When you’ve been snowboarding for many years, you start traveling in search of “a feeling that can only be experienced on that particular slope.”
Hokkaido has its powder, Nagano its moguls, Niigata its scale—each place has its own appeal. But when it comes to a place specialized in “playing with R (curves),” this might be the only one in all of Japan.
Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture. Nestled in the mountains beneath the Dewa Sanzan, that slope lies there.
Yudonosan Ski Resort— a hidden “R paradise” known only to those in the know. There’s a reason snowboarders from all over Japan go out of their way to travel to Yamagata.
And this season is about to come to an end. Right now, it’s bustling with visitors from all over the country making their final push.
What is “R paradise”? — The sensation of riding the mountain like a wave
“R paradise” refers to a course at Yudonosan Ski Resort designed by snow park designer Jun Maruyama, featuring a continuous series of R-shaped (gently curved) walls. Rather than “feature-based” elements like halfpipes or kickers, the course itself is sculpted into rounded forms, with wave-like walls appearing throughout.
Once you experience it, you’ll understand. That feeling is closer to “snow surfing” than to a typical ski resort.
You carve up the wall on the left, then turn at the top. Pulled by gravity, you head toward the wall on the right—climb it again, then ride back down. You don’t stop. You can’t stop. In fact, you don’t want to stop.
The course features a mix of R-shaped walls with varying heights and difficulty levels, allowing beginners to practice their lines on gentle walls while advanced riders carve aggressively right beside them. It’s also fully equipped with a halfpipe (4m and 7m kickers), rails, banks, and moguls. A rare slope where you can enjoy it without being limited to a specific style.
Current conditions at Yudonosan Ski Resort (as of March 22, 2026)
Why the “R” Designed by Jun Maruyama Is Different
When talking about “R paradise,” there’s one name you simply can’t avoid. Snow park designer, Jun Maruyama.
His philosophy is simple.
“I want everyone—from children to adults, regardless of style or skill level—to be able to enjoy it safely and have fun.”
Here is the interview article.
As these words suggest, the courses he creates don’t have the exclusivity of “only skilled riders can enjoy them.”
A child trying snowboarding for the first time carefully traces the bottom of a wall with a nervous smile, while just five meters away, a pro rider lands an air. And it all happens on the same course at the same time.
This season, on March 16, a one-of-a-kind compact R machine—the only one in Japan—finally arrived at Yudonosan. Heading toward the final week’s Dream Session, Maruyama himself shaped the course into its ultimate layout.
“For the final weekend, I build the best R possible”—that’s his style.
Among the guests who visit Watausagi, there are people every year who say they came to Yamagata just for “R paradise.” And after they finish riding, they all have such great expressions on their faces.
Heading to the final “R paradise” of the season—why people keep rushing there until the very end
Spring is steadily approaching, and there’s only a little time left before Yudonosan Ski Resort closes for the season. Even so—no, precisely because of that—there’s a unique energy in “R paradise” at this time of year. In the final stretch of the season, Maruyama completes the most refined and densely packed R layout of the year. It’s a course called the “final form,” filled with new lines and experiments for the next season. Core snowboarders know this, which is why they come in the final week.
“The last run of the season should be at R paradise”— anyone who has ridden here even once will understand that feeling.
Every year around this time, guests come rushing to Watausagi saying they’ve come for their final runs of the season. Right after check-in, they grab their gear and head out, return in the evening with flushed faces, and spend the night enjoying plenty of Tsuruoka’s local cuisine before falling asleep. This is a place where you can spend a day like that.
R Paradise × Tsuruoka — the perfect snow trip comes together
Tsuruoka City, home to Yudonosan Ski Resort, is also a city of food—recognized as Japan’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. After a day on the slopes, what your body craves is hot springs and good food. Tsuruoka has both. Mugikiri noodles, imoni stew, pickled Minden eggplant, and local dishes made with dadacha-mame. With a glass of local sake in hand, winter in Yamagata becomes exceptionally rich.
Guesthouse Watausagi is located in Tsuruoka City, with easy access to Yudonosan Ski Resort. From dormitories to private rooms, you can choose the style that suits your trip.
A travel plan of “riding R paradise, then eating, drinking, and staying in Tsuruoka” comes together smoothly when you use Watausagi as your base.
▶ Click here for details and reservations at Watausagi
【URL】https://wata-usagi.com/reservation/
[Next Preview] The Gassan Ski Resort opens in late April
And even after the Yudonosan season ends, Yamagata’s snow doesn’t.
Gassan Ski Resort typically opens in late April and remains skiable until around July—making it one of Japan’s premier “spring and summer ski resorts.” At elevations exceeding 1,500 meters, the slopes retain abundant snow even in spring, allowing the season—long finished elsewhere—to continue here.
In the next article, we’ll introduce the appeal of Gassan Ski Resort and a spring skiing plan based at Watausagi in detail. Stay tuned.
That’s all for today’s post.
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