Yuzawa ski areas湯沢のスキー場

The biggest of the seven: 23 courses and 13 lifts including a gondola, on a broad mountain that tops out at 920 m and drops about 664 m to a 256 m base. The longest run is 4 km, and the terrain splits roughly 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. It is a favourite for groups and families, with a long, gentle run off the gondola.

The station, Ishiuchi on the Jōetsu Line, is a 3-minute walk from the base, and a shuttle from Echigo-Yuzawa takes about 10 minutes. Night skiing runs 16:00 to 20:00 from 26 December to 27 February, then Fridays, Saturdays and holidays in March. The base is low, so the first and last weeks depend on snowfall. The adult day ticket is ¥8,500, up from ¥6,700 last winter.

The closest real mountain to Echigo-Yuzawa Station and the only one in the valley that skis through the night: 18:00 to 02:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and the nights before holidays, from 18 December to 27 March. It has the longest season of the seven, planned for 11 December 2026 to 11 April 2027.

The mountain is compact and a little steep: 16 courses served by 5 lifts, a top of 1,000 m, 540 m of vertical and a longest run of 3,500 m, with the steepest pitch at 45 degrees. The split is about 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. It is a 7-minute free shuttle from the station (about 1 km on foot), 3 minutes from Yuzawa IC, with about 2,000 free parking spaces. Tickets change by day: ¥5,500 on weekdays, more at weekends. See the table below.

The slope sits above the town and is reached by the Yuzawa Kōgen ropeway (7 minutes), so lunch and an onsen are quick. Eight courses with a top of 1,170 m and a base of 370 m, about half of them for beginners, and a longest run of 5 km on gentle pitches (28 degrees at the steepest). Two snow escalators are part of the lift network.

The adult day ticket is ¥6,900 (4 hours ¥5,200, child ¥3,500, senior ¥5,800). Parking is limited to about 200 spaces, so the walk from the station is the usual way in. Best for beginners and for a half day on the day you arrive.

Attached to the NASPA New Otani resort hotel, so it is mostly used by hotel guests and families. Eight courses and 5 lifts between 690 m and 430 m: a small mountain, but steep, with a 38-degree pitch and a longest run of 2,200 m. Night skiing is offered; check the hours when you arrive.

The adult day ticket is ¥7,000 (5 hours ¥5,800, child ¥4,800), and a ski set rents for ¥6,000 adult and ¥5,000 child. About 2,000 free parking spaces, 5 minutes from the interchange.

A quiet local area with long runs and low prices: 20 courses and 9 lifts between 985 m and 400 m, a longest run of 4,000 m, split about 40% beginner, 40% intermediate and 20% advanced. The adult day ticket is ¥5,500 (child ¥3,500, senior ¥4,300), and a night ticket is ¥1,500.

Night skiing runs 17:00 to 19:00 (to 20:00 on Saturdays and the nights before holidays) from 19 December to 27 March. There is a Kids Paradise from ¥1,000, about 1,500 free parking spaces and a full rental set from ¥8,500 adult and ¥5,500 child. A snow scooter is ¥3,000 for 3 hours.

The only hill here reached by a train that stops at the slope: Echigo-Nakazato station on the Jōetsu Line is in front of the base. Sixteen courses and 6 lifts plus a snow escalator between 702 m and 458 m, a longest run of 2,000 m, split about 40% beginner, 30% intermediate and 30% advanced. Smile Kids Park makes it a family choice. No night skiing.

The adult day ticket is ¥6,700 (junior high and high school ¥5,500, elementary ¥3,400). Parking has about 950 spaces, ¥500 on weekends and holidays (29 to 31 December count as weekends), and it is 10 minutes from Yuzawa IC.

The smallest and cheapest: 11 courses and 6 lifts between 650 m and 440 m, with a longest run of 1,500 m. Last winter it ran 20 December to 31 March with a day ticket of ¥4,500 (half day ¥3,500, elementary ¥2,500); the 2026-27 dates and prices have not been posted, so treat both as estimates.

It is a free shuttle of about 10 minutes from the station, 6 minutes from the interchange, with about 1,000 free parking spaces. A good fit for a few hours before a train, or a first day for a child.