The little village of Seki Onsen is very sleepy (but not as sleepy as the nearby village of Tsubame Onsen which is so sleepy that it’s creepy!), so sleepy that the lift attendant at the top of the ski area was asleep most of the morning. Actually the ski resort itself isn’t sleepy. On both days we visited, it felt like it was teeming with other powder hounds wanting to charge at the powder.

Seki Onsen is a delightful step back in time where it’s OK for lifties to sleep, and when they’re not sleeping they use plastic snow shovels to clear the lift platforms after a big dump. No I lie! They recently invested in one motorised snow clearer, but they don’t think to use it until way past 10am when there’s a massive queue of people waiting to get on the lift! Then they finally let people onto the single lift, but only load every 2nd chair, so the lift queue just got longer and longer.

A big pro for Seki is the massive snowfalls. The first day we visited, it had dumped 50cm overnight, but unfortunately the snow was like elephant snot. The 2nd day we visited there was only (!) 30cm of new snow and it was much better quality, although not super dry.

Another major pro is the interesting terrain; trees that are varied in their spacing that hit a delightful pitch at times. The major problem is that the terrain is just too small (and they don’t look like expanding it anytime soon) and it makes the ski area feel very crowded. Of course there’s always the backcountry.

Seki Onsen is worth a look-see if you’re in the area, but it’s not the powder gem it once was.
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Best Powder, Chairlift system is good enough, back country terrain is easily accessible although avalanches are a big problem and occasionally the whole resort or certain runs are closed due to avalanches.
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Here is one of the best kept secrets in Honshu. On the northern tip of the Myoko range is a place called Seki Onsen which has been in the same family for 93 years. Newsflash, they get as much annual snow as Niseko. Only two lifts, a double and single meathook. But OMG the POW days here are out of this world. The owner runs things from his rocking chair but go and talk to him and for a fee he will send his son out to show you the hidden secrets of Seki. Only suited for the advanced to experts. The food at the restuarant above the double chair is top knotch.
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First things first:
We visited Seki Onsen 3 years ago and it was obscene how good it was. Snow conditions, mountain, vibe, people; the works, to top it off, the only other patrons where were gaggle of Japanese school kids who are always more than happy to engage 3 Australians and their teacher in some high stakes snowball wars instead of their prescribed green run snake. All Highly recommended. However last year an avalanche took out the top lift, and at a mountain with only 2 lifts, the top lift is somewhat conducive for a good days skiing. At this point in time I am unaware if the owner of Seki has fixed, or replaced the lift... so if anyone is planning on heading out Myoko way, prudence would dictate some research into this before making a decision.

In Myoko Kogen news, the town is great, top notch crepe stands, great restaurants of all variety,very photogenic to boot.

Akakura Onsen is definitely worth a visit and explore.

Look into Suginahara for some touring and backcountry, but hire a guide to at least get some topographic maps 'cause we couldn't get our hands on any. Also, if it hasn't snowed for a few days, the groomers and vertical at this place are worth at least a half day before hitting the bar.

All in all, great place, would revisit.
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