live Winter Stream | Hodaigi Ski Resort & Mount Hotaka Peaks, Minakami, Gunma, Japan. Perched on the snowy northern mountain slopes of Mount Hotaka in Gunma Prefecture, Hodaigi Ski Resort is famous across the Kanto region for boasting the deepest, most powdery natural snow in the area. With sixteen varied courses reaching an altitude of 1,400 meters, skiers and snowboarders enjoy exhilarating tree runs, wide beginner cruising slopes, and a dedicated family snow park with sweeping panoramas of snow-covered alpine ranges.

Minakami's alpine valley is a treasure trove of hearty winter comfort dishes. After a day on the slopes, head into Minakami Onsen town to dine at Azuma-ken (あずま軒) for steaming bowls of Minakami Dam Curry—a rich beef curry shaped to resemble the region's colossal arched water reservoirs with rice retaining walls. For a warm souvenir, stop by veteran confectionery Marusu Seika for hot freshly steamed Onsen Manju bean paste buns, or visit Sobadokoro Kadoya for handmade buckwheat noodles served with crisp wild mountain herb tempura.

✦ Must-Visit Highlights:

▸ Premier Kanto Powder Snow Slopes: Carve across 16 diverse ski runs featuring deep, uncompressed powder snow at 1,400 meters elevation.

▸ Minakami Arch Dam Curry Challenge: Savor famous novelty curry platters engineered with rice dams retaining pools of rich spiced stew.

▸ Historic Minakami Onsen Thermal Baths: Soak tired muscles in natural hot spring waters and enjoy freshly steamed sweet onsen manju buns.