Located in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, Hunter Mountain Shiobara is a snow resort boasting one of the largest scales in the greater Tokyo area. For the 2025–26 season, the resort has evolved to satisfy skiers and snowboarders of every kind, with renovated restaurants and newly introduced premium services.
In this article, we'll introduce the new services and popular attractions that Hunter Mountain Shiobara has rolled out for its upgraded 2025–26 season, along with the best ways to make the most of the resort.
Just About 2.5 Hours from the Tokyo Area! Hunter Mountain Shiobara, a Big Resort with Superb Access
![]()
Just about two and a half hours from Tokyo by car—or by train via a free reservation-only shuttle bus from Nasushiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen—Hunter Mountain Shiobara is a snow resort perfectly suited to a day trip of skiing and snowboarding.
With six lifts, including a gondola, the resort offers a 3,000-meter downhill run from summit to base across a total of 12 courses. Its appeal lies in a course layout that caters to everyone from beginners to experts: 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced. Equipped with 57 state-of-the-art automatic snow machines, the resort delivers dry snow and consistently stable conditions. A long season running from late November to early May means you can enjoy winter sports for months on end.
Parking is free on weekdays, and even on weekends there's ample space for 2,000 cars. After a day on the slopes, you can soothe your tired body at Shiobara Onsen, home to a fine collection of hot springs—making it an ideal setting for a day trip as well.
The 2025–26 Season Is Packed with Highlights! Hunter Mountain Shiobara's Season Topics
Every season, Hunter Mountain Shiobara continues to offer fresh appeal, and for 2025–26, both comfort and service have taken a big leap forward. Here are the highlights well worth paying attention to.
The Center House Restaurant "BIG APPLE" Gets a Major Renovation!
The biggest news of the 2025–26 season is the renovation of the Center House restaurants "BIG APPLE" and "Warvo Metameta," now redesigned around Hunter's signature color theme. With more seating added, you can enjoy lunch in comfort even during the busiest times.
A lineup of new menu items has also arrived. Making their Hunter debut are the "Aged Soy Sauce Ramen," "Light SIO Ramen," and "Aged Miso Ramen," supervised by "Kiichi," a celebrated Kitakata ramen restaurant. Savor the flavors of Kitakata—one of Japan's three great ramen regions—in thick, flat, high-hydration noodles made with Kitakata's famous spring water.
There's also a brand-new addition: "Soup-Style Yakisoba," a soul food of the Shiobara region. Combining the savory aroma of yakisoba sauce with the deep richness of aged soy sauce broth, it's Hunter's new slope-side staple.
A Whole New Level of Comfort! Premium Services Make Their Debut
This season marks the launch of the "Hunter Mountain Premium Series." You can now make advance reservations for rentals, parking, and even restaurant seats, dramatically reducing waiting times even on busy days.
For Premium Rental, by applying online at least two days before your visit, you can pick up your rental gear as soon as you arrive. At "BIG APPLE" on the first floor of the Center House, three reservation-only tables (up to six people per table) are available, so companions who aren't skiing can also spend the whole day at their leisure. On weekends and busy days, you can reserve parking as well—another welcome touch that lets you park with ease.
Access Is Even More Convenient! New Utsunomiya Station and Kinugawa Routes Debut
Starting with the 2025–26 season, a new free shuttle bus will begin operating from Utsunomiya Station via Kinugawa Onsen. It runs on a reservation basis during the New Year holidays (December 27–January 4) and on weekends from January 10 to March 1, with guests staying at Kawaji Onsen able to board at Ryuokyo.
The existing free shuttle bus from Nasushiobara Station—via Nasu Garden Outlet and Shiobara Onsen—will continue to operate every day from December 13 to March 29 (fully reservation-based). With even more convenient access by train, it's a great option for those who feel uneasy about driving on snowy roads.
The Classic Attractions Are Here to Stay! Why Hunter Mountain Shiobara Is So Popular
While Hunter Mountain Shiobara is brimming with new highlights, the classic attractions beloved by so many skiers and snowboarders are still going strong. Here, we'll introduce the especially popular programs and services you won't want to miss on your visit.
Enjoy Endless Runs Across 12 Varied Courses
From "Broadway," perfect for beginners honing their skills, to advanced courses with a maximum gradient of 25° like "Wall Street," "New Madison," and "F.D.R.," the resort's appeal lies in its rich variety of 12 courses in all. Hop on the gondola and you can reach the summit in a single ride.
On "Seventh Avenue," a gentle slope with an average gradient of about 5°, the "Hunter Banked Park (Wave Park)" offers waves, banks, and flat sections in a beginner-friendly setup that anyone can enjoy with ease.
If you're after more serious slopestyle, head to the "Terrain Park." Fully equipped with rails, boxes, and more, this park for intermediate and advanced riders comes highly recommended.
With 1,000 Sets of "Burton Step On" on Hand, Your Snowboard Debut Is a Breeze
If you're a beginner snowboarder renting your gear, Burton's Step On is the way to go. Just step in while standing and the binding clicks into place, so you're ready to ride in no time.
This season, the number of Step On rental sets has been boosted to 1,000, creating an environment where even more people can give it a try. For rentals, applying online in advance makes for smooth check-in using a QR code.
Great Value with Weekday Lift Tickets and a Wealth of Campaigns
![]()
This season's tickets use a three-tier pricing system that rewards weekday visits. A one-day ticket (adult) costs 5,300 yen on weekdays, 6,000 yen on holidays, and 6,300 yen on peak days—meaning you can save up to 1,000 yen by going on a weekday. Four-hour tickets are similarly priced to favor weekdays.
A variety of lift ticket campaigns are on offer as well. The weekday-only "Rookie Discount," for those aged 19 to 22, bundles a one-day lift ticket with a rental discount voucher for 2,000 yen (requires downloading the Yukiyama app). The "Graduation Discount," exclusively for junior high and high school students, offers a one-day lift ticket bundled with a rental set discount voucher for 2,000 yen during the period from February 24 to March 31—a great deal.
And every Thursday, the "Han-katsu" promotion lets you enjoy a lift ticket paired with Baskin-Robbins ice cream for 4,800 yen (available only through advance online purchase).
Family-Friendly, Too! A Well-Equipped Kids' Park and Snow Play Area
The Kids Park and Snow Play Area are popular attractions among families. The Kids Park is packed with facilities to enjoy all day long, including a dedicated sledding slope and a tubing course. Admission is 2,000 yen for adults and children alike (lift fee included).
A snow escalator is provided as well, easing the burden of climbing the slope again and again while sledding, so kids can play without getting tired. The Center House is also fully equipped with a free rest area, a rental shop, changing rooms, lockers, and more, offering solid support for a family ski trip.
A Special Winter at a Full-Fledged Snow Resort You Can Visit on a Whim
For the 2025–26 season, Hunter Mountain Shiobara has evolved on many fronts, from the introduction of premium services to the launch of new shuttle bus routes. Keeping its excellent access—about two and a half hours from the greater Tokyo area—the resort has been reborn as a place to spend more comfortable and rewarding time on the snow.
Slopes to enjoy across a long season from late November to early May, a varied layout of 12 courses in all, and an impressive selection of dining and services—whether you're a veteran skier or snowboarder or touching snow for the first time, Hunter Mountain Shiobara, ready to visit the moment inspiration strikes, is sure to give you a winter to remember.
![カービングターン[SNOWBOARD編]](/realimg_report/36/ogimg.jpg)
![バックカントリーにチャレンジしてみよう！[SKI＆SNOWBOARD編]](/realimg_report/28/ogimg.jpg)
