Welcome to my ultimate guide to Lotte Arai, Japan for first-time visitors and solo snowboarders and skiers! This is my sixth stop on my Snowboarding Around the World Trip and my third destination in Japan. Lotte Arai wasn’t a part of my original plan, but when I noticed that it was on my Ikon Pass, I thought why not go there and visit since it’s already included in my pass. 

• Related Article: The Ultimate Solo Snowboarder’s guide to Traveling to Hakuba Valley, Japan (without a car)
• Related Article: The Ultimate Solo Snowboarder’s Guide to Traveling to Nozawa Onsen, Japan (without a car)
• Related Article: Snowboarding Around the World: Where Did I Stay (Part 2: Japan)

Things to Buy In Preparation for Your Trip

These are the items that I bought specifically for my trip that made my life easier. 

1. Apple AirTags: I put one in my suitcase, my camera bag, my snowboard bag, and in my purse
2. Lock: I use this when I want to lock up my snowboard to the ski racks. Also good if you are staying at a hostel and want to lock up your bags.
3. Snowboarding Backpack: I got this backpack because I wanted something small and waterproof. This is definitely good if you drink a lot of water. Otherwise, I feel like there’s not much room for any of your stuff. I would say this is a great backpack if you just need water, but if you like to bring extra lenses, clothes, etc., there won’t be room for it.
4. Tall Waterproof Boots: Since I’m going to be living in the snow, I figured I would finally spend some money on some decent waterproof boots. I like these a lot since they are lightweight for traveling.
5. Stylish Winter Boots: I wanted to buy another pair of boots that were more for the city for when I want to go out. and these definitely fit the bill! They are a tad bit heavier than the ones above but they look so cool that I couldn’t resist getting both pairs of boots.
6. Down Coat: Since I was lugging A LOT of stuff, I could only afford to bring one decent coat and I ended up purchasing this one. Yes, it was an investment but I wanted something that can last me multiple seasons and that will keep me super warm. I will say that it’s a little snug so if you plan on layering a lot underneath, I would go up one size.
7. Snowboard: I didn’t buy this snowboard specifically for this trip, but in case anyone was wondering what board I’m riding, it’s the Bataleon Push Up.
8. Lotion for Dry Skin: Do NOT underestimate how dry your skin will get being up on the mountain all the time. I’ve tried a bunch of different lotions and this is the only one I keep buying.
9. Bandage: If anyone else has the same issue with their fingers cracking, this was a godsend. Never used this before in my life but now I carry it with me every snowboarding season.

 

Yamato Transport (aka Yamato Black Cat): Shipping Your Skis/Snowboard

If you haven’t already heard, there is an amazing delivery service called Yamato Transport, or Yamato Black Cat in reference to their black cat logo. You can drop off your skis or snowboard, and they will deliver them to your accommodations. I love that it is relatively affordable and can be delivered within 1-2 days depending on where you are sending it. The best part is that Yamato Black Cat locations are at almost every major place, including airports, hotels, and convenience stores.

Once I landed at Haneda Airport, I went to the Yamato Transport counter and gave them the address of where I wanted my snowboard bag sent. It cost ¥2,900 to ship it from Haneda Airport to Nozawa Onsen, plus ¥450 for the mandatory snowboard cover. In total, it cost ¥3,350, or about $22 USD. From Nozawa Onsen, I then carried my bag with me to the rest of my resort destinations.

I absolutely LOVE this service! Especially if you are a solo traveler and have no one to help you carry your stuff, this is an absolute lifesaver. I also get super stressed about lugging my snowboard bag onto the train since it takes up so much room. I never know if there will be space for my bag or if it will get in people’s way. This is definitely a convenience I am willing to pay for.

 

What Area Should You Stay in Lotte Arai, Japan

People can correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that there is only one accommodation at the base of the mountain which is the Lotte Arai Hotel and it’s super expensive. So, unless you do have the money to stay at this hotel, the next place I recommend, which is where I stayed, is right next to Jōetsumyōkō Station. 

 

 

Where Did I Stay in Lotte Arai, Japan

I originally wasn’t planning on going to Lotte Arai, but then I found this Reddit post and thought it was such a good hack that I had to try it out for myself. As mentioned above, I stayed right next to the Jōetsumyōkō Station and there was a couple reasons for that. First, the hotel that I stayed at is literally right outside the station so I didn’t have to drag all my stuff very far. It only cost me about $45/night too with my own room and private bathroom. Second, the hotel served a pretty filling breakfast so that took care of one of my meals each day. Third, and most importantly, there’s a free Lotte Arai shuttle bus that picks you up right next to the hotel. You can make reservations here.

 

How to Get To and From Lotte Arai Resort

If you’ve been following my journey, I was just in Hakuba Valley. So, I will be explaining below how to get to Lotte Arai from Tokyo and from Hakuba Valley.

How to Get Lotte Arai Resort (without a car) 

Step 1: Get to Tokyo Station

If you are coming from Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT), you’ll want to first get yourself to Tokyo Station. There are multiple options to get to Tokyo Station like by bus or train, but I’ve found that the bus is the most convenient (especially if you plan on bringing all your gear with you). The train stresses me out because there are so many people and it’s just so crowded. With that being said, I did end up taking the train just because the bus timing didn’t work out for me.

• Trains: From HND Airport, I took the Tokyo Monorail then transfer to the Keihin-Tohoku line. There are multiple ways to get to Tokyo Station by train so I would just look up what’s best for you on Google Maps. 
• Buses: Here is the bus schedule for HND>Tokyo Station and NRT>Tokyo Station. Just be aware that bus times are few and they don’t really run late at night.

Step 2: Get to Jōetsumyōkō Station

After you get to Tokyo Station, it’s super easy. You’ll take the Hokuriku Shinkansen straight to Jōetsumyōkō Station. You don’t have to transfer at all! I’m slightly jealous that it’s so easy for people that are coming for Tokyo.

For people that are coming from Hakuba Valley, like yours truly, you’ll want to take the bus from Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal back to Nagano Station. The bus ticket costs ¥3,500 (~$24 USD) at the time of posting. After that, you’ll want to buy a Hokuriku Shinkansen ticket for ¥3,190 (~$21 USD) and ride it one stop (18 mins) to Jōetsumyōkō Station.

Step 3: Get to Lotte Arai from Jōetsumyōkō Station

There is a free Lotte Arai Resort shuttle bus that takes you from the station to the resort in about 30 minutes. Technically, the bus for the hotel guests, but no one checks. I stayed next to the station and took the bus everyday with no issues. What they do check is if your name is on their reservation list. You do have to make a reservation for the bus everyday, to and from. You can make your reservation online here.

Also, be aware they do not allow ski boots (snowboard boots are fine) onto the bus so skiers will have to wear regular shoes first and carry their ski boots with them. Now, some bus drivers maybe lenient, but I literally saw our bus driver turn around three skiers and made them go get their shoes so do what you want with that information.

 

How to Depart Lotte Arai Resort

All you have to do is take the free shuttle bus back to Jōetsumyōkō Station. Just remember to make a reservation! From the station, you can Google onto your next destination or take the same Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

 

Skiing/Snowboarding Lotte Arai, Japan

Level of Difficulty of the Slope (USA vs. Japan)

Japan follows the European system more closely than the U.S. system. Japanese resorts concentrate mostly on a 3-tiered color system: Green, Red, and Black (although some resorts might have Blues).

USA	Japan
Green	Green / Blue (although not as common)
Blue	Red (Intermediate)
Black	Black
Double Black	—

 

The Resort

If I’m going to be completely honest, I thought the resort wasn’t that great. If it wasn’t already included on my Ikon Pass, I would have been disappointed that I spent money on a lift ticket. First, I know Japan doesn’t have the biggest mountains or the longest runs, but I felt like I finished the resort in half a day and I had four nights here! Second, the only good snow was at the top and I lapped that lift like a million times. Once I finished and ended the day, it was practically raining and slushy at the base. The resort was SO so-so that I didn’t even bother to use all of Ikon Pass days here. Maybe it was just the timing that I went, but who knows.

I did see a lot of people hiking up even further up the mountain and snowboarding down from there. In hindsight, I wish I at least tried to do that, but I was by myself and I didn’t want to risk getting stuck somewhere.

 

Lotte Arai Lift Tickets

Lift tickets costs ¥7,000 (~$45 USD) per day if you were to buy it online. I believe if you buy it at the window, it cost ¥7,500.

 

Ikon Pass x Lotte Arai Resort

Lotte Arai Resort is an international partner of the Ikon Pass. If you have the Ikon Pass, you get seven days and if you have the Ikon Base Pass, you get five days. The best part is that it does not have to be consecutive days so if the conditions are not in your favor, you don’t have to waste a day on your pass.

Keep in mind that you will have to show your Ikon Pass at the window and get your tickets though. If you don’t have your physical Ikon Pass, you can show your digital one on your phone as long as it has all of your Ikon Pass information. I lost my physical pass somewhere along my trip and I had to use my digital pass here. So, that’s how I know the digital pass can work as a last resort. 

 

Where to Dine in Lotte Arai Resort

Jōetsumyōkō Station

• AKARI: This restaurant is on the ground floor of the APA Hotel which is just a 5-minute walk from the station. They don’t speak any English so better have your Google Translate ready. This place is amazing if you are looking for amazing food at reasonable prices. I got this dish called “wappa meshi” for the first time and I felt so good/healthy after eating it. This place is cash only.  
  

  

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• Kamata Kani: I wanted to eat at this place the first night I arrived, but they were completely booked so I made a reservation for the next night. They are known for crab and seafood. Since I haven’t had proper sushi yet on this trip, I decided to get nigiri and a type of crab roll. Everything was delicious and I even got my own private room so I could eat in peace. It was a lovely relaxing experience. Now thinking about it, I think the whole restaurant is made up of private rooms. I don’t remember there being a main dining room. So, if you’re solo or with a group, I think you’ll enjoy your privacy here.
  

On The Mountain

To be honest, I didn’t eat on the mountain once. Lotte Arai is kind of a bougie resort and the prices is almost on par on what you would pay back at home. Although, not sure if you can order a kid’s meal, but that seemed to be the most affordable. 

 

Convenience Stores

There’s a Lawson convenience store next to the train station. Probably a 10-minute walk from my hotel or a 5-minute walk from the train station. Also, I believe there is a NewDays convenience store inside the station if you don’t want to walk all the way to the Lawson. I frequented both and got my lunch for the mountain here. A pro tip, if you come to the Lawson at night, they discount a lot of their pre-made food. You can buy it and save in the fridge at your hotel for the next day.

 

General FAQs

Do You Need Japanese Yen?

Yes. Japan is still largely a cash-based society, and many places only accept cash. I did use my credit card once in a while, but most of the time I paid with cash.

Is English Widely Spoken?

Not really, but do not let that deter you. Even though Japanese is primarily spoken, most places have English menus or pictures that you can point to.

Is It Safe Traveling There as a Solo Snowboarder or Skier?

Yes, it is very safe. Japan is one of the safest countries you could ever visit. In terms of being on the mountain, always use caution if you plan to ski or snowboard solo in the backcountry or in tree areas.

 

Conclusion

Overall, I think if you have the Ikon Pass, it’s definitely worth stopping by. Especially, if you just want to practice and not worry about wasting a day learning the mountain. The hotel I stayed at by the train station is super affordable and the free shuttle bus makes it easy to get to and from the resort. Now, if you were to ask me if it’s worth paying a full price lift ticket, I would say that there are much better resorts in Japan that you can go to. But I will give points to Lotte Arai just for the pure convenience and I love that it’s not overly crowded like Hakuba Valley or Niseko. 

 

Lotte Arai Pictures