I'm planning to spend a couple weekends up in Minakami with friends this season. Does anyone have any tips on the best resorts in that area? Some personal opinions? I hear Tenjindaira is sweet for backcountry riding, but what about on piste and the other resorts around?

Domo for the help!

Some tips out of my experience:
Tenjindaira is indeed cisk for backcountry when there's powder, have had some of my best powder days there. but the piste itself is nothing to get excited about at all.

Avoid Houdaigi, flat with a lot of transportation courses.

Okutone is small and not so exciting.
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not to knock the Minakami snowbusiness over...but I guess going to Kagura or Hakkaisan is a better choice if looking for resorts close to Tokyo that also has some lenght in pistes.