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.

For the 2025–2026 season, the Kagura/Mitsumata area will be open from November 22, 2025, to May 17, 2026, and the Tashiro area from December 20, 2025, to May 6, 2026. Compared to other ski resorts, you can enjoy a longer season, with the heaviest snowfall typically occurring between January and March. Even in April and May, when the slopes are less crowded, some areas still offer excellent powder skiing, which is a major attraction.

Kagura Ski Resort is known for its abundant snowfall and high-quality powder, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers or those seeking a challenging ride. Its high elevation ensures stable snow conditions, allowing for enjoyment of ungroomed runs and natural terrain. The long season also makes it perfect for spring skiing. With its vast slopes, including Mitsumata and Tashiro, you can enjoy long runs, and with the “Mt. Naeba Common Ticket,” you can also ski at Naeba Ski Resort, making it a great choice for those who want to explore multiple areas.

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.

Types of Lift Tickets
By purchasing a lift ticket for Kagura Ski Resort, you can use it in the Kagura, Mitsumata, and Tashiro areas. For those who want to enjoy other ski resorts as well, a common ticket is also available.

Online Reservation (Smart Tickets)
Purchase a Smart Ticket on the official Prince Hotels website by the day before your visit to receive a discount and skip the ticket counter. Details are available on the official website.

Season Pass
A season pass is available for Naeba, Kagura, and Muikamachi Hakkaisan. Example prices are:
Adult: 150,000 yen / Senior: 128,000 yen / Junior–High School Student: 70,000 yen. For full information, see the official website.

Travel agencies also offer accommodation packages that bundle hotel stays with lift tickets, which can help reduce overall travel costs.

Both the Mitsumata and Tashiro areas have rental shops, along with changing rooms and coin lockers located near the car parks. Mitsumata Station is also home to the large KAGURA POWDER STATION, which offers powder-snow gear, fat ski rentals, and more. For full details, see the official website.

Available languages: Japanese, English, Chinese

The ski schools at Kagura Ski Resort offer a wide variety of lessons for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers. There are programs ranging from beginner instruction to level-specific courses focusing on powder, moguls, and more.

Ski Schools for Everyone from Beginners to Advanced
A wide range of lessons is available, from beginner instruction to powder and mogul-focused coaching. Below are three major schools to introduce first.

Specialized Ski Schools
Next, here are some schools with specialized programs.

Kagura Ski Resort also offers activities for children, making it enjoyable for families. In the Mitsumata area, there are attractions such as a kids’ slope and a park. The kids’ slope is enclosed with safety netting, allowing young children to enjoy sledding, slides, and other snow play. Even children under three who are new to ski resorts can experience the fun of snow.

Kagura Ski Resort does not offer childcare services.

If you are staying in the Naeba area, take the opportunity to enjoy nearby day-trip hot springs and local cuisine. Those staying at inns or guesthouses near Tashiro Station or Mitsumata Station will also have access to after-ski hot springs, although the number of facilities is limited.

Near Mitsumata Station, Kaido Hot Spring is highly recommended. Surrounded by rich natural scenery, this public bath welcomes visitors with an open-air rotenburo offering a great sense of freedom. The rock outdoor bath can accommodate about 10 people, while the indoor rock bath can comfortably fit about 20. It is an ideal hot spring to drop by casually and refresh both body and mind while enjoying seasonal views, making it a great stop between skiing or sightseeing.

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.

Tashiro Area
Restaurant Alm, located in front of Tashiro Station, offers a warm Nordic-style interior and can be reached from Naeba Ski Resort even without skiing. Guests can enjoy comforting dishes such as curry rice, tendon, mushroom soup, and more.

Another option is the Western Restaurant Alyeska, set near the banks of Lake Tashiro. Its relaxed lodge-style atmosphere pairs well with popular favorites like curry rice and pasta.

For local Niigata-style cuisine made with regional ingredients, stop by “Buna Kitchen,” which also features an impressive selection of sake.

Kagura Area
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.

Mitsumata Area
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.

If you are staying at inns or guesthouses near Tashiro or Mitsumata Stations and want to enjoy local cuisine or drinks after skiing, you will need to travel to areas such as Echigo-Yuzawa or Naeba. It is recommended to check transportation options in advance, such as return buses or taxis, for peace of mind.

From Tokyo to Kagura Mitsumata Ski Resort, there are mainly two ways to access the area: by public transportation (Shinkansen + bus) or by car.

Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (about 1 hour 15 minutes).
From the station’s East Exit, board a local bus from Bus Stop No. 1 (bound for Mitsumata, Tashiro, Asagai, or Seibu Crystal). Get off at Kagura Mitsumata Ski Resort (about 20 minutes).

When traveling by car from Tokyo, exit the Kan-Etsu Expressway at Yuzawa I.C., then continue onto National Route 17. After driving for about 15 minutes, you will arrive at Kagura Mitsumata Ski Resort.

Traveling to mountain areas by car in winter is generally not recommended, but if you must drive, snow tires are essential. Also, since the route includes mountain roads, make sure to fill up the fuel tank beforehand.
・Approximate travel time: about 3 hours one-way from Tokyo

The JR TOKYO Wide PASS is a great option for foreign visitors who want to enjoy the slopes and then explore more of Niigata Prefecture. This discount rail pass provides unlimited rides on JR lines, including select Shinkansen, within the greater Tokyo area during its validity period. It is available exclusively to foreign nationals.

The JR TOKYO Wide PASS covers the Kanto region served by JR East and offers unlimited travel on Shinkansen and limited express trains with reserved seats for three consecutive days. It is priced at 15,500 yen for adults (12+) and 7,750 yen for children (6–11). Children under 6 ride free as long as they do not take a reserved seat.

A round-trip reserved seat fare on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and Echigo Yuzawa costs about 12,520 yen, so the pass quickly pays off. If you’re arriving from Haneda or Narita Airport, the pass also covers travel from the airport into Tokyo.

You could spend one day skiing in Kagura and use the remaining two days to visit spots within the valid area, such as Kusatsu Onsen, Mt. Fuji, or Nikko. Since both Haneda and Narita Airports are included, the pass may cover all your train travel from arrival to departure.

Although online reservations are possible, language support and pickup locations are still limited. It is generally easier to purchase the pass after arriving in Japan at JR EAST Travel Service Centers or major stations like Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Ikebukuro, and Shinjuku.

This pass is available only to travelers with a non-Japanese passport, which must be presented at purchase.

When traveling for skiing or snowboarding, heavy luggage can be troublesome. At Kagura Mitsumata Ski Resort, there is a convenient delivery service that allows you to send bulky equipment in advance and travel comfortably by Shinkansen, then pick it up on the day of your visit. There are two delivery counters available, so make good use of them.

Here are some sightseeing spots around Kagura where you can enjoy yourself beyond skiing, perfect for adding variety to your travel itinerary.

Located near Echigo-Yuzawa Station, this unique hot spring is attached to Ponshukan and features baths infused with Japanese sake. It’s said to promote blood circulation and relaxation, a great way to unwind after playing in the snow.

One of the world’s largest ropeways, capable of carrying up to 166 passengers, takes you to an altitude of about 1,000 meters. From the top, you can enjoy sweeping views of the snow-covered mountains and the town of Yuzawa — a truly breathtaking winter landscape.

A short trip from Kagura brings you to Kiyotsu Gorge, where a 750-meter-long tunnel walkway allows you to explore the dramatic, snow-covered canyon. Strolling through this serene winter landscape offers a uniquely atmospheric experience.

There is a shuttle bus between Kagura and Naeba, so those who wish to stay overnight can consider the Naeba Prince Hotel. Near Tashiro Station and Mitsumata Station, there are also inns and guesthouses, making nearby accommodations a convenient option for those traveling by car.

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.