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Yuzawa Area, one of Japan's snowiest areas

The Yuzawa area is home to 12 unique ski resorts. All of them are easily accessible from the Joetsu Shinkansen Echigo-Yuzawa station - the area's central point - or Yuzawa IC (Kanetsu Expressway), and can be easily reached from Tokyo. There are also other major snow resorts nearby, including Maiko Snow Resort, Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort, and Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort, offering you ample opportunities to enjoy winter sport. What's more, the area is packed with other attractions, including an onsen town around Echigo Yuzawa station where you can enjoy sightseeing.

Lots of snow

Yuzawa is an inland area of Niigata, with lots of snow in the winter brought from the Sea of Japan. It's not unusual in Yuzawa to have snowfall exceeding 1m overnight! The 12 ski resorts feature non-compacted snow fields and tree-run areas, all with deep powder snow that never runs out.

Easy access by shinkansen

The Joetsu Shinkansen runs through Yuzawa, with Echigo Yuzawa station serving as the main entrance to the ski resorts. It's just 90 minutes by shinkansen from Tokyo station. The station provides access to all ski resorts, and sits next to a tourist information bureau plus many souvenir shops and hotels. Inside the station you'll find large lockers where you can easily deposit travel bags, as well as lockers for skis and snowboards. Just leave all your luggage and enjoy sightseeing hands-free.
One of the ski resorts in Yuzawa, GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, is directly accessible from Gala Yuzawa station. This makes it very easy to reach from the shinkansen.

The ski resort is very close to the IC

Yuzawa is easily accessible by car. The Kanetsu Expressway runs through the town, so you can leave the expressway at the Yuzawa IC, which is in town, and head to ski resorts scattered across the surrounding mountains. As you leave the IC there are many road signs right in front of the exit directing you where to go.

Strolling through the onsen town

If you want to enjoy not just winter sports but also sightseeing, why not stay in the onsen town around the station? There are many things for you to enjoy, like souvenir shops, restaurants and onsen centers. In the winter, snow stands like a wall on both sides of the streets, with all the atmosphere of genuine snow country.

12 ski resorts around Yuzawa Town

The 12 ski resorts across the region feature their own characters. Naeba Ski Resort, directly connected to a mega-hotel, and Kagura Ski Resort, famous for its powder, are both home to a huge variety of runs and offer a wide range of enjoyment. Ludens Yuzawa, Nakazato Snow Wood, Yuzawa Nakazato, and Yuzawa Park Ski are all ski resorts popular with families.
Choose your favorite ski resort from among Iwappara Ski Resort with its long runs, Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort with towering snow parks, and NASPA Ski Garden, where you can enjoy a relaxed stay at a fashionable resort hotel. If convenient access is high on your list, check out Ipponsugi Ski Resort and Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort. Both are within walking distance of Echigo Yuzawa station, while GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort links directly to GALA Yuzawa station.

A shuttle bus takes you to ski resorts from the Shinkansen station and onsen town

There's a shuttle bus service that takes you directly to the ski resorts around Yuzawa, departing from Echigo Yuzawa station and nearby areas. There are several bus stops in front of the Echigo no Oyado Inamoto Hotel, about two minutes' walk from the west exit of Echigo Yuzawa station. The shuttle buses take you to Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort, GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, NASPA Ski Garden, Yuzawa Nakazato Ski Resort, Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort, Yuzawa Park Ski Resort, and Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort.
You can reach Iwappara Ski Resort, Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort and Maiko Snow Resort by shuttle bus from the east exit of Echigo Yuzawa station. There is also a shuttle bus to Naeba Ski Resort from the east exit, but this is for guests of the resort-owned hotel only. For GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, there is a shuttle bus from the west exit of Echigo Yuzawa station. But if you're coming from Tokyo, the shinkansen would be more convenient because the ski resort is directly linked to shinkansen's GALA Yuzawa station.
If you're going to Nakazato Snow Wood, it's best to use train as the resort is only five minutes' walk from the Joetsu Line's Nakazato station. You can access Kagura Ski Resort, Naeba Ski Resort and Ludens Yuzawa Ski Resort by local bus.

Lots of onsens

Yuzawa offers loads onsens. In fact, many hotels and inns have their own. Onsen-hopping will be great fun - there are many onsen facilities for one-time visitors. The ski resorts also run their own onsen centers. Is there anything better than warming up and soothing your tired muscles with a soak in an onsen after an energetic day of skiing and snowboarding?

Famous koshihikari rice

Minami Uonuma, a town next to Yuzawa, is famous across Japan for its delicious rice. While Japan grows many varieties of rice the most widely known is koshihikari rice. And the koshihikari from Minami Uonuma is ranked among the top in Japan, both in price and flavor. You can enjoy this tasty rice at hotels and restaurants in Yuzawa.

An array of famous sake

Niigata is a land of rice and abundant pure, clear water - the key ingredients for brewing the fine sake Niigata is famous for. Yuzawa is home to a sake brewery, and though you'll need to book ahead, you can tour the brewery and sample some of their rice wine. There are also plenty of stores with a great array of sake, some with a designated section for local brews. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to experience the deep world of sake.
text : Chiho Kuriyama

Facility Information

Naeba Ski Resort
Address
Mikuni, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6292
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0047ens.htm

Kagura Ski Resort
Address
742 Mitsumata, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6211
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0070ens.htm

Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort
Address
4121-1 Kandatsu, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6102
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0083ens.htm

Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort
Address
490 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6101
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0301ens.htm

GALA YUZAWA SNOW RESORT
Address
1039-2 Kayabira, Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6101
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0001ens.htm

NASPA Ski Garden
Address
2117-9 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6101
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0156ens.htm

Yuzawa Ipponsugi Ski Resort
Address
2521 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6101

Iwappara Ski Resort
Address
731-79 Tsuchidaru, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6103
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0298ens.htm

Yuzawa Nakazato Ski Resort
Address
5044-1 Tsuchidaru, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6103
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0046ens.htm

Yuzawa Park Ski Resort
Address
Kosaka, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata 949-6103
URL
https://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0154ens.htm

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