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Yuzawa Town is a popular all-year resort but mostly famous for it's ski & snowboard resorts and onsen hot springs. The town is in an excellent location making it the most convenient resort area from central Tokyo - and day return ski trips from Tokyo a reality! The Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train takes you from Tokyo Station to Echigo Yuzawa Station (the main station in Yuzawa) in around 80 minutes. By car, the 200km journey using the Kanetsu Expressway takes just over 2 hours.
Ski and snowboard resorts in Yuzawa
There are a number of resorts within easy reach of the main station, ranging from small slopes near the center of town to the large Mount just 30 minutes away. For more information on each resort - including ski resort data, resort reviews, photos and journals - click on the relevant links below:
RESORT NAME
(in alphabetical order) |
|
MORE INFO ON SNOWJAPAN |
| GALA Yuzawa |
|
HERE |
| Ipponsugi |
|
HERE |
| Iwappara |
|
HERE |
| Kagura |
|
HERE |
| Ludens Yuzawa |
|
HERE |
| Naeba |
|
HERE |
| Nakazato Snow Wood |
|
HERE |
NASPA Ski Garden
(Skiers only resort) |
|
HERE |
| Kandatsu Kogen |
|
HERE |
| Yuzawa Kogen |
|
HERE |
| Yuzawa Nakazato |
|
HERE |
| Yuzawa Park |
|
HERE |
Other closeby resorts (located to the north in Minamiuonuma-shi) include Ishiuchi Maruyama, Maiko Snow Resort, Joetsu Kokusai and Muikamachi Hakkaisan.
Getting to Yuzawa
Getting to Yuzawa is a very simple journey from Tokyo - both by train and car.
By Car
The Kanetsu Expressway (toll road) runs through Yuzawa. The journey from Nerima I.C. in northern Tokyo to Yuzawa I.C. is about 176km and in good conditions can take less than 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 and into Yuzawa Town.
If you are planning on visiting the resorts in the Yuzawa Town area and Minamiuonuma, get off the Expressway at Yuzawa I.C. From the exit, either turn left onto Route 17 towards Kandatsu, Kagura and Naeba or turn right onto Route 17 towards other resorts in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma.
(If you are planning on visiting Naeba or Kagura you might want to get off the Kanetsu Expressway before then at the Tsukiyono I.C. in Gunma Prefecture. From there, take Route 17 and head north to Naeba).
If you are planning on visiting the resorts in Mimaniuonuma you can either take Route 17 north through Yuzawa or continue on the Kanetsu Expressway past Yuzawa I.C. and get of either at Shiozawa Ishiuchi I.C. or Muikamachi I.C.
By train
The main station of Yuzawa Town is called Echigo Yuzawa Station. The Joetsu Shinkasen (bullet train) stops regularly at Echigo Yuzawa Station. The train from Tokyo takes on average between 75 to 85 minutes.
The GALA Yuzawa resort has it's own station (GALA Yuzawa Station) which is just a few km further on than the main Echigo Yuzawa Station. Please note that not all of the trains that go to Echigo Yuzawa continue on to Gala Yuzawa Station, so it is best to check beforehand. If you planning to go to any of the other resorts in the region apart form GALA Yuzawa, you should get off the train at Echigo Yuzawa Station.
On exiting Echigo Yuzawa Station you will find shuttle buses going to most of the main resorts in the region from both the West and East exits of the station.
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.
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