Snowboarding at Yuzawa Niigata Ski Resort

If you visit Japan from December to April, take the time to just play in the snow at the many ski resorts around Japan.

You don't need to go all the way to Sapporo Hokkaido to see snow, the easiest snow play spots around Tokyo are Yuzawa (Niigata Prefecture), Hakuba (Nagano) and Karuizawa. All can be visited with a train journey of around 1-2 hours.

In the Niigata area there are many ski resorts that you can choose from. Just look for which one is appropriate or close to your goals. The average ski resort in Japan charges ¥4500-5500 for a 1-day lift ticket, and there is a discount if you take a 2-day lift ticket. This is your ticket if you want to ski or snowboard. But if you just want to step on the snow or play at the snowpark, you usually only need to buy a gondola ticket for ~¥1500-2000.

To go to Yuzawa or Karuizawa, you don't need to buy a JR Whole Japan Pass (29,000 yen), but just buy a JR East Pass Niigata (18,000 yen), it can cover the train trip from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa or Gala-Yuzawa.

Gala Yuzawa

The most popular for tourists is Gala Yuzawa, which is more 'tourist friendly' with lots of signs, brochures and an English-only website.

Gala is a ski resort that has its own shinkansen station. So if you are coming from Tokyo, you can take the Joetsu Shinkansen and stop directly at Gala Yuzawa (70 minutes, winter only). Exiting the shinkansen station directly is the visitor center belonging to Gala Yuzawa. If you can't find the schedule for Gala Yuzawa, just choose the destination Echigo-Yuzawa with the same train. Later there will be a free shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa station to Gala Yuzawa.

Here you can rent snow play equipment ranging from boots (rubber shoes), waterproof trousers, gloves, to ski boots, poles and snowboards. The price is not cheap if you only play for one day, but there is a discount if you rent for 2 days.

My initial plan was to play here in mid-December, but because there wasn't much snow, the resort didn't open its ski slopes, so I moved to Kagura.

Apart from Gala Yuzawa, there is also Yuzawa Kogen and Isiuchi Ski Resort, all three are next to each other (even though they are actually far away), and there is a ski pass that covers these 3 mountains.

Naeba and Kagura Ski Resorts

Naeba and Kagura Mountain are located further than Gala-Yuzawa. Naeba and Kagura are managed by Prince Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The advantage of Naeba and Kagura compared to the Yuzawa area is that they open earlier, there can even be snow in early December because the summit of Mount Naeba is 2000m high, Gala is only 1100m.

For ski resorts owned by the Prince Group, children's lift tickets are free (you still have to take tickets at the counter).

For Naeba/Kagura, you need additional transportation, namely taking the bus from Echigo-Yuzawa. Kagura itself has 2 lower stations, namely Mitsunomuta (more crowded) and Tashiro. Naeba also has 2 lower stations: Schnee Daytrip Ski Center and Naeba Prince Hotel.

My last trip went to Kagura, to be precise playing at Tashiro. So here I will give you the travel information. FYI Tashiro is more suitable for skiing and snowboarding, if you want to snowtube or toboggan, you should go to Naeba.

20 minutes by bus from Echigo-Yuzawa to Mitsunomuta Ropeway (¥390), 30 minutes to Tashiro (¥540), and about 40 minutes to Schnee and Naeba (¥670). This shuttle bus takes you from Echigo-Yuzawa Station East Exit (stop number 1), there are 2 types of buses; local and express, please take whichever you find first. Pay with cash, but not with banknotes of ¥5000 and above. If you stay at Naeba Prince Resort, you can take a special free shuttle bus.

Bus schedules for the December 2019- March 2020 ski season can be downloaded here for local buses and express bus schedules.

Tashiro and Naeba Resort are connected by a Gondola called Dragondola, about 5km long. You can ride this if you buy a joint ticket (¥6000). But actually just playing at 1 resort will take you all day.

Once you drop off the shuttle bus in Tashiro, there is a rental shop where you can rent all your snow playing needs (skis, snowboards, toboggans, and pants). The Ski Center is where we buy tickets (pay for an adult ski ticket, or just ride the gondola), including the bottom station for the gondola ride here.

Iwappara Ski Resort

There is another quite famous resort near Echigo-Yuzawa, namely Iwappara. The place is about 10 minutes by shuttle bus, relatively suitable for families and kids because the course trail is not too wide.

To get here you can also use the shuttle bus, just take it at the Echigo-Yuzawa East Exit. You can check the shuttle bus schedule to Iwappara Ski Resort here.

Hotels in Yuzawa

Staying at a ski resort is more recommended if you get the right price, you don't need to worry about bus schedules and you can also go home and rest. Unfortunately the official website is only available in Japanese, even though there are lots of promotional tickets, so if you want to go here, use Google Translate.

Naeba Prince Resort, basically ski until night (there is a night ski ticket)

Naspa New Otani

Yuzawa Toei Hotel.

Airbnb style accommodation is a bit limited here, the last one I stayed at was Angel Resort, closer to Iwaparra Ski so you need a shuttle bus if you arrive at Echigo Yuzawa.

Tips for playing in the snow in Japan

It's best to buy and bring your own waterproof pants and gloves, assuming you're buying it to invest in equipment. So only rent bulky equipment such as a toboggan or ski set.

Wear as thick clothing as possible. The point is your layering has to be right.

Check the snow and weather report on each resort's website, or from the snow-forecast.com website, even though it snows, sometimes the weather is bad which makes the resort close.

Bring or buy food from outside and then store it in a paid locker, because for restaurant lunches at resorts the average is 1500 yen per portion.

Toboggan or snowtube is the simplest but fun activity when playing at a ski resort. There's no need to buy a ski lift, just a gondola ticket, or there are even resorts that have a snow park directly without needing to take a gondola.

For those who have never skied, it is recommended that you take a ski lesson first to at least learn to stop and put on/take off shoes from the ski board.