Yuzawa Skiing Resorts Guide
Yuzawa, Niigata – its located between Sea of Japan and Japanese Alps, and due to this special geographical, Yuzawa has one of the highest annual snowfalls and excellent powder snow in Japan. Only approximately 70 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo, it becomes one of the popular places for ski during winter for locals. If you are looking to immerse with local skiing culture and you are looking to a place easy to access from Tokyo, Yuzawa might be the best options.
How to get to Ski Resorts in Yuzawa
The fastest way and the most convenient way to reach Yuzawa from Tokyo Station is by taking Shinkansen (Bullet Train). The Echigo-Yuzawa station is your destination. It costs JPY6750 [as of April 2024] for a single journey, the train runs around every 30 minutes and gives plenty of options for ski goers to plan in advance, get assistance with bulky luggages if you bringing your snowboards or ski equipment. And below a visual map that clarifies the stops in between and where Echigo-Yuzawa is located.
Ski Resorts
It becomes very popular during Winter thanks for the convenient location, most of the ski resorts are easy to access, easily to reach by taking shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa station.
There are 19 ski resorts to suit every need from beginner to advance levels. Here are some recommendation of the ski resorts:
Ishiuchi Maruyama
With a history of 70 years old, just 10 minutes from Echigo-Yuzawa station, it’s one of the grandest in Kanto-Koshinetsu region offering impressive array of 24 fan-shaped slopes from its summit.
Level: 40% Beginner; 30% Intermediate; 30% Advance
Open from 8:30 – 17:00. Night Ski from 16:00-20:00. (Mid-Dec to Early Apr)
Gala Yuzawa
Direct connected to GALA Yuzawa Station, it ranked no. 1 of “Top 10 Tourist Destinations in Niigata Prefecture for Tourists in 2023”. With a total of 16 distinct courses. GALA Yuzawa is also connected to Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort and Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, you may purchase the Yuzawa Snow Link Three Mountains Common Ticket, to get access to a whopping 48 courses across 3 ski resorts.
Level:- 45% Beginner; 20% Intermediate; 35% Advance
Open from 8:00 – 16:00
Yuzawa Kogan
With the world’s largest ropeway, takes you to an altitude of 1,000 meters in just 7 minutes.
Level: 20% Beginner; 30% Intermediate; 50% Advance
Open from 8:30 – 17:00
Naspa Ski Garden.
No snowboarders and Just for Skiers, they accommodate all level of skiers with 8 courses, which 2 of them are full-length courses from summit which even beginners can enjoy.
Level: 30% Beginner; 30% Intermediate; 40% Advance
Open from 8:30 -17:00
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Ideal for families and beginners, having a wide, gentle slopes to make it easy for beginners. The resort have many indoor rest spaces with a retired blue train that you can rest inside.
Level: 40% Beginner; 30% Intermediate; 30% Advance
Open from 8:30 – 16:30
Naeba Ski Resort
Most famous ski resort in Japan with 24 trails down the wide slope, a 4km long trail park areas divided up by skill level.
Level: 42% Beginner; 25% Intermediate’ 33% Advance
Open from 8:30 – 17:00
Renting Ski and Snowboard equipment in Yuzawa
Selecting the right clothes is important. The following is a list of equipment that can generally be rented:-
Helmet, Jacket and Pants, Snowboard, Skis and Poles, Boots, Gloves, Goggles. There are plenty of rental shops and you may book in advance when during the peak season.
Xraeb Sport
just 10 minutes walk from the station https://www.xraeb.co.jp/xraebsport provides all equipments
Chenda Rental
Chenda Rental, free shuttle bus service to all the ski resorts everyday. Staff can speak fluent English and Mandarin. Excellent services. https://chendarental.com/
Where to stay in Yuzawa
Surrounded by the Japanese Alps, Echigo-Yuzawa with one of the most beautiful sceneries hot springs. Staying in the Japanese Ryokan is the best choice especially after your whole day of ski.
Yukemuri or Yukinohana (****)
Nearly opened in April 2019, 3 minutes’ walk from Echigo Yuzawa Station and set in 2.2km away from Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort. Onsen on the top floor with stunning mountain views, half-board of Kaiseki cuisine. Perfect Ryokan stay with style and convenience.
Hotel Futaba (****)
surrounded by Mt. Tanigawa, 7 minute walk from Echigo Yuzawa Station, it sets 500m walk to Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort and Yuzawa Highland Ropeway. The outdoor and indoor onsens with splendid mountain views
Ryugon (***)
Hot spring Ryokan facilities with Japanese garden view. The building is a traditional Japanese architecture with only 28 rooms. 30 minutes by shuttle from Echigo Yuzawa station. If you want to stay a bit out from town, it definitely a good choice.
Hotel Angel Grandia Echigo Nakazato (****)
Not Ryokan type of stay but it is Ski-to-door access to Nakazato Snow Wood Ski Area, very family friendly hotel. 15 minute drive from Echigo Yuzawa Station.
Grand Yuzawa Hotel (***)
3 minute walk from the Echigo Yuzawa Station, big hotel with Western and Japanese rooms. If you want convenient, with lovely onsen, this is absolutely your choice.
Echigo Yuzawa Hatago Isen (***)
Perfect location just 140m from the Echigo Yuzawa station, traditional and beautiful ryokan with just 600m walk to Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort. The bus stop to other ski resorts just right out of the front.
Echigo Yuzawa Onsen Sakura Tei (***)
3 mins walk from the station and easy to access other ski resorts. Very nice outdoor onsen with mountain view.
Takahan (***)
Family owned traditional ryokan with 900 years old. The building has been rebuilt many times over the years but the history and traditions are still remained. It is set on a hillside overlooking the valley and mountains, near Gala Yuzawa ski resort and Yuzuwa Kogen Ropeway. Takahan provides free transport to ski reports and also in and out to the train station.
What Yuzawa is famous for?
Yuzawa is in Niigata Prefecture, one of the most famous region of Rice. You can find rice ball (“Onigiri”) easily and the most famous shop is Bakudan onigiri that inside the Echigo Yuzawa Station. Bakudan Onigiri basically is a huge rice ball, wrapped some ingredients that you have picked.
Sake, of course. It’s made of Rice. Niigata has best quality of rice and water, that’s eventually they make one of the best Sake among Japan. There is a tasting room inside the Echigo-Yuzawa Station, there are nearly 100 types of sakes to try. Just JPY500 you can get 5 tokens to taste up to 5 cups of sakes.
Hegi Soba, it is different from regular soba, it’s made of funori (a seaweed) partially. That’s why the smooth and silky texture come from.
More information, you can check : https://www.ponshukan.com/en/yuzawa/
Where to eat in Yuzawa after a full day on the snow
There are plenty of restaurants in Echigo Yuzawa main street, if you stay in town and bored with hotel food, you still have a lot of options, including izakaya, teppanyaki, seafood restaurants. Suggested booking in advance when it’s on peak season.