Season ended · next season typically starts December
Yuzawa Kogen
A ski resort in the Echigo-Yuzawa onsen town in Niigata, about an 8-minute walk from the station. A giant ropeway carries you up to gentle highland runs, and an English-language ski school is available.
Based on local data and reviews
About the Resort
Yuzawa Kogen is a ski resort in the Echigo-Yuzawa onsen town in Niigata, Japan. It is one of the easiest resorts to reach from Tokyo without a car, because it is only about an 8-minute walk from Echigo-Yuzawa Station. A very large ropeway, one of the biggest in the world by capacity, carries skiers from the town up to the highland area in a few minutes.
The resort has two areas. The base area is rated fully beginner and is used for snow play and first lessons. The highland area, reached by the ropeway, has gentle and intermediate runs higher up, with a longest run of about 5,000 m. There is a large kids snow play park with a covered snow escalator and a debut course, and an English-language ski school is available, which is unusual for the area.
Yuzawa Kogen is also part of the Yuzawa Snow Link. One pass connects it with GALA Yuzawa and Ishiuchi Maruyama, which is a good option for stronger skiers.
Official website: Yuzawa Kogen
Location & Access
By Car
About 3 km (around 5 min) from the Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway. Mountain roads have snow in winter; snow tires or chains are required.
Parking
Parking is available near the base. Check the official site for current fees.
By Train
Tokyo Station -> Echigo-Yuzawa Station (~75-90 min, Joetsu Shinkansen). About an 8-minute walk from the station to the ropeway base. A free winter shuttle also links the station with several local resorts.
Yuzawa, Japan
Terrain & Slopes
8
Courses
7
Lifts
5km
Longest run
Beginner50%
Intermediate20%
Advanced30%
Snowboard ParkNot Available
Back CountryNot Available
Tickets & Pricing
Current Prices2025–26 season prices, for reference
1-Day Lift TicketAdultSee official site
1-Day Lift TicketChildSee official site
1-Day Lift TicketSeniorSee official site
Lessons
Lesson in Japanese JA
Ski Lesson : N/A
Snowboard Lesson : N/A
Why You'll Love Yuzawa Kogen
Walk from the station, in the onsen town
About 8 minutes on foot from Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Yuzawa Kogen sits inside the Echigo-Yuzawa onsen town and is only about an 8-minute walk from the Shinkansen station. This makes it one of the easiest resorts to reach from Tokyo without a car. Many hotels in the onsen town are within walking distance, so families can stay nearby and soak in a hot spring after skiing.
A giant ropeway and gentle highland runs
A 166-person ropeway to easy slopes with big views
A ropeway that holds 166 people, one of the largest in the world, carries skiers up to the highland area in a few minutes. The base area is rated fully beginner and is used for snow play and first lessons, while the highland area has gentle, long runs with wide views of the Echigo mountains. The longest run is about 5,000 m.
A big kids park and an English ski school
Family snow play and lessons in English
There is a large kids snow play park with a covered snow escalator and a beginner debut course, made for children's first time on snow. The resort also offers an English-language ski school, which is rare in this area and helpful for families visiting from overseas. Lesson reception is at the ropeway base station.
Travel Tips
🚌 Getting There
Tokyo Station -> Echigo-Yuzawa Station (~75-90 min, Joetsu Shinkansen). About an 8-minute walk from the station to the ropeway base. A free winter shuttle also links the station with several local resorts.
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 Yuzawa Kogen
No news available at the moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Yuzawa Kogen
Yes. The base area is rated fully beginner and has a large kids snow play park with a covered snow escalator and a debut course for children's first time on snow. The highland area also has gentle runs. It is one of the more family-friendly resorts in the Yuzawa area.
Yes. Yuzawa Kogen offers an English-language ski school, which is unusual for this area. Lesson reception is at the ropeway base station, not at the top. It is best to book ahead and confirm details with the school before you travel.
Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (about 75-90 minutes from Tokyo). The resort is about an 8-minute walk from the station. A free winter shuttle bus also runs between the station and several local resorts. This is one of the easiest resorts to reach without a car.
The ropeway links the base area in the town to the highland area above. Beginners and small children can play and learn in the base area, while the highland area is reached by the ropeway. Note that the resort does not have night skiing.
The resort itself does not have a day hot spring, but it sits inside the Echigo-Yuzawa onsen town, where there are many hot springs and hotels within walking distance. This makes it easy to combine skiing with an onsen stay.
Still have questions?Contact us
Ready to plan your Yuzawa 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.