What other travelers are saying about Kagura Ski Resort, Yuzawa
Fantastic and gigantic ski resort you can experience in Japan. We went during the early opening season of this year, so it wasn’t too crowded. Very impressed with so diverse ski routes you can take and by their scale. We did a one day trip, but I’d definitely recommend staying for a longer period to fully experience all the trails. You can basically travel to different trails even if you enter from a different entrance point. The snow wasn’t in the best shape by the time we went, but I can imagine it’ll get much nicer during the peak season.
Before going, I was most afraid of the question: will there be enough bus seats from the Echigo Yuzawa station? I did look into the bus timetable, but I wasn’t sure if everyone could actually take the bus.
Answer in short: most likely yes. There was a looong queue for the bus that I was 100% sure that everyone cannot get in. But guess what, they somehow notice this and bring additional bus (or buses? I could only track 1 more) to carry all passengers. After skiing, the bus even arrived 1 hour before the scheduled timetable, which I suspect it’s to transport as many passengers they can. Hopefully this release your stress in terms of transportation!
Kagura operates Japan's longest ski season due to its exceptional altitude of 1,800 meters and geographic positioning. The resort's slopes begin at 1,845 meters, allowing it to receive abundant light dry powder snow and maintain skiing conditions from November 23, 2024, to May 18, 2025 - nearly six months of operation. This high-altitude advantage ensures reliable snow coverage well into spring when most other resorts have closed.
Take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, which takes approximately 90 minutes. From Echigo-Yuzawa Station, shuttle bus services operate to the resort's base areas at Mitsumata and Tashiro stations. The resort has multiple access points, making it convenient to reach different areas depending on your skiing preferences and accommodation location.
Kagura consists of three interconnected areas: Kagura, Tashiro, and Mitsumata. The main Kagura section features advanced and intermediate runs on steep terrain ideal for experienced skiers. Mitsumata offers gentler slopes perfect for beginners and families. Tashiro provides intermediate terrain. The resort has 24 lifts serving 23 pistes across 544 acres, and connects with the Naeba ski area for even more extensive skiing options.
Adult daily lift tickets cost ¥7,200 for high school students and above. Children of elementary school age and younger ski free. Tickets can be purchased online with QR code confirmation sent via email, which must be presented at the resort on mobile devices or printed. Guests staying at Kagura White Horse Inn receive discounted lift tickets, and various seasonal promotions may be available.
Kagura offers excellent off-piste opportunities with numerous short runs adjacent to marked trails, making it ideal for intermediate to early advanced skiers looking to explore ungroomed terrain. Professional backcountry tours are available through Triforce, offering fully guided English-language tours that start daily at 8:00 AM for ¥12,000 per person. These tours provide safe access to the resort's extensive off-piste areas while ensuring proper guidance and safety protocols.
Honestly not the greatest resort. There is a lot of traversing style of lifts and virtually no maps or signage. When we were there Despite plenty of snow half the mountain was closed due to “visibility” which meant most people crowded onto a few chairlifts. The weather for most of the day was clear so I didn’t understand the lack of open mountain Like many places in Japan runs are short. The only redeeming is that you can easily ski through the trees.
I stayed here for one night during my ski trip, and it was a wonderful experience. The place is very quiet, clean, and comfortable — perfect for relaxing after a long day on the slopes.
Chris, the staff member, speaks excellent English and is incredibly friendly and helpful. He went out of his way to make sure everything was smooth and comfortable for my stay.
One of the biggest conveniences was the complimentary pick-up and drop-off service to the train station. It saved me a lot of time and hassle compared to waiting for the bus, which made the trip much easier.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting for a ski trip!
Controversially rated this 3 stars, so that other travellers will see my note. Beware there is ALOT of traversing needed at this resort, if you study the ski map carefully. You will spend most of the day making it to other ski areas.
Snow boarders should enjoy walking to come to this resort, or have plenty of skiers to tow them.
Other than that, snow quality is good. Runs are decent, but short comparatively to other Japanese resorts like Sugi.
A lot of the mountain closes very early, some chairs as early as 2:30pm.
If the red run down to the car park isn’t open, there can be a massive traffic jam to get down the mountain via the rope way, budget another 30-45 minutes.
Ski patrol also has a tendency to close runs ahead of the stated lift closing time, which may be a shock for travellers used to a western approach.
Tree skiing not tolerated, but rarely enforced.
There is a lot of snow and the snow quality is good due to the high altitude. Depending on the climate of the year, there is still snow in May, so skiing and snowboarding can still be enjoyed. The resort is connected to other nearby ski resorts, and you can cross the mountain to access other ski resorts by paying a connecting gondola fee. There is a wide variety of courses that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to advanced skiers.
