What to know
Yuzawa (湯沢) in Niigata Prefecture is one of Japan's largest and most accessible ski areas from Tokyo. You can hit the slopes in under two hours from Tokyo Station. Known for its deep powder and long season, some resorts operate from mid-November to late May.
The Yuzawa area boasts over a dozen ski resorts, ranging from small hills with a single lift to large mountains with over twenty lifts. While some are near the town center, others are more remote but still reachable by public transport.
Several resorts offer combination lift tickets that grant access to multiple areas. These resorts are often interconnected, allowing you to ski or snowboard between them.
Yuzawa is also famous for its hot springs (onsen), found at ski resorts, hotels, public bathhouses, and even the shinkansen station. Echigo-Yuzawa Station features an all-you-can-try sake shop where you can sample nearly 100 different varieties of Niigata sake for 500 yen.
A special combo ticket called "Yuzawa Snow Link" covers all three resorts. It costs 9500 yen (8500 yen if purchased online in advance) and is available at any of the three resorts' ticket counters.
A combination ticket for Naeba and Kagura can be purchased for 9800 yen at either resort.