Kagura Ski Resort is a large skiing area packed with courses for beginners to experts, 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).

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 2023-24 season between November 23, 2023 - May 19, 2024, 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 hour and 20 minutes). Take the express bus bound for “Kagura - Naeba” from the station’s East Exit 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.”

If you intend to explore the Niigata and Nagano areas even more, we recommend getting a JR East Nagano-Niigata Area Pass, which is good for unlimited rides on select trains and Shinkansen for five days. Check the link below for details.

・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 and between December 29 and 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.

For those who are new to skiing or snowboarding, the Mitsumata area is an excellent choice. It has many exciting attractions, such as a park and a play area for children. Alternatively, you can visit the Tashiro area, which is famous for its stunning scenery.

To reach the Mitsumata area, you can take the ropeway from Mitsumata Station to Sancho Station at the summit. Then, take the No.1 High-Speed Kosoku Lift down to the Family Course, which is 1,082 meters in distance.

If you choose to visit the Tashiro area, you can take the ropeway from Tashiro Station to Sancho Station at the summit. There, you can slide down the 499-meter “Raku Raku Course” to warm up. Afterward, you can choose a course based on your skill level and preferences. There are courses with long or steep runs available.

For intermediate skiers looking for a challenge, the Kagura area is a great option! This area offers a variety of courses, including powder snow, moguls, and steep slopes. To reach Kagura, take the Kagura Gondola from Mitsumata, and then head for the wide “Kagura Main Gerende” - a 1,512-meter long slope with a maximum slope of 27°.

The Tashiro area is also worth checking out, with the “Kobu Kobu Course” moguled slope and the “Kamoshika Course” running through the mountains. These courses offer a fantastic range to match and test your skill level.

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.
(*As of October 2023, schools are scheduled to open, but price and other details are yet to be decided)

Available languages: Japanese, English

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.
(*As of October 2023, school is scheduled to open, but price and other details are yet to be decided.)

- 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 in front of Tashiro Station, accessible from Naeba Ski Resort without skiing! You can relish heartwarming dishes like curry rice, tendon, mushroom soup, and more here.

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.

Located in the middle of the Kagura slope, Restaurant Wadagoya is an eatery designed like a mountain cabin. The restaurant serves classic Japanese dishes such as kenchin udon and katsudon. On Saturdays and nights before public holidays, guests have the option to spend the night and keep warm with a woodfire stove.

If you're looking for Western-based delights, the must-visit Restaurant Kagura at Sancho Station on the summit of the Kagura Gondola has got you covered with their delicious pizza, curry, pasta, steak, and much more.

Cafe & Restaurant Snowman is a roomy restaurant located in the Mitsumata area. It boasts of its large, open windows and high ceiling and offers a variety of dishes including curry, pasta, and other options. After skiing, you can indulge in their delectable sweets such as their renowned egg waffle, 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.

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 every day during the ski season
Season: November 23, 2023 until May 19, 2024

Text by: Madoka Hasegawa
*The article was published based on information in December 2022 and updated in October 2023. Please check the official website for the latest information.