Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort 湯沢高原

Niigata is considered the “snow country” of Japan receiving 4.7 million skiers and snowboarders at its resorts every year.

Among the 12 ski fields in Echigo Yuzawa is Yuzawa Kogen, a ski resort that offers panoramic views of the mountain's neighboring towns.

You can reach the ski fields via car or train.

By train, it is a 70-minute shinkansen ride on the JR Joetsu Line from Tokyo to Echigo Yuzawa Station. Yuzawa Kogen is an eight-minute walk away from the station.

The ropeway is about a five-minute drive from the Yuzawa Interchange on Kanetsu Expressway.

With convenient train stations and an expressway nearby, Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort is a popular weekend getaway for many Tokyoites. For international travelers, the resort offers ski and snowboard lessons in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

The resort is medium-sized and has a vertical descent of 210 meters, perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. There are six ski lifts, but the Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway is probably one of the most famous attractions in the area.

At the foot of the mountain is the Snowland, an area with a 100-metre-long snow escalator. Here, non-skiers can try their hand at sledding, snow tubing and other snow activities.

This ropeway can take up to 166 people and travels a total distance of 1,300 meters. The entire ropeway takes around seven minutes from the base to the top, which is a vertical interval of 500 meters.

At the top of the plateau, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of your surroundings. During the green season, seasonal flowers also make the nearby Panoramic Park colorful.

After a day on the ski slopes, visit the hot springs in the town of Yuzawa . The minerals in the spring water are great for healing purposes.