⛷️ Skiing in Naeba
Naeba (苗場) is a ski resort in the Niigata prefecture (新潟県) which is one of the most popular in Japan due to its proximity to Tokyo and relatively long ski season. It takes just 2.5 hours from Tokyo station, making it an ideal day trip ski resort. It also has the added benefit of being connected to another ski resort, Kagura, by a gondola ski lift.
Sections
- Ski Resort Overview
- Snowfall
- Lift Tickets
- Rental
- Accommodation
- Getting there
- FAQ's
- Summary
- Further Information
Ski Resort Overview
Situated on the eastern slope Mount Takenoko (筍山) with a summit of 1,789 metres, there exists a popular ski resort called Naeba, in Yuzawa, Niigata prefecture. Niigata being a prefecture that boasts 51 ski resorts! (topped only by Nagano and Hokkaido prefectures, with 80 and 128 ski resorts respectively)
Naeba ski resort has 11 lifts, 24 runs, consisting of 30% green, 40% reds (shown as blues in this resort) and 30% black runs. Runs range from 206m to 2,387m in length. The ski area is 134 hectares (331 acres or 1,340,000 sqm), so less than half the size of resorts like Nozawa Onsen or Niseko. Given it's size, people often only go here for a day trip or to stay 1-3 nights. However there is a gondola lift that you can take to Kagura ski resort to extend the slopes you can ski if you buy the necessary ski lift ticket. (Dec 21st-Mar 23rd)
The ski season officially runs from December 14th, until April 6th (night skiing only between December 21st and 22nd March). However few would go during December, and late March into April. It would depend upon the snowfall, how early in December people who live in Japan would look to go.
The lifts open between 8am and 9:30am. They then close between 3:15pm and 5pm, except for 2 lifts that stay open for night skiing until 8:30pm for some green runs and 1 short red run.
Snowfall
Average snowfall over the last set of observed years:
- December- 158cm over 11 days
- January- 200cm over 15 days
- February- 236cm over 16 days
- March- 130cm over 13 days
- April- 1cm over 1 day
The most recent 2024/25 ski season smashed those averages dramatically- December got 359cm, January 221cm, February 450cm and March got 102cm (month not just compete).
It’s therefore clear that January and February are the best months to go for almost guaranteed fresh snow, and April is to be avoided. Late December and early March are possibilities when it’s a bit quieter (outside of the Christmas holiday week that attracts lots of foreign tourists), depending on the snow that year.
Lift Tickets
For lift tickets, if you are just doing a day trip and won't be skiing for more than 5 hours, then consider that 5-hour ticket, which is the cheapest on offer (¥5,800), aside from the 2-hour ticket.
A full day's lift ticket is ¥7,200, without night ski. Night ski is another ¥3,500 on Saturday's and ¥2,500 on other days (most people wouldn't stay that late on a Sunday night). Or if you arrive late but want to also do night skiing then you can get the midday-8:30pm ¥7,500 ticket. I wouldn't recommend night skiing unless you really want those extra hours on a few short slopes.
If the Naeba slopes are not enough for you, then there is a ticket that also includes Kagura via the gondola for ¥9,000 a day (Kagura, being the next door ski resort). I wouldn't consider this until you have maxed out Naeba. Note- that Kagura does not have any night skiing and the Dragondola connecting Naeba with Kagura closes at 3:30pm. If you get stranded in Kagura and need to get back to Naeba, you will need to take a 20mins bus that only runs twice an hour.
There is no concept of a 2-day or more ticket, everything is in the form of 1-day tickets only. If you want to ski 2 days, then you can buy 2x 1-day tickets. But there is no discount for buying more than 1 day.
You can either by your ticket online, on a very annoying website, but if you do this, you still need to show a QR code to the ticket office to pick up the ticket, so it hardly feels worth it (unless you are doing it for the Prince hotel discount). You might as well just buy it in person and save the hassle of enduring their website.
For the full table of up to date lift ticket pricing, scroll down to the Tickets section on https://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/naeba/
Rental
If you need to rent skis or a snowboard, then read on.
There are a few rental shops around the Naeba Prince hotel that even non-guests can use.
- Salomon Rental Station- all there equipment is Salomon branded. They are located at the South gate (outside the hotel) and are open 8am-5pm. You can book in advance online from their website, the latest being 2-days before.
- Viking rentals- inside the Naeba Prince Hotel, in the day trip ski centre N-Plateau (see the floor map below in the Naeba Prince Hotel section). They are also open 8am-5pm but have a range of brands, see this list. You can book in advance online from their website, the latest being 2-days before.
- Other- there are 3 other rental options in the Naeba Prince Hotel. Which are in the back of Buildings #2, #4, and #6. It seems you cannot pre-book these rentals.
For rental shops in Echigo Yuzawa station area which are normally a bit cheaper- there are a few such as https://chendarental.com/ , https://www.boosports.jp/en/ and https://podsnowsports.com/rentals/
Accommodation
Naeba Prince Hotel
The most convenient hotel but the most expensive hotel in the resort is the Naeba Prince Hotel which sits at the bottom of the skis slopes and provides a resort style accommodation with everything you need under one roof.
This 3 star hotel is rather dated, although it was originally built in 1962, it was most recently renovated in 2012, and before that in 1990, but it doesn't feel like all the rooms were covered by that most recent renovation. The hotel has over 1,200 rooms, 20 restaurants, ski rental, 2 onsens, a number of ski gear shops and a couple of convenience stores. Once you are dropped off here, you basically would only leave to go skiing out the back doors, or to go home, back out the front.
Room rate starts at ¥25,000 a night for a room for a couple but it is more expensive in the peak part of the ski season.
Other Hotels
Other hotels in Naeba are small more traditional 2 and 3 star more like Ryokans that are fairly dated, and require a short walk from the ski lifts. If you are checking a map, than just know that Naeba Prince Hotel is the reference point as to where the ski lifts are. I would only consider other hotels, if Naeba Prince Hotel is either not available or is too expensive for your liking.
I have stayed at the Naeba Springs Hotel and would recommend it for it's homely feel and it's not too far from the slopes, around a 10mins walk.
For other options, be sure to check the reviews and distance to the slopes (some are over 20mins walk, I wouldn't wish to do that in ski boots!). Or if the hotel offer a ride to the slopes.
Some people may consider staying in Echigo Yuzawa and resort swapping throughout their stay. But this would mean taking buses twice a day and the buses from the station to Naeba takes 40 minutes each way, eating a lot of time out your day.
Getting there
From Tokyo, you will need a train followed by a taxi or bus. The whole journey can therefore take around 2.5 hours. You can of course drive the 200km for 3-4 hours, and park for free at the Naeba Prince Hotel (3,800 spaces), but I won't cover that here.
Train
From Tokyo, you can leave from either Tokyo station (東京駅) or Ueno station (上野駅). However if you end up not being able to book a seat then I highly recommend boarding from Tokyo station, as otherwise you may well be standing for the entire 1 hour 10 minutes to 1.5 hours journey, depending on the train.
You will need to take the Jōetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線) to Echigo Yuzawa station (越後湯沢駅), they are either branded the Toki or Tanaigawa. During the ski season there are 3 an hour between 7am-8am, 4 an hour between 8am-9am and thereafter 2 an hour. The quicker services just stop less, as you would imagine. See JR East for the full timetable.
Most people do take trains between 8am-9am if going on a day trip, which would get them at the Naeba ski resort between 10:30am-11:30am. The first train of the day on the other hand, leaving Tokyo at 06:08, would get you into Echigo Yuzawa at 07:22 and then at Naeba ski resort at 08:30am (lifts open between 8am-09:30am).
On the way back, the train can be rather busy as the Naeba ski lifts close between 3:15pm and 5pm (apart from the night skiing which is until 08:30pm), so everyone rushes back at a similar time. Especially on Sunday evenings when all the Japanese are heading back to Tokyo before work on Monday.
The train doesn't take you all the way to the Naeba ski resort, you also need a bus or taxi.
Bus from Echigo Yuzawa
All the buses depart from the Echigo Yuzawa station East exit.
If you are staying at the Naeba Prince Hotel then you can pre-book a free shuttle bus which departs once an hour from 9am-6:50pm, but you must do this some days ahead as it can get booked up (can book up to 1 month in advance). If it's full then they will tell you to take the public bus. The free shuttle bus takes 40 minutes. To book go to https://www.princehotels.com/naeba/news/free-shuttle-bus-reservation/. This bus is more like a coach, where you can store any luggage below the bus and will be guaranteed a seat. You cannot take it, if you have not reserved it in advance. For the return journey, this can only be reserved from the concierge desk in person at the Naeba Prince Hotel, from the day you checkin.
For those not staying at the Naeba Prince Hotel, you will need to take the public bus. This takes around 45 minutes and costs ¥700 each, with an additional ¥100 for skis, snowboards or oversized luggage. This is very much like a public bus where you keep your luggage with you. You will get on from the back door and pay the driver in cash as you get off from the front door. You may end up standing the whole way as it can get rather busy and the bus has limited seats. This bus runs around twice an hour. Despite what Google Maps shows, it drops you off right in front of the Naeba Prince hotel, it doesn't drop you a 17 minute walk away!
Taxi from Echigo Yuzawa
The 23km, 35mins taxi will cost around ¥. There are taxi ranks both in the West and East exits of Echigo Yuzawa station.
FAQ's
Will answer any questions people ask about Naeba ski resort.
Summary
Naeba ski resort is a nice little ski resort that is fairly close to Tokyo for either a day trip or to stay 1 or 2 nights. It is not a luxury resort, all the hotels are 2 or 3 stars and the restaurants are quite mediocre in quality. Most foreign tourists go to Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba or Niseko (in Hokkaido) which are all bigger resorts, but are further away from Tokyo.
