Ski resorts accessible by bus from a Shinkansen station
Trains are a punctual, convenient way to visit a ski resort. You might think that transferring trains in unfamiliar places is troublesome. Actually, most of the nine ski resorts located in the Minakami area are accessible by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen.
A trip to any of the ski resorts is as easy as taking a bullet train from Tokyo to Jomo-Kogen station and transferring to a bus that goes to the ski resort. If you're staying around Minakami Onsen, it's convenient to take a local bus that runs from Minakami station on the JR Joetsu Line to the ski resorts.
Norn Minakami Ski Resort
Norn Minakami Ski Resort runs a free shuttle bus that you can take at Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen. This service requires an advance reservation and is about a 20-minute ride. They also offer a bus that connects Minakami station on the JR Joetsu Line and the ski resort via the hot spring resort area, which will help when staying there longer.
Minakami Kogen Ski Resort
Minakami Kogen Ski Resort runs a free shuttle bus from Jomo-Kogen station. It goes from Jomo-Kogen station to the ski resort via Minakami station. Many of the passengers of this shuttle bus are guests staying at the resort hotel owned by the ski resort. For this reason, day-trippers need to book three days in advance. It takes about an hour from Jomo-Kogen station to the ski resort.
Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort
Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort can be reached by taking several buses from the station. It takes about 70 minutes by free shuttle bus from Jomo-Kogen station via Minakami station (make sure to check the bus schedule). It takes 45 minutes by local bus from Minakami station. You'll need to transfer at Takaragawa Onsen Iriguchi to a shuttle bus that the ski resort operates.
Ski resorts accessible by local bus only
There are four ski resorts accessible by local bus from Jomo-Kogen station. Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Resort is about 50 minutes from the station by bus bound for Tanigawadake Ropeway. From Minakami station on the Joetsu Line, it takes about 25 minutes by bus. The Okutone Snow Park is 40 minutes from Jomo-Kogen station by bus and about 10 minutes away from Minakami station by bus.
Akasawa Ski Resort is accessible from Jomo-Kogen station by bus via a transfer at Sarugakyo Onsen, which is 30 minutes away, to a bus bound for Hoshi Onsen. Oana Ski Resort is seven minutes away by foot from the Oana Hendensho Mae bus stop, which is 30 minutes away by bus from Jomo-Kogen station.
Ski resorts accessible from Minakami station
As for the other two ski resorts, there is no bus that directly connects them with Jomo-Kogen station. Instead, it's more convenient to take a bus or taxi at Minakami station. White Valley Ski Resort runs a free shuttle bus from Minakami station in winter only. Minakami Kogen Fujiwara Ski Resort is accessible by courtesy car that requires a reservation, or a local bus or taxi, from Minakami station. If you're a guest at Hotel Sunbird, a hotel operated by the ski resort, you can take a courtesy car at Jomo-Kogen and Minakami stations.
●Access to Jomo-Kogen station:
[By train] Min. 66 minutes from Tokyo station to Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen
text : Chiho Kuriyama
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