Minamiuonuma City is located in southern Niigata Prefecture, just to the north of Yuzawa Town.

Minamiuonuma offers a choice of over 10 ski and snowboard resorts, both large and small and suitable for all level of skier and snowboarder.

Minamiuonuma City (shi) is a popular all-year resort but mostly famous for it's ski & snowboard resorts, onsen hot springs and 'Uonuma' rice - widely recognised as perhaps the best in Japan. 

The region is in an excellent location making it very convenient to get to from central Tokyo.  The Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train takes you from Tokyo Station to Echigo Yuzawa Station (the main station in neighbouring Yuzawa) in around 80 minutes and from there Minamiuonuma is just a short journey to the north.

By car, the journey using the Kanetsu Expressway takes just over 2 hours (approx. 200km) in normal conditions.

Until a few years ago, Minamiuonuma-shi was known as separate towns - Shiozawa (which is neighbouring to Yuzawa), Muikamachi and Urasa.

Ski and snowboard resorts in Minamiuonuma

There are a number of resorts within easy reach of the stations, expressway and Route 17, ranging from small slopes near the center of town to large resorts.   For more information on each resort - including ski resort data, resort reviews, photos and journals - click on the relevant links below:

Shiozawa Ishiuchi Area
RESORT NAME
(in alphabetical order)

Ishiuchi Maruyama

Getting to Mimamiuonuma

Getting to Minamiuonuma is a very simple journey from Tokyo - both by train and car.

By Car

The Kanetsu Expressway (toll road) runs through Minamiuonuma.  The journey from Nerima I.C. in northern Tokyo to Shiozawa Ishiuchi I.C. is about 185km and in good conditions can take around two hours.  (Please note that in bad weather conditions and peak times, it can take considerably longer).  The journey takes you north through Saitama and Gunma Prefectures, under the Tanigawa mountain range in northern Gunma, through Yuzawa and into Minamiuonuma.

If you are planning on visiting the resorts in the Shiozawa and Ishiuchi area, get off the Expressway at Shiozawa Ishiuchi I.C.  

If you are planning on visiting the resorts in the Muikamachi and Urasa area you might want to get off the Kanetsu Expressway at the next Interchange - Muikamachi I.C.

By train

Many people visiting Minamiuonuma by train use the Joetsu Shinkasen (bullet train) that stops regularly at the nearby Echigo Yuzawa Station.  The train from Tokyo takes on average between 75 to 85 minutes to Yuzawa.

You can take the local train (Joetsu line) from Echigo Yuzawa Station to the stations in Mimamiuonuma - Ishiuchi, Joetsu Kokusai Skijo Mae, Muikamachi.

Alternatively on exiting Echigo Yuzawa Station you will find shuttle buses going to most of the main resorts.   The journey from the station to resorts in Mimamiuonuma takes between 10 minutes and 40 minutes.

From Narita

From Narita International Airport (About 4 hours)

From Narita International Airport, you will first want to get into central Tokyo using either the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner - both take around 1 hour.

The Narita Express goes direct to Tokyo Station, and from there you can easily transfer to the Joestu Shinkansen. 

The Keisei Skyliner goes to Keisei Ueno Station.  From there it is a 5 minute walk over to the JR Ueno Station where you can also catch the Joetsu Shinkansen.

See above for info on the Joestu Shinkansen.