Top Ski Resorts Near Tokyo: 7 Best Spots Less Than 3 Hours Away from Tokyo

E-lyn Tham

Last updated 9 Aug 2024

Top Ski Resorts Near Tokyo: 7 Best Spots Less Than 3 Hours Away from Tokyo

Mention skiing in Japan, and Hokkaido’s Niseko ski resort often comes to mind. However, what if we told you that you don’t have to venture so far just to hit the slopes? Bet you didn’t know that there’s a whole bunch of ski resorts located near Tokyo itself — all of which can be easily reached on a day trip.

The best part? You won’t even need to bring anything with you! Travel hands-free, and get all the equipment you need sorted at the ski resorts’ rental desks.

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1. Gala Yuzawa

Travelling time from Tokyo: 1 hour 15 minutes by train

Believe it or not: Gala Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture has its own Shinkansen station, making it super easy to reach from Tokyo. In fact, the gondola to the mountain departs directly from the station! The resort boasts 17 ski trails across 3 fields: Gala Yuzawa, Yuzawa Kogen, and Ichouchi Maruyama.

The trails vary in difficulty, welcoming both novices and pros alike. We recommend checking out the Gala Yuzawa field first, which is known to be the largest and most scenic. Book yourself a private ski or snowboard lesson for some guidance, and unwind at one of the hot springs after. As a bonus, take a 30-minute train to the Ponshukan sake museum that’s famous for its sake vending machine.

#KlookTip: Due to its accessibility, this ski resort can get pretty crowded! Keep an eye on the time especially during peak hours, as there may be snaking queues for the gondola.

How to get there: Take a 75-minute shinkansen to Gala Yuzawa station from Tokyo station; (note that the shinkansen only extends to Gala Yuzawa during the ski season; otherwise, take the shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa, followed by a free shuttle bus to the resort from the station)

Season: 16 December 2023 to 6 May 2024

Opening hours: 8am to 4.30pm in the winter; 8am to 6pm in the spring

Book your Gala Yuzawa ski session here!

2. Fujiyama Snow Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 1 hour 53 minutes by train and bus

Now here’s one for the #bucketlist: what say you to skiing against the majestic backdrop of Mt. Fuji? Fujiyama Snow Resort entices travellers by being located at the second station of Mt. Fuji, and by being the earliest resort to open the ski season. And yes, it’s already open as we speak! It has four different slopes for skiers and snowboarders, with two special family-friendly slopes for kids to frolic in the snow.

And hey, what’s a trip to Japan without a little shopping? Round off a day of action by grabbing designer goods at a steal at Gotemba Premium Shopping Outlets before heading back to Tokyo.

How to get there: Take a 42-minute shinkansen to Mishima station from Tokyo station, followed by a 71-minute bus to the resort (bus timings here)

Season: 20 October 2023 to 31 March 2024

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm on weekdays; 9am to 10pm on weekends and public holidays

Go skiing with a view at Fujiyama Snow Resort!

3. Sayama Snow Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 40 minutes by train

If you’re a first-time skier, or looking to introduce the little ones to the sport, make a beeline for Sayama Snow Resort. This indoor resort has a 300-metre-long slope, with two single lifts. Learn the ropes in a controlled environment, made even better with a lesson from pros at the onsite ski or snowboard school.

Recently reopened in 2020 after a bout of renovations, the resort even has a kids' snow park, where your little ones can have a blast with the sleds or bouncy castle. That’s not all: the resort even hosts a slew of kids’ activities, where they can try their hand at making artificial snow, or learn how to operate a ski resort. Keep a lookout for events organised throughout the season, such as snowball fights, treasure hunts, and more.

#KlookTip: Visitors are permitted to bring their own food into the resort; otherwise, check out the three food trucks in the rest area. Alternatively, head back to Tokyo for a sumptuous crab feast at Ikebukuro.

How to get there: Take a 40-minute train via the Seibu line to Seibukyujo-mae station from Tokyo station, followed by a 3-minute walk to the resort

Season: 3rd November 2023 to 31st March 2024

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm (closes at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day); 10pm to 6am for night skiing (Fridays and Saturdays from 1st to 23rd December)

Lift ticket rates: 4,000yen (~S$36) for a 1-day pass; other ticket packages available on the official website

4. Maiko Snow Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 1 hour 40 minutes by train and bus

Ski to your heart’s content at Maiko Snow Resort, where the longest ski slope is a whopping 6-kilometres long! Go all out at 26 different ski courses in three areas, all of which vary in difficulty. The Okusoechi area is targeted at the pros, with eight courses that boast rugged terrain. The Nagamine area has five courses that offer fantastic views, on top of the longest slope. The Maiko area is great for the kids, with a kids’ park and sled-only course.

The resort is also home to a hot spring, kids’ room and, our personal favourite, nap room. For a great view of the surroundings, head to the Tree House in the Maiko Area — it’s said that those with a keen eye might even be able to spot some wild animal tracks in the snow.

How to get there: Take a 80-minute shinkansen to Echigo-yuzawa station from Tokyo station, followed by a 20-minute free shuttle bus to the resort

Season: 20 December 2023 to 31 March 2024

Opening hours: 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays, 8am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays; followed by 4pm to 8pm for night skiing

Get tickets to Maiko Snow Resort!

5. Norn Minakami Ski Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 1 hour 20 minutes by train and bus

Trust us when we say that Norn Minakami Ski Resort has something for everyone. Break out your skills at five slopes — be spoiled for choice with steep slopes and bumpy terrain for the experts, or gentle inclines and smooth surfaces for the beginners. Seize the chance to let the kids try it out as well, with ski lessons available for children 3 years old and above. Besides, how cute will the little ones look decked out in all that ski gear?!

The whole family will love Norn Minakami Snow Play Land, where kids can go all out with snowball-making kits, trampolines, and more. Feeling hungry? Simply hop over to one of the five onsite restaurants to refuel with some comforting grub.

#KlookTip: Want to ski your heart out? The ski resort also stays open till 10pm for those who want to give night skiing a shot. Even better, the resort also stays open till midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and days before public holidays.

P.S. The slopes are well-illuminated, so don’t worry about poor visibility!

How to get there: Take a 1-hour shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen station from Tokyo station, followed by a 20-minute shuttle bus to the resort (bus timings here)

Season: 18 December 2023 to 24 March 2024

Opening hours: 7am to 10pm from Mondays to Thursdays, as well as Sundays and public holidays; 7am to 12am on Fridays, Saturdays and days before public holidays

Lift ticket rates: 4,700yen (~S$42) for a 1-day pass; other ticket packages available on the official website

6. Fujiten Ski Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 2 hours 5 minutes by train and taxi

Just check out that magnificent view of Mt. Fuji! Located at the 1st station of Mt. Fuji, the Fujiten Ski Resort is great for beginners — enticing with two 1300-metre ski courses on top of a 500-metre family course. It’s not without its challenging courses as well, complete with a terrain park that offers big jumps, rails, and more. You’ll find it hard to participate in a ski or snowboard lesson here, however, as the lessons are only conducted in Japanese.

There’s plenty to occupy the kids with as well, with sledding and snow play areas at the onsite ski park. In fact, the area is said to be home to one of the largest sledding slopes in the Kanto region! That’s not all: from the top of the ski courses, feast your eyes on a spectacular view of Lake Kawaguchiko and Aokigahara Jukai. Even if you don’t ski, hop onto the Mt. Fuji Observation Lift (only available on weekdays) for beautiful panoramic views.

How to get there: Take a 1-hour-45-minute bus to Kawaguchiko station from Shinjuku’s Expressway Bus Terminal, followed by a 20-minute taxi to the resort

Season: Mid-December 2023 to early April 2024 (exact dates to be announced)

Opening hours: 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays, 8am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays

Lift ticket rates: 4,000yen (~S$36) for a 1-day pass on weekdays, 5,000yen (~S$45) for a 1-day pass on weekends. More information on the official website.

7. Naeba Ski Resort

Travelling time from Tokyo: 2 hour 5 minutes by train and bus

Naeba Ski Resort is one of Japan’s largest ski resorts, drawing hordes of locals and tourists every year. The entire compound is home to four ski areas, with Naeba Ski Resort being the crowning glory. If you have time to spare, you can even hop on ‘Dragondola’, Japan’s longest cable car, to get to the adjacent Kagura Ski Resort.

With over 50 years of history, Naeba Ski Resort is also famous for hosting the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in the past, as well as the annual Fuji Rock Festival — Japan’s largest rock festival! — in July. The ski resort offers an all-in-one-holiday: magnificent slopes, and food courts, topped off with a stay in the elegant Naeba Prince Hotel if you just can’t bring yourself to leave.

#KlookTip: During peak ski season (December to March), it might be worth staying the night to catch the dynamic fireworks display. We hear that there will be around 30 to 50 dazzling shows throughout the season, so get your cameras ready!

How to get there: Take a 75-minute shinkansen to Echigo-yuzawa station from Tokyo station, followed by a 50-minutes bus to the resort

Season: 16 December 2023 to 7 April 2024

Opening hours: 8am to 5pm; 4pm to 8.30pm for night skiing)

Book your skiing experience at Naeba Ski Resort Admission in Niigata

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