Lotte Arai Resort Review: Rooms, Dining & Ski Slopes in Myoko, Niigata

This time in Niigata, we stayed at Lotte Arai Resort.

It’s a well-known five-star ski resort hotel, especially popular among ski lovers, offering a true ski-in / ski-out experience, which basically means the hotel is right next to the slopes. Step outside, and you’re already at the lifts.

Every morning, we only had to walk a short distance from the hotel to start snowboarding.
And when we got tired, there was no need to take a shuttle or carry heavy gear, we could simply ride straight back to the hotel and rest.

But convenience isn’t the only highlight here.
After a full day on the slopes, you can relax in the open-air “Stargazing Onsen”, letting the hot spring soak away all the soreness.

At night, there are several high-quality restaurants to choose from, whether you’re in the mood for Japanese cuisine or Western dishes, the standards are impressively high.

The daily routine was just: snowboard → soak in the onsen → enjoy great food

The whole trip felt incredibly comfortable.
I didn’t realize a ski vacation could feel this luxurious and relaxing.

From higher up on the slopes, this is what the resort looks like 👇

In this article, I’ll give you a full review of the room we stayed in, along with the restaurants we tried, what the ski resort looks like, and my overall experience staying here.

Lotte Arai Resort: view prices 👉👉 Booking | Agoda

Lotte Arai Resort Exterior

The exterior of Lotte Arai Resort is quite impressive.
Surrounded by snow, the entire building looks like a European-style yellow castle, giving off a strong resort vibe.

Here’s the main entrance 👇

The resort is made up of several interconnected buildings.
The main accommodation areas are Arai, Lodge, Club, and Nest, all linked together.

There are indoor corridors connecting each building, so even when it’s snowing outside, you don’t have to walk outdoors in your ski gear, you can move around comfortably indoors.

Lotte Arai Resort Superior Twin Room Review

During this stay at Lotte Arai Resort, we booked a Superior Twin Room in the Arai building.
Our room was on the third floor, located right above the main resort entrance.
Looking out the window, we could see a wide snow-covered landscape, with the parking area nearby. The view felt quite open and spacious.

The room itself was larger than expected, with a clean and minimalist design.
It felt bright, tidy, and very comfortable.

This room type is around 23–31 square meters, depending on the location. Some rooms face the forest, while others have mountain views.
We were lucky to get a room with a full snowy view, perfect winter vibes.

In terms of amenities, everything you’d expect was provided:
a TV, kettle, mini fridge, safe, wardrobe, and more, all neatly arranged.

The bathroom was also quite spacious, with bright lighting and a clean overall feel.

One small downside I noticed was that the shower temperature could sometimes fluctuate slightly between hot and cold, probably because many guests were using water at the same time.
It wasn’t a huge issue, but worth mentioning.

As for the beds, I really liked them.
The mattress had just the right level of firmness, not too soft, not too hard, with good support.
The twin beds were also fairly large, giving plenty of space even when turning around during sleep.
The blankets were fluffy and warm, and after a full day of snowboarding, crawling into bed felt amazing.

Overall, the room was very comfortable.
At night, you might occasionally hear the sound of strong winds outside, and a bit of cold air could seep in through the balcony door, but the room itself always stayed warm.

The Superior Twin Room in the Arai building offers a great balance of space, comfort, and functionality.
For a ski trip, it’s honestly an ideal place to stay.

Lotte Arai Resort: view prices 👉👉 Booking | Agoda

Lotte Arai Resort Restaurant Review

Lotte Arai Resort has quite a few dining options.
Here, I’ll share my experience at three restaurants I personally tried: The Plate (Buffet), Japanese Restaurant Asahi, and Shabu-shabu Yashiro.

The Plate (Buffet)

The Plate offers both Western-style breakfast and dinner, with a wide variety of dishes.
It’s not just about quantity, the quality is solid too. Every section makes you want to grab a little bit of everything.

Breakfast

No reservation required

I personally really liked the breakfast here.
There’s even a pancake machine where you can make freshly baked pancakes on the spot. Alongside that, you’ll find a great selection of bread, salads, yogurt, cold dishes, and hot food.

Dinner

Reservation recommended 👉 The Plate

Dinner is also very satisfying. You’ll find dishes like cream soup with puff pastry, gratin, and steak, all done to a good standard.
The dessert section looks beautifully presented, and tastes just as good.

This is the kind of buffet where you’ll want to try a little bit of everything.
It’s perfect for arranging your plate into a colorful “grid-style” layout, super satisfying to look at, great for photos, and most importantly, everything tastes good.

Overall, I think The Plate really meets the expectations of a five-star hotel buffet, from variety to quality to the overall dining experience.

Japanese Restaurant Asahi

Breakfast

No reservation required

The Japanese-style breakfast at Asahi was surprisingly impressive.
Not only is there a wide variety of food, but the presentation and attention to detail are also beautifully done.

Compared to The Plate’s Western breakfast, both are great in terms of quality and variety, but if I had to choose, I personally preferred the Japanese breakfast here. It feels more refined and gives a stronger “you’re in Japan” experience.

There are plenty of options, including Japanese fried dishes, fragrant matcha soba noodles, and neatly portioned fruits, all carefully plated and visually appealing.

Of course, you’ll also find the usual options like salads, hot dishes, cold dishes, drinks, and yogurt, so you can mix and match depending on how light or filling you want your meal to be.

It’s the kind of breakfast that makes you want to come back for seconds.

Dinner

Reservation required 👉 Asahi

Dinner at Asahi is served as a set course meal.
There are three main options to choose from:
Wagyu sukiyaki, Kinmedai & Madai shabu-shabu, and tempura (shrimp tempura).
We ordered the Wagyu sukiyaki and the Kinmedai & Madai shabu-shabu.

Each set also includes appetizers, sashimi, grilled dishes, rice, and dessert, overall quite refined in presentation.

Starting with the fish: the Kinmedai and Madai shabu-shabu was decent. The fish was fresh, and the texture was good.

The slightly disappointing part was the Wagyu sukiyaki.
The beef felt a bit overcooked and lacked the rich marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture you’d expect from Wagyu. It honestly tasted more like regular beef, which was a bit of a letdown.

Overall, the breakfast here was impressive, but the dinner was just… okay.

Shabu-shabu Yashiro

Dinner

Reservation required 👉 Shabu-shabu Yashiro

Dinner at Yashiro is also served as a set meal, with each person getting their own portion.
The meal starts with a simple and refreshing salad appetizer.

For the main course, you can enjoy pork and beef slices, paired with a full platter of vegetables. The quality of the meat was quite decent.

The restaurant itself is spacious and bright, and there are also Japanese-style private rooms available.
Overall, I’d say the experience was solid, nothing overly surprising, but still satisfying.

Skiing at Lotte Arai Resort

Ski Resort Overview

Lotte Arai Resort is located on Mount Okenashi in Myoko, Niigata, an area known for its heavy snowfall. It’s a favorite destination among ski and snowboard enthusiasts.

The resort itself is fairly large, with a total of 14 runs. One of the best things about it is how evenly the difficulty levels are distributed:
36% beginner, 36% intermediate, 21% advanced, and 7% expert-level slopes.

Whether it’s your first time on the snow or you’re looking to challenge yourself with more advanced terrain, there’s something here for everyone.

The longest run stretches up to 7 km, which makes for a really satisfying ride, and the vertical drop is about 951 meters.

But what really stands out here is the snow quality.

Thanks to its location, Mount Okenashi receives an incredible amount of snowfall. Especially above mid-mountain, the slopes are covered in soft, fine powder snow.

It feels completely different from the hard, compact snow you might be used to. When you step on it, it slightly sinks in, making the ride smoother and reducing the risk of injury.

Even if you fall, it doesn’t hurt as much, which makes it much more beginner-friendly and allows you to practice with more confidence.

👉👉 Beginner Snowboarding Guide to Lotte Arai Resort in March, Niigata

Ski Center

If you’re planning to ski or snowboard, the Ski Center is where everything starts.

Inside, you’ll find the equipment rental area, where you can get everything you need, snowboards, boots, helmets, and protective gear, all in one place.

Once you’re fully geared up, you can head straight out to the slopes.

If you’re joining a guided group like I did, this is also where you’ll meet in the morning.
You’ll check in with the staff, rent your equipment, and then meet your instructor before heading out for your lesson.

There are also a few restaurants and small cafés inside the Ski Center, so after a session on the slopes, you can grab some hot food or a warm drink.

In addition, this is where the Village Station gondola is located.
From here, you can take the gondola up to higher areas of the mountain.

The higher you go, the better the views, and the more slope options you’ll have.
So whether you’re a beginner or looking to explore more advanced runs, this is where your day on the mountain usually begins.

Lotte Arai Resort Facilities Review

Hoshizora Onsen

After a full day of snowboarding, the thing I looked forward to the most was definitely the onsen.
When your whole body is sore, and it’s freezing outside, the thought of soaking in a hot spring just feels incredibly comforting.

The onsen is located in The Arai building, so if you’re staying in a different building, you’ll need to walk a short distance outdoors to get there.

Inside, there are both indoor baths and an open-air onsen.

It’s called the “Hoshizora Onsen” because you can look up at the night sky while soaking outside. That said, the surrounding lights are a bit bright, so the stars might not be super clear, but the atmosphere is still really nice.

There’s also a sauna, which isn’t something you always see at every onsen.
If you want to sweat it out, you can hop into the sauna after your soak.

This was probably the most relaxing part of the entire day.
All the fatigue from snowboarding just melts away in the hot water. It feels like your body and mind are completely reset, and you’re fully recharged for the next day on the slopes.

Souvenir Shop

There’s a souvenir shop inside the resort, medium in size but well-stocked and fun to browse.

You’ll find all kinds of snacks and gifts, especially lots of cookies and candies.
Besides food, there are also plenty of cute items like keychains, plush toys, magnets, and small decorative pieces.
If you’re looking for something more practical, they also sell clothing and bags.

Self-Service Convenience Store

The resort is quite remote, with almost no shops nearby.
Thankfully, there’s a small self-service convenience store inside the resort.
If you suddenly crave snacks or instant noodles late at night, this place is a lifesaver.
It’s not very big, but it has all the essentials: snacks, instant noodles, and drinks.

Indoor Activity Area

If you happen to visit during bad weather, or even outside of the ski season, you won’t be bored.
There’s an indoor activity area where you can still have fun.

It includes a climbing wall with routes of different angles and difficulty levels, suitable for both beginners and those looking for a bit of a challenge.

There’s also a trampoline area that looks super fun, with a basketball hoop so you can even try doing slam dunks in the air.

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This Niigata snowboarding trip turned out to be a complete and deeply satisfying experience.

Staying at Lotte Arai Resort made everything so easy, you just walk a short distance and you’re already on the slopes. No need to drag your gear around.

Every day, I woke up to snowy views, spent the day riding on soft powder snow (where falling doesn’t hurt too much), and gradually improved with each run.
When I got tired, I could head back for a great meal or relax in the onsen. From breakfast to dinner, the food quality was consistently good.

The daily rhythm became simple and perfect: snowboard → eat → soak → relax
It was such a peaceful and healing routine.

After five days, not only did I improve my snowboarding skills, but I also truly enjoyed a break away from everyday life.

Honestly, I didn’t want to leave.
I’ve already started thinking about coming back again someday.

If you’re considering trying snowboarding for the first time, or looking for a place where you can enjoy great powder snow along with comfortable accommodation and good food, Lotte Arai Resort is definitely worth adding to your list.

Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to come back again-
to snowboard, to relax, and to enjoy this kind of simple, happy life all over again. ❄️

👉👉 Beginner Snowboarding Guide to Lotte Arai Resort in March, Niigata

Lotte Arai Resort: view prices 👉👉 Booking | Agoda