Kagura Ski Resort is a large skiing area packed with a variety of courses running from beginner to expert, attracting a passionate fanbase of regular visitors. Being at a high altitude, Kagura Ski Resort is open for skiing until the beginning of spring (April-May).

Plus, you can also use the Dragondola, one of Japan’s longest cable car lines, to travel between Kagura and Naeba while enjoying stunning mid-air views of the endless fields of snow. Plus, there’s plenty of sledding and more to do in the kids’ area in Mitsumata, making it an excellent spot for families.

Kagura Ski Resort is open for the 2022-23 season between December 8, 2022 - May 21, 2023, which is comparatively long compared with most ski resorts. The period with the most snow is between January and March. However, powder skiing is still possible at some spots during April and May, which is far less busy.

You can reach Kagura Ski Resort by car or via a mix of bullet train and bus. If driving, make sure your car has snow tires.

Take the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (around 1 hr 20 mins). From the station’s East Exit, take the express bus bound for “Kagura - Naeba” until Mitsumata Station in around 20 minutes or Tashiro Station in 30 minutes. You can also take the local bus from Platform No.1 bound for “Mitsumata - Tashiro - Asagai - Seibu Crystal.”

Mitsumata Station: 46 km on National Route 17 from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway (Approx. 2 hrs and 40 mins from Tokyo Station)

Tashiro Station: 39 km on National Route 17 from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway (Approx. 2 hrs and 50 mins from Tokyo Station)

The Mitsumata Station car park has 1,200 spaces, and Tashiro Station has 800 spaces, guaranteeing plenty of parking for all visitors. These parking spaces require a fee on Saturdays and holidays during the resort’s opening period, along with between December 29 - January 3 (Regular car: 1,000 yen). However, parking is generally free outside those days.

Kagura Ski Resort boasts a whopping 32 courses! Altogether, there are 28,797 meters of space to ski on, with the longest run being 6,000 meters. Below, we’ll introduce our recommended courses for beginners, intermediates, and experts.

Beginners should head to the Mitsumata area, which is full of fun attractions, including a park and children’s play area, or the Tashiro area, which is famed for its breathtaking scenery.

For Mitsumata, take the Mitsumata Station ropeway to Sancho Station at the summit, then take the No.1 High-Speed Kosoku Lift down to the Family Course, which has a distance of 1,082 meters.

At Tashiro, take the ropeway from Tashiro Station to Sancho Station at the summit and slide down the 499-meter “Raku Raku Course” for a bit of warming up! Afterward, select either a course with long or steep runs, depending on your preference and skill level.

Intermediate skiers should check out the Kagura area, which is packed with lots of courses, including powder snow, moguls, and sharp inclines. You can reach Kagura by taking the Kagura Gondola from Mitsumata, then head for the wide “Kagura Main Gerende,” which has a maximum slope of 27° and is 1,512 meters long.

The Tashiro area also has the “Kobu Kobu Course” moguled slope and the “Kamoshika Course” running through the mountains, allowing for a fantastic range to match and test your skill.

Advanced skiers should largely stick to the Kagura area, which has the 661-meter-long “Rinkan Expert Course” at the resort’s highest elevation of 1,845 meters; the 441-meter-long “Technical Course,” which is a mogul course open between mid-March and early May; and many more!

Advanced skiers can also stay the night at the Wadagoya mountain cabin on the 5th Station of Mt. Naeba, giving you plenty of time to make the most of Kagura’s advanced courses.

Purchasing a lift ticket at Kagura Ski Resort will allow you to use it anywhere in the Kagura, Mitsumata, and Tashiro areas. There is also a thrifty “Ski Season Ticket” available for both Kagura alongside the nearby Muikamachi and Mt. Hakkaisan skiing areas, too, perfect for those on extended skiing trips looking to hit up multiple resorts.

There are rental shops at Mitsumata and Tashiro, both with changing rooms and coin lockers within the car park. At Mitsumata Station is the large-scale KAGURA POWDER STATION, which sells a range of powder snow gear, fat skis rental, and more.

Available languages: Japanese, English, Chinese

Kagura Ski Resort has 7 different skiing schools running from beginner to advanced, including powder skiing and mogul lessons. Let’s take a look at 3!

Here complete beginners can get a grasp on the basics of skiing, while experienced skiers can learn techniques like powder and mogul skiing. Each of the three areas has its own school:
- Kagura Ski School: From 10 years old, 5,000 yen for a half-day
- Tashiro Skiing and Snowboarding School: Young kids lessons up to 6 years old, 9,000 yen for 1 hour
- Mitsumata Snowboarding School: 4,500 yen for 2 hours.

Available languages: Japanese, English

This skiing school has Chinese language classes, and is aimed at those who can do the basics but want to improve.
- Price: From 12,000 yen for 4 hours
- Available languages: Chinese

This class will teach intermediate and advanced skiers how to handle and better their mogul skiing technique. The different skill levels are separated between the AKKY SKI SCHOOL and LEE SKI SCHOOL.
- Price:
- AKKY SKI SCHOOL: From 6,500 yen for a half-day
- LEE SKI SCHOOL: 8,500 yen for 4 hours
- Available languages: Japanese, English

Kagura Ski Resort has plenty to do for kids, making it the ideal Niigata ski resort for families. Within Mitsumata is the “Chibikko Gerende,” where young children can enjoy sledding and make their skiing debut to discover the appeal of snow.

Each area of Kagura Ski Resort hosts its own unique eateries and restaurants, adding up to 7 in total! Whatever you’re craving post-skiing, you’ll surely be able to find it at Kagura!

Restaurant Alm has a warm Nordic-style interior sitting in front of Tashiro Station, accessible from Naeba Ski Resort without skiing! Here you can relish heartwarming dishes like curry rice, tendon, mushroom soup, and more.

We also recommend the Western Restaurant Alyeska, which sits near the bank of Lake Tashiro and presents a relaxed, warm lodge-style design with popular dishes like curry rice and pasta.

For more local, Niigata-style cuisine with regional ingredients, you can stop by “Buna Kitchen,” which also boasts a sizable assortment of sake.

“Restaurant Wadagoya,” located roughly in the middle of the Kagura slope, is a mountain cabin-style eatery offering a menu of old-school Japanese dishes like kenchin udon, katsudon, and more. Plus, you can also spend the night here on Saturdays and nights before public holidays, with a woodfire stove to keep you and other guests warm.

There is also the must-visit “Restaurant Kagura” at Sancho Station on the summit of the Kagura Gondola, which has pizza, curry, pasta, steak, and loads of other Western-based delights.

“Cafe & Restaurant Snowman” is a spacious eatery in the Mitsumata area with distinctively large, open windows and a tall ceiling serving up curry, pasta, and more. There are also plenty of sweeter selections to savor after skiing, such as their famous egg waffle, plus pancakes, coffee, hot chocolate, and desserts.

As there is a shuttle bus service between Kagura and Naeba, many visitors will choose to stay at the Naeba Prince Hotel. Alternatively, there are also ryokan and inns around the Mitsumata and Tashiro stations, making it easy for those coming by car to find accommodation.

You can also stay at Wadagoya, a mountain cabin on the 5th Station of Mt. Naeba, which often serves as a basecamp for snow mountaineers and passionate skiers (available languages: Japanese, English).

The main Kagura slope is right in front of the cabin, so you can get up early to make the first tracks before the crowds arrive. You’ll also have dinner with other guests, making it a great way to meet fellow skiers and snowboarders while experiencing an authentic mountainside stay worlds apart from a fancy hotel.

Health & Safety Measures
Indoor disinfection measures taken - Disinfected after each guest - Ventilation measures taken - Coin trays used - Plastic partitions installed - Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature - Capacity limited/increased space between seats - Admission restricted; reservations advised - Entry declined to anyone feeling unwell - Masks requested/temperature check enforced

With three different areas covering a huge space, it’s impossible to cover everything Kagura Ski Resort has to offer in just one day, so we strongly advise making a plan and figuring out your route beforehand.

There’s plenty for all skill levels, from beginner to mogul and powder skiing, and many will stay at Kagura for multiple days! If this sounds like you, we definitely recommend spending the night at Wadagoya before hitting up the slopes for an action-packed winter adventure!

TEL:
- Mitsumata Station: 025-788-9221
- Tashiro Station: 025-789-3111
Closed: Open everyday during the ski season
Opening period: Until May 21, 2023 (Scheduled)

Text by: Madoka Hasegawa
*The information in this article is current as of December 2022. Please check the official website for the latest information.