Yuzawa

One of Japan’s leading ski resort towns
•••Recommended
★★★★★
3.7 (128)
#99 of 210 most visited in Japan

Yuzawa () in Niigata Prefecture is one of the largest and the most easily accessed ski areas from Tokyo. You can be on the slopes from Tokyo Station in under two hours. Yuzawa is known for deep powder and a long season, with some resorts open from mid November to late May.

There are over a dozen ski resorts around Yuzawa, varying in size from one to over twenty lifts. While some are near the town center, others are more remote, but they can all be accessed by public transport.

A few resorts team up to offer combination lift tickets that give you access to all of the participating resorts. They are typically connected to each other so that you can ski or snowboard between them.

Yuzawa is also known for its onsen (hot springs), with baths located at the ski resorts, hotels, public bath houses and shinkansen stations. Echigo-Yuzawa Station also has a sake tasting shop offering over 100 varieties of sake from Niigata Prefecture. Five tasting coins cost 1000 yen, with the number of coins required per sample varying by sake.

Gala Yuzawa, Ishiuchi Maruyama, Yuzawa Kogen Group

A special combination ticket, known as "Yuzawa Snow Link", is available for all three resorts. In 2025/2026 it cost 9500 yen (8500 yen if purchased online in advance) and could be bought at any of the three resorts' ticket counters (2026/2027 price unconfirmed). Note, however, that Gala Yuzawa's south area and its ropeway connection to Yuzawa Kogen will be closed during the 2026/2027 season. Shuttle buses will connect the two resorts.

Gala Yuzawa
Just 90 minutes from Tokyo Station, Gala Yuzawa is the easiest resort in Yuzawa to access by train. The gondola to the mountain leaves directly from the shinkansen station, but be sure to check the wind conditions before you leave as the gondola does not operate when it is windy. Lift ticket prices are lowered during the shoulder seasons and if purchased online.
Season*
Mid December to early May
(December 19, 2026 to May 5, 2027)
Lifts
9 lifts
Tickets
Full day 8000 yen
4 hours 7500 yen
Nighter N/A
Access
Bus/Train Joetsu Shinkansen to Gala Yuzawa Station.
Car Three kilometers from Yuzawa Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Ishiuchi Maruyama is one of the oldest establishments in the Yuzawa area and is known to have great powder. The resort is fairly large and offers some really long runs. Lift ticket prices are lowered during the shoulder seasons.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 18, 2026 to April 4, 2027)
Lifts
13 lifts
Tickets
One day 7900 yen (2026/2027 price unconfirmed)
Half day 6300 yen (2026/2027 price unconfirmed)
Nighter 3800 yen (2026/2027 price unconfirmed)
Access
Bus/Train Three mins walk from Ishiuchi Station or ten mins by free shuttle from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.
Car Four kilometers from Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.
Yuzawa Kogen
Yuzawa Kogen is located near the Yuzawa Interchange and Echigo-Yuzawa Station. The resort is made up mostly of beginner and intermediate courses, and offers a family and kids' snowland with a variety of snow experiences to enjoy. Lift ticket prices are lowered if purchased online.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 18, 2026 to April 4, 2027)
Lifts
5 lifts
Tickets
Full day 6900 yen (2026/2027 price unconfirmed)
Half day 5200 yen (2026/2027 price unconfirmed)
Nighter N/A
Access
Bus/Train Two mins by free shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.
Car Two kilometers from Yuzawa Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

Naeba, Kagura Group

A combination ticket for Naeba and Kagura can be purchased for 11,800 yen at either resort.

Naeba
Naeba is operated by Prince Hotels and is very popular even though it is the most remote of the major Yuzawa resorts. It has a large number of lifts, with multiple lifts serving each run. The slopes are generally steep, and can become quite crowded on weekends. Naeba is connected to neighboring Kagura via the Dragondola, an extremely long aerial lift that spans the 5.5 kilometer distance between the resorts.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 18, 2026 to April 4, 2027)
Lifts
12 lifts
Tickets
Full day 9800 yen
Half day 6300 yen
Nighter unclear
Access
Bus/Train 50 mins by bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.
Car 21 kilometers from Yuzawa Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.
Kagura
Known for having good powder and long runs, Kagura is reached by either the Mitsumata or Tashiro ropeways. It is also connected to Naeba via the Dragondola. Kagura has the longest season of the Yuzawa resorts thanks to its location high up in the mountains. Night skiing is not offered.
Season*
Late November to mid May
(November 28, 2026 to May 16, 2027)
Lifts
18 lifts
Tickets
Full day 8500 yen
Half day 6200-6700 yen
Nighter N/A
Access
Bus/Train 25 mins by bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station.
Car Eight kilometers from Yuzawa Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

Iwappara, Joetsu Kokusai Group

The two ski resorts form a group; however, they are not physically connected to each other.

Iwappara
Iwappara is located near the center of Yuzawa Town. The main area of Iwappara is extremely wide, well groomed and an excellent place for beginners. In addition, the resort has good snow play facilities for children.
Season*
Mid December to late March
(December 19, 2026 to March 28, 2027)
Lifts
9 lifts
Tickets
Full day 5500 yen
Afternoon 4500 yen
Nighter 1500 yen
Access
Bus/Train 10 mins by bus from Echigo Yuzawa Station or a 15 min walk from Iwappara Skijo-mae Station.
Car Three kilometers from Yuzawa Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.
Joetsu Kokusai
Joetsu Kokusai is one of Japan's largest resorts, spanning a number of mountains and valleys. It offers long runs and lots of powder. Joetsu Kokusai is about ten kilometers north of central Yuzawa.
Season*
Mid December to early April
(December 12, 2026 to April 4, 2027)
Lifts
18 lifts
Tickets
Full day 5500 yen
Afternoon 4500 yen
Nighter 1500 yen
Access
Bus/Train 25 minutes by shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station or a few steps from Joetsu Kokusai Skijo-mae Station.
Car Six kilometers from Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange.
* Season dates may be adjusted due to lack of snow. Check before going.

Getting there and around

Echigo-Yuzawa Station can be reached from Tokyo Station in around 80-90 minutes by the Joetsu Shinkansen. During the winter, some trains from/to Tokyo serve Gala Yuzawa Station in the mornings and evenings, while a shuttle train runs between Echigo-Yuzawa and Gala Yuzawa during the day. The one way trip between Tokyo and Yuzawa costs around 6500 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass.

Furthermore, JR and travel agencies sell a range of discount travel plans that combine a round trip from Tokyo to Yuzawa with lift passes and/or accommodation.

Questions? Ask in our forum.

Links and Resources

English

Japanese

Experiences around Yuzawa

Page last updated: