Skiing and snowboarding are one of the best things to do in winter in Japan.

Do you know there are many ski resorts near Tokyo and you can take a day trip for skiing and snowboarding from Tokyo.

Niseko in Hokkaido is one of the best known ski resorts in Japan by foreign tourists, however, you don’t need to go to that further area from Tokyo for high-quality snow.

It takes only 1–1.5 hours to get to some ski resorts from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train).

Today, I’d like to introduce 5 best ski resorts accessible from Tokyo. Some of the resorts have Shinkansen stations which are directly connected to slopes. So it’s very easy to enjoy skiing and snowboarding if you mainly stay in Tokyo.

You can also enjoy staying at the resorts for some days since there are nice accommodations and other facilities such as restaurants and bars in and next to skiing fields.

▶︎Check out this list for best recommended ski resorts in Japan!

Let’s hit the slopes!!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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1. Snowtown Yeti (Shizuoka)

Snowtown Yeti (スノータウンイエティ) is a ski resort which opens the season the earliest, and it has been opened since October 6. It’s possible because they operate their snowmakers at full capacity.

Yeti is also popular for the location at the Second Station of Mt. Fuji.

There are 4 slopes for beginners and advanced skiers/snowboarders and 2 slopes for family and sleds where children can play safe.

Yeti opens all night until 8:00AM of the next day on some days during the season.

The resort houses restaurants, cafe, shops and rental gears facility which provides you with the latest equipment.

You can access for just more than 2 hours by bus from Shinjuku Station.

▶︎Book Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti Day Trip from Tokyo!

Access: 2 hours from Shinjuku Station by bus

Season: October 25, 2024 to March 31, 2025

Hours: 10:00–22:00 (Weekdays)/9:00–22:00 (Weekends and Holidays)

Lift Ticket Rate (1Day): 4,300 yen (Weekdays)/5,200 yen (Weekends and Holidays)

Website: http://www.yeti-resort.com/en/

2. GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort (Niigata)

One of the most popular ski resort near Tokyo is GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort (湯沢スキー場) in Niigata Prefecture.

It takes only 75 mins to get to the nearest train station GALA Yuzawa Station from Tokyo by Shinkansen. And the resort is popular because it’s directly connected to the slopes. There are numbers of convenient facilities including lockers rooms, counters for rental snow gears, restaurants and hot springs in the train station.

GALA consists of 3 fields: GALA Yuzawa, Ichouchi Maruyama and Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort, and you can access to each field by cable car or lift.

The central field GALA Yuzawa is the largest one where you can directly go up to a height of 800m above sea level by cable car. The top of the mountain (at a 1,181m height) is a nice photo spot to capture the beautiful view.

These days, the number of foreign visitor is increasing and other activities like sledding are also popular among them. Of course, sleds and high boots are available to rent.

Access: 75 minutes from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen

Season: December 13, 2024 to May 6, 2025

Hours: 8:00–16:30 (Winter)/8:00–16:00 (Spring)

Lift Ticket Rate (1Day): 6,800 yen

Website: https://gala.co.jp/en/winter/

3. Naeba Ski Resort (Niigata)

Naeba Ski Resort (苗場スキー場) is also one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Japan. The entire of the resorts is called Mt. Naeba including 4 ski areas and Naeba Ski Resort is the largest one.

There are 3 cable cars in Naeba area and it is connected with the next area Kagura Ski Resort by Japan’s longest cable car “Dragondola”.

The ski resort with over 50 years history is also famous for the place which held FIS Alpine Ski World Cup firstly in Japan in 1973 and 2016.

For day-trip visitors, there are some facility complexes in front of the resort which house locker rooms, rental snow gear counters, convenience stores, food courts and so on. You can come and enjoy skiing and snowboarding empty-handed.

The enormous hotel Naeba Prince Hotel stands located just next to the slopes and it has over 1,200 guest rooms and over 20 restaurants and bars.

They offer fireworks events for totally 34 days during the high season from December to March.

It takes about 2–3 hours to reach there by shinkansen and bus or 3–4 hours by expressway bus from Tokyo.

Access: 75 minutes to Echigo-yuzawa Station from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen and 50 minutes by bus/4 hours from Ikebukuro Station by expressway bus

Season: December 14, 2024 to April 6, 2025

Hours: 8:00–17:00/16:00–20:30 (Night skiing)

Lift Ticket Rate (1Day): 7,200 yen

Website: http://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/naeba/

4. Hakuba Ski Resorts (Nagano)

Japan’s largest ski resort area Hakuba Valley including 10 resorts is located at the foot of the northern Japan alps in Nagano Prefecture.

Nagano prefecture, the mecca for skiers, has about 70 ski resorts, and Hakuba Valley is highly valued internationally as the 1998 Winter Olympic was held in the ski resort.

Powder snow falls on the 3,000m high mountain area of the northern Japan alps.

Each resort offers vast fields with finest snow, and one of the Hakuba 9 resorts Happo-one never let skiers bored with various courses including the scenic 8,000m long slope.

Rental snow gears are available at each resort, of course.

You can get to Hakuba Valley area for just less than 3 hours by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo and express bus. Otherwise, for budget travelers, long distance bus is recommended. It costs much cheaper and takes you from Shinjuku Station Bus Terminal BUSTA directly to Hakuba ski resorts while taking 5 hours to get there.

Access: 2 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and 1 hour by express bus from Nagano Station (more details)

Season: It depends on the ski resorts but many of them open from the December to May.

Hours: It depends on the ski resorts, so please check the website below.

Lift Ticket Rate (1Day): JPY9,700 (10 Resorts Free Pass)

Website: http://www.hakubavalley.com/en/

▽Check out the best things to do in Hakuba throughout the year!▽

5. Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (Nagano)

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (軽井沢プリンスホテルスキー場) is famous as one of the easily accessible resorts from Tokyo. Only about an hour to get there from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture is also well-know as a good summer resort and gigantic shopping mall Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza while Tokyoite love to visit the accessible resort for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

There are 10 courses consisting of 5 for beginners and 5 for experienced skiers/snowboarders with the 1,200m long slope. Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort also has Snow Park where kids can enjoy snow with play equipment.

Next to the slopes, there are numbers of hotels and Ski Center where you can rent snow gears, dine, use lockers and postal service.

The resort is located just within 1 min distance by taxi from Karuizawa Station, and free shuttle bus depart from the shinkansen station during the busy season.

Access: 60 to 90 minutes from Tokyo Station by Hokuriku Shinkansen

Season: November 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025

Hours: 8:00–17:00

Lift Ticket Rate (1Day): 6,800-9,800 yen (varies depending on the dates)

Website: http://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/karuizawa/index.html

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For more info about skiing in other areas in Japan, check these lists below!

▶︎Best Ski Resorts in Japan
▶︎Best Ski Resorts in Hokkaido
▶︎Best Ski Resorts in Niseko
▶︎Best Ski Resorts in Hakuba
▶︎Best Ski Resorts around Mt.Fuji
▶︎Best Ski Resorts near Osaka

You never thought you could enjoy skiing and snowboarding while traveling Tokyo area?? Yes, you can!! The winter season has just started in Japan, so how about adding the winter activity on your bucket list!! For more winter information in Japan, you might also like these articles below.

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