Best places to ski near Tokyo

Tokyo is located near several of the most popular ski resorts in Japan. Japan is regarded internationally as a world class destination for skiing. Throughout Japan there is a total of 500 ski resorts. Although none of these ski resorts are located within the borders of Tokyo prefecture it is still possible to do a ski day trip. Our guide below has summarised some of the top skiing destinations near Tokyo.

Hakuba

Hakuba is famous for hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics. This ski town is located in Nagano Prefecture in the Northern Alps. It is known for having good powder, plenty of resorts, and onsen. The trip from Tokyo takes about four hours. A one-day lift ticket at Happo One, the area’s largest resort, goes for 4,800 yen. Other resorts include Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba Iwatake, and Hakuba 47. The area is blessed with breathtaking panoramic views of Hakuba’s impressive mountain range.

Hakuba caters well to English speaking guests whilst still providing a Japanese cultural experience and a great village vibe.

Access: The town of Hakuba is located 44km west of Nagano (about one hour drive) in the Nagano Prefecture. Hakuba is located on the island of Honshu (the main island of Japan), about 270km northwest of Tokyo. Hakuba is easily accessed from Tokyo or the Tokyo International Airport (Narita) via bullet train and bus, or a direct transfer.

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Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Yet another Nagano favorite, Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort helped to host the 1998 Winter Olympics. As per its name, the town also has lovely hot springs where skiiers can soak away the day’s aches and pains. Boasting natural snow and a 297 hectare ski area. A bonus is the town’s communal hot springs called soto-yu , which can be used free of charge. The trip from Tokyo takes about four hours by car or three hours by the fastest combination of public transportation. One-day lift tickets go for 4,800 yen.

The resort has runs suitable for any skill level, from long gentle ones for beginners, to parks, a half pipe, moguls, and a 39 degree incline for the hardcore skiers and snowboarders. The resort and ski town are very foreigner friendly and English maps, signs and pamphlets are available.

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort
Description	The foreigner friendly ski resort combined with the old fashioned hot spring town make Nozawa Onsen one of the most pleasant snow destinations in Japan.
Season	Late November to early May (November 28, 2015 to May 8, 2016)			Lifts	21 Lifts
Tickets	full day	8:30 to 17:00	4800 yen	Rentals	ski	Local
	half day	8:30 to 13:00, 12:00 to 17:00	3700 yen		board	Local
	nighter	17:00 to 20:00	1600 yen		clothes	Local
Access	bus/train car	The ski resort is located directly next to the town center and is accessible on foot from most of the hotels and ryokan.

Naeba - GALA Yuzawa

Naeba Ski Resort is a modern ski resort born during the Japanese bubble economy era. Whilst it may lack the historical and traditional charm that is apparent at a few older Japanese ski villages, it has the huge advantage of well developed facilities and infrastructure. Naeba is a glitzy purpose built ski resort.
The Naeba Prince Hotelforms the centrepiece of this resort and is the main accommodation hub for restaurants, facilities and activities. This is a truly impressive hotel. 

Access from Tokyo: Naeba is located 184km northwest of Tokyo. The train ride from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa on the Joetsu-Shinkansen takes only 70 to 90 minutes, and from the train station there are complimentary Naeba Prince Hotel express buses that take an additional 30 to 50 minutes. The different areas of Mt Naeba are interconnected via a local shuttle bus system.

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Shiga Kogen

The Shiga Kogen Resort in Nagano Japan is a good all-rounder. Since gaining international notoriety for hosting various events at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, such as the women’s downhill, slalom, super G and snowboarding events, it has been one of the most popular destinations for skiing. 

Shiga Kogen is the second highest ski resort in Japan. As a result Shiga Kogen provides many types of snowboard terrain and a large variety of skiing options. 

Here 19 ski resorts come together to make the largest skiing area by size in all of Japan. Lift tickets cost 5000 yen and give you access to all of the resorts in Shiga Kogen. Most of the ski areas are connected so that you can easily travel between them on ski or snowboard; however, there is also a shuttle bus service available. 

Location: Shiga Kogen is located 250 kilometres from Tokyo. It is possible to get an airport transfer bus from Tokyo Haneda or Narita Airport to your accomodation. Or from Tokyo you can take a 1.5 hour bullet train to Nagano, and then a bus direct to Shiga Kogen which takes about 70 minutes in total.

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Fujiten Snow Resort

Enjoy winter sports within the beautiful landscape of Mt. Fuji
You can have fun skiing and snowboarding on the high-quality snow at Fujiten Snow Resort. Also, the resort is the perfect viewing spot to see Mt. Fuji up close.

A ski resort on Mt. Fuji that is accessible from Tokyo Fujiten Snow Resort which is located in Yamanashi Prefecture is a famous ski resort to enjoy skiing and snowboarding on fine snow in a high-altitude environment. Because of its easy access from Tokyo, many tourists come to the comparatively long-standing resort which makes use of artificial snow. Also as a Mt. Fuji ski resort, it is a popular tourist destination as you enjoy yourself on the slopes while getting a full view of the lovely landscape. Starting with the downhill courses where y...

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Business hours
- Weekdays (8:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM )
- Weekends (8:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM )
8:30am(weekend and holidays　8:00am)～5:00pm
4:00pm～10:00pm (Night Skiing)

Phone
0555-85-2000
Price
- Adult: 4000 JPY
- Child: 3000 JPY
Differs depending on the weekend and holidays
Website
www.fujiten.net