Gunma
Season endedHodaigi
A large family resort in the Minakami area of Gunma, within reach of Tokyo. It is known for some of the best snow near the metro area, two very long beginner runs, and strong facilities for children, including a nursery room.
My recommendation
Hodaigi is tucked deep into the Minakami hills, so access is the first thing to plan. By train it is Jomo-Kogen Station, then the free shuttle on weekends or a taxi of about 45 minutes on other days; honestly, I would drive. Another good pattern is to stay in the Minakami onsen town and go up from your hotel the next morning. What you get for the effort is a local hill with dry powder and no English lessons — my kind of hidden gem. Gunma is harder to reach by public transport than Yuzawa, but I think the snow is better: the wet snow off the Sea of Japan falls on the Yuzawa side, and what reaches Gunma is dry, so it is not unusual to have rain in Yuzawa and blue sky here on the same day. The runs follow the natural shape of the mountain, full of rolls and dips, which makes them fun to ride. Finish the day at Takaragawa Onsen — that combination is the best version of Hodaigi.
TakFounder · Japow GuidesBased on local data and reviews
About the Resort
Gunma Minakami Hodaigi (formerly Hodaigi Snow Resort) is a large ski resort in the Minakami area of Gunma, Japan. It is one of the larger resorts in the Okutone region, with 16 courses and a total course length of more than 12 km. Because the slopes face north and sit fairly high, the snow is plentiful and the snow quality is often rated among the best near the Tokyo metro area.
The base is at about 1,000 m, the top at about 1,400 m, the vertical drop about 570 m, and the longest run about 2,600 m. The level split is about 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced, with a steep 40-degree advanced run at one end and gentle runs at the other. Two beginner runs, the Family course and the Tanpopo course, are wide and gentle and run for more than 1,000 m each, and there is a kids park with a snow escalator, sled play, and a nursery room for small children.
From Tokyo, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen Station or the Joetsu Line to Mizukami Station, then a free shuttle bus on weekends, holidays, and the New Year period.
Official website: Hodaigi
Getting There
The answer first — details on the full access guide.
Tokyo StationJoetsu Shinkansen
Jomo-Kogen Stationtaxi / bus, or free weekend shuttle via Minakami Station
Hodaigi Ski Area= the slopes
Roughly 2–2.5 hours from Tokyo by taxi or bus, nearer 3 on the free shuttle. The free shuttle runs weekends, holidays and New Year only (2025-26: 27 Dec–22 Mar), two runs each way, phone reservation recommended; on weekdays it's the route bus from Minakami Station or a taxi.
Location & Access
By Car
From the Minakami IC on the Kanetsu Expressway, into the Minakami mountains. Mountain roads have heavy snow in winter; snow tires or chains are required.
Parking
Parking is available at the base. A free park-and-ride option from a nearby roadside station is offered on shuttle days.
By Train
Tokyo Station -> Jomo-Kogen Station (~75 min, Joetsu Shinkansen), then about 45 min by bus or taxi; or Joetsu Line to Mizukami Station, then about 30 min. A free shuttle bus runs on weekends, holidays, and the New Year period. Park-and-ride from a roadside station is also available.
Where to Stay
Add your dates to see live prices for Hodaigi.
Terrain & Slopes
The numbers that matter for a family day.
16
Courses
7
Lifts
2.6km
Longest run
30%
Beginner-friendly
Beginner30%
Intermediate40%
Advanced30%
Snowboard ParkNot Available
Back CountryNot Available
Tickets & Pricing
Current Prices2025–26 season prices, for reference
1-Day Lift TicketAdult6,900 yen
1-Day Lift TicketChild4,200 yen
1-Day Lift TicketSeniorSee official site
Lessons
Lesson in Japanese JA
Ski Lesson : N/A
Snowboard Lesson : N/A
Why You'll Love Hodaigi
Strong facilities for families
A nursery room, a kids park, and gentle beginner runs
Hodaigi is built for families. Two beginner runs, the Family course and the Tanpopo course, are wide and gentle and run for more than 1,000 m each, so children can ski safely from the first day. There is a kids park with a snow escalator and sled play, a children's ski school, and a nursery room for small children, which is rare and very helpful for parents.
Excellent snow near Tokyo
North-facing, high slopes with plentiful powder
Because the slopes face north and sit fairly high, Hodaigi gets plentiful snow, and reviews often rate the snow quality among the best of any resort near the Tokyo metro area. The 16 courses range from gentle family slopes to a steep 40-degree advanced run, so a mixed-level family can all find suitable terrain.
A big mountain you can reach from Tokyo
16 courses and more than 12 km of total runs
Hodaigi is one of the larger resorts in the Okutone region, with 16 courses and a total course length of more than 12 km, so there is enough variety to keep a family busy all day. A free shuttle bus runs from the nearest stations on weekends and holidays, which makes it reachable without a car.
Travel Tips
The small moves that save an hour of queuing with children.
🚌 Getting There
Tokyo Station -> Jomo-Kogen Station (~75 min, Joetsu Shinkansen), then about 45 min by bus or taxi; or Joetsu Line to Mizukami Station, then about 30 min. A free shuttle bus runs on weekends, holidays, and the New Year period. Park-and-ride from a roadside station is also available.
Shuttle runs every 30 minutes during peak season
🎿 Equipment Rental
Full rental sets available on-site. Reserve in advance during peak season.
Ski set: —/day • Snowboard set: —/day
💳 Payment Methods
Credit cards accepted at ticket counters and restaurants.
Cash preferred at some smaller vendors
🌨️ Best Time to Visit
January to February for the best powder conditions.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends
Latest News from Hodaigi
Openings, closings and conditions — translated from official sources.
No news available at the moment.
Planning your trip?
See our step-by-step timeline for booking a Japan ski trip, from choosing a resort to arrival day.
View the planning timelineFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you asked us about Hodaigi.
Yes, very much so. Two beginner runs, the Family course and the Tanpopo course, are wide and gentle and run for more than 1,000 m each, so children can ski safely from the first day. There is a kids park with a snow escalator, sled play, a children's ski school, and a nursery room for small children.
No. Hodaigi is a local resort and its ski schools, including the kids school, do not offer English lessons. If English instruction matters, choose a resort such as Hakuba or Yuzawa with international schools, or come here once your children can already ski.
Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen Station (about 45 minutes from the resort by bus) or the Joetsu Line to Mizukami Station (about 30 minutes by bus). A free shuttle bus runs on weekends, holidays, and the New Year period. On other days, use a local bus or taxi.
The slopes face north and sit fairly high, between about 1,000 m and 1,400 m, so the snow is plentiful and stays cold and light. Reviews often rate the snow quality among the best of any resort near the Tokyo metro area, which is unusual for a resort this close to the city.
Yes. There is a nursery room for small children, which is rare and helpful for parents who want to ski. There is also a kids park for snow play. A natural hot spring, Takaragawa Onsen, is about 8 minutes away by car for after skiing.
Still have questions?Contact us
Ready to plan your ski trip?
Build your custom itinerary with our trip planner
TakFounder · Japow GuidesI'm a Tokyo-based snowboarder and father of two, with over 20 years on Japan's slopes. Resorts I have personally visited are marked “Visited” and include my first-hand notes. The other resorts are summarized from public ski-area data and local reviews. I add my own notes over time.