Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma by public transport
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Yuzawa Town and neighbouring Minamiuonuma City - located around 200km to the north north-west of the Tokyo region in Niigata Prefecture - are together home to around 20 individual ski and snowboard resorts including some of the most popular and well-known resorts in Japan.
With easy and quick access by both train and road and a lot of choice in a relatively compact area, the region is one of the more popular destinations for people in the Kanto region in particular. With heavy and consistent snowfalls each winter and the town being the inspiration and setting of the famous Nobel prize-winning novel 'Yukiguni' (Snow Country), Yuzawa can certainly lay claim to being the original Snow Country.
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What is Yuzawa?
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Yuzawa is the name of a town |
Yuzawa Town |
湯沢町 |
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Echigo Yuzawa is the name of the main train station in Yuzawa Town |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
越後湯沢駅 |
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The interchange on the Kanetsu Expressway is called Yuzawa IC |
Yuzawa IC |
湯沢IC |
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Some of the ski resorts in Yuzawa Town include the word Yuzawa in their name Note: There is no ski resort that is called just 'Yuzawa' |
GALA Yuzawa Yuzawa Kogen Yuzawa Nakazato Yuzawa Park |
GALA湯沢 湯沢高原 湯沢中里 湯沢パーク |
Naeba and Kagura are located a little further out of the main town area than most of the other ski and snowboard resorts, but they are still geographically within Yuzawa town. Naeba has hosted international events in the past and will be hosting the 2016 Alpine Skiing World Cup between 12th-14th February 2016. Also famous for being the venue for the annual Fuji Rock Festival in late July, Naeba is a name that most Japanese people will know. Kagura is famous for a very long season usually stretching from late November until late May - and some excellent powder conditions for much of the peak season. Naeba and Kagura resorts are connected by the 'Dragondola'.
Minamiuonuma is the name of the city just to the north of Yuzawa town. Some of the resorts in Minamiuonuma are very close to the centre of Yuzawa making them easy to get to - and they feel like part of the same area.
Getting to the Yuzawa area by train
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Shinkansen bullet train: |
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Joetsu Shinkansen |
上越新幹線 |
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Echigo Yuzawa Station |
越後湯沢駅 |
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Gala Yuzawa Station |
ガーラ湯沢駅 |
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Local trains: |
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Joetsu-sen |
上越線 |
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Hokuhoku-sen |
ほくほく線 |
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Echigo Yuzawa Station |
越後湯沢駅 |
The Joetsu Shinkansen (‘bullet train’) line connects central Tokyo with Niigata City. The train starts from Tokyo Station, stopping also at Ueno Station with many of the trains stopping at Echigo Yuzawa Station on the way to Niigata. The fastest train from Tokyo Station takes people to Yuzawa in just 66 minutes.
Two local train lines also go through Yuzawa Town - the Joetsu-sen, connecting Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture with the Nagaoka City area of Niigata Prefecture) and the Hokuhoku-sen (which actually officially operates from Muikamachi Station, but some trains run straight through from Echigo Yuzawa Station. The Hokuhoku-sen goes to the Naoetsu area of Niigata Prefecture.
The main train station in Yuzawa Town is called Echigo Yuzawa Station.
Yuzawa Town is unique in that it is actually home to two Shinkansen train stations. The second Shinkansen station is called GALA Yuzawa Station and is less than 2km further on from Echigo Yuzawa Station and actually located in the same building as the gondola that takes you to the slopes of the GALA Yuzawa ski resort.... ultra convenience! More information on that here.
Most people visiting from the Tokyo and Kanto region use the quick and convenient Joetsu Shinkansen to get to Yuzawa.
From |
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To |
Distance |
Approximate travel time |
Joetsu Shinkansen |
Tokyo Station |
> |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
199km |
around 70-80 minutes |
Niigata Station |
> |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
135km |
about 45 minutes |
Joetsu-sen |
Minakami Station |
> |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
35km |
about 35 minutes |
Nagaoka Station |
> |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
71km |
about 75 minutes |
The normal charge for the Joetsu Shinkansen journey from Tokyo Station to Echigo Yuzawa Station is just under 6500 yen one way, but various discounts are available with various ski packages and they are worth looking into.
Echigo Yuzawa Station is located right in the centre of Yuzawa Town and there are two main exits – the West Exit and the East Exit. The main tourist ‘onsen road’ area of Yuzawa is found just outside and to the right of the West Exit of the station. In mid-winter Echigo Yuzawa station is often very busy and bustling with interesting food stands and omiyage souvenir shops to browse.
Taxis are available from both the West Exit and East Exit and many of the major ski and snowboard resorts as well as some of the major hotels in the area also offer shuttle buses and pick-ups from the station – some are free and some for a small charge. If you are staying in Yuzawa it is probably worth asking your accommodation if they will come and pick you up from the station.
More resort-specific shuttle bus information can be found below.
Station name |
Japanese |
Prefecture |
From Tokyo Station |
From Echigo Yuzawa to Tokyo Station or Niigata Station |
Tokyo Station |
東京駅 |
Tokyo |
>>> |
199.2km |
Ueno Station |
上野駅 |
Tokyo |
3.6km |
195.6km |
Echigo Yuzawa Station |
越後湯沢駅 |
Niigata |
199.2km |
>>> |
Niigata Station |
新潟駅 |
Niigata |
333.9km |
134.7km |
See also:
>> Joetsu Shinkansen train line >> Joetsu-sen local train line >> Hokuhoku-sen local train line
 Maiko Snow Resort looking towards Yuzawa town
Getting to ski and snowboard resorts from Echigo Yuzawa Station
Ski resort |
Distance from Echigo Yuzawa Station |
Shuttle bus information Information to be updated by December 2015 |
Ipponsugi 一本杉 |
about 300m |
No shuttle bus required - this small hill is located just off the main onsen road of Yuzawa, about 300m from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. |
Yuzawa Kogen 湯沢高原 |
about 650m |
A free shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 700 yen. |
NASPA Ski Garden NASPAスキーガーデン |
about 1.5km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 900 yen. |
GALA Yuzawa GALA湯沢 |
about 2km 0km from GALA Yuzawa |
A free shuttle bus from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. The GALA Yuzawa resort Gondola to the slopes is located in the same building as GALA Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 900 yen. |
Iwappara 岩原 |
about 3.5k |
A shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 1,500 yen. |
Kandatsu Kogen 神立高原 |
about 4km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 1,500 yen. |
Yuzawa Park 湯沢パーク |
about 5km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 1,900 yen. |
Ishiuchi Maruyama (Chuo) 石打丸山 |
about 5.5km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 2,000 yen. |
Yuzawa Nakazato 湯沢中里 |
about 6km 0km from Echigo Nakazato Station |
A free shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. The local Joetsu line stops at the Echigo Nakazato Station which is located directly at the base of Yuzawa Nakazato ski resort. Taxi journey costs around 2,100 yen. |
Ludens Yuzawa ルーデンス湯沢 |
about 6.5km |
No shuttle bus is available. Taxi journey costs around 2,200 yen. |
Ishiuchi Hanaoka 石打花岡 |
about 7.5km |
No shuttle bus is available. Taxi journey costs around 2,400 yen. |
Kagura (Mitsumata Ropeway) かぐら(みつまた) |
about 8.2k |
A shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 2,900 yen. |
Mt Granview Mtグランビュー |
about 8.5km |
No shuttle bus is available Taxi journey costs around 2,900 yen. |
Maiko Snow Resort (Maiko) 舞子スノーリゾート |
about 9km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 2,900 yen. |
Maiko Snow Resort (Gondola) 舞子スノーリゾート |
about 10.5k |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 3,400 yen. |
Joetsu Kokusai 上越国際 |
about 12.5km |
A free shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 4,800 yen. |
Chateau Shiozawa シャトー塩沢 |
about 16km |
A shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 5,000 yen. |
Kagura (Tashiro Ropeway) かぐら(田代) |
about 17km |
A shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 4,800 yen. |
Muikamachi Ski Resort 六日町スキーリゾート |
about 23km (5km from Muikamachi Station) |
A free shuttle bus is available from Muikamachi Station on the local Joetsu-sen line. Taxi journey costs around 6,500 yen. |
Naeba 苗場 |
about 24km |
A shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Taxi journey costs around 6,900 yen. |
Muikamachi Hakkaisan 六日町八海山 |
about 32km (13km from Muikamachi Station) (16km from Urasa Station) |
A shuttle bus is available from the East Exit of Muikamachi Station (Joetsu and Hokuhoku lines) and also from Urasa Station (Joetsu Shinkansen line). Taxi journey costs around 9,800 yen. |
* The distances shown above are the main routes that are usually taken by shuttle buses - various short cuts exist!

See also:
>> This map alongside googlemaps >> Naeba town map (Naeba and Kagura) >> Ishiuchi town map (Ishiuchi and Maiko) >> Joetsu Shinkansen train line >> Joetsu-sen train line >> On the above map click on the resort names, train lines and expressway names for more details.
 Minamiuonuma valley
Getting to the Yuzawa area by expressway bus
Bus services that run from the Tokyo area through Yuzawa and continuing on to Niigata City are available. The company operating this service is called Niigata Kotsu.
The bus uses the Kanetsu Expressway and takes just under 3 hours to get to Yuzawa and costs between 2500 yen and 4100 yen depending on the day and time of day.
The bus picks up people from the following areas:
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Shinjuku Station West Exit (late night only) |
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Ikebukuro Station East Exit |
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Shimo-Ochiai Station |
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Nerima (near the city office) |
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Kawagoe Matoba |
The first stop in Niigata is at the bus stop on the expressway by the Yuzawa IC. The exit is a few km from the centre of Yuzawa and you'll probably need to get a taxi (or perhaps ask your accommodation to see if they can pick you up).
This expressway bus option is cheaper than the Shinkansen train but not as fast, comfortable or convenient.
Day trips from Tokyo
Many travel and tour companies offer day trips from the Tokyo region to various resorts including those in the Yuzawa area by train or bus or a combination of both.
Sometimes these offer excellent value for money though they often offer you less time on the slopes. Check out the local train stations and travel companies for information on these offers... if you can speak and read Japanese you might be surprised at how many options there are available!

Getting from Yuzawa to nearby snow resort regions
Important: The times shown below are simple guidelines to indicate the train journey times between the stations mentioned and may vary depending on the trains and connections used. The lower number indicates travel time, the higher number indicates a sample journey including connecting times. Times from stations to ski resort areas are not included. Please check for specifics.
Region |
Approximate distance by train |
General directions |
Yuzawa to Minakami (Gunma) |
about 13 minutes |
Shinkansen line: Joetsu Shinkansen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Jomo Kogen Station |
35-40 minutes |
Local line: Joetsu-sen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Minakami Station >> SnowJapan Minakami Travel Guide - By train : By car |
Yuzawa to Nozawa Onsen (Nagano) |
110-160 minutes |
Local line: Joetsu-sen from Echigo Yuzawa to Muikamachi. Hokuhoku-sen line from Muikamachi to Tokamachi. Iiyama-sen from Tokamachi to Togari Nozawa Onsen Station. Nozawa Onsen is about 7km from Togari Nozawa Onsen Station. >> SnowJapan Nozawa Onsen Travel Guide - By train : By car |
Yuzawa to Madarao (Nagano) |
110-140 minutes |
Local line: Joetsu-sen from Echigo Yuzawa to Muikamachi. Hokuhoku-sen line from Muikamachi to Tokamachi. Iiyama line from Tokamachi to Iiyama Station. |
85-100 minutes |
Shinkansen line: Joetsu Shinkansen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Takasaki Station Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki Station to Iiyama Station >> SnowJapan Madarao Travel Guide - By train : By car |
Yuzawa to Myoko (Nagano) |
135-180 minutes |
Local line: Joetsu-sen from Echigo Yuzawa to Muikamachi. Hokuhoku-sen line from Muikamachi to Naoetsu. Myoko Haneuma Line from Naoetsu to Myoko Kogen Station. |
Yuzawa to Shiga Kogen (Nagano) |
130-200 minutes |
Shinkansen line: Joetsu Shinkansen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Takasaki Station. Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki Station to Nagano Station. Nagano (Nagaden) line from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station. The nearest area of Shiga Kogen (Sun Valley) is about 13km from Yudanaka Station. >> SnowJapan Shiga Kogen Travel Guide - By train : By car |
Yuzawa to Nagano City (Nagano) |
80-100 minutes |
Shinkansen line: Joetsu Shinkansen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Takasaki Station. Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki Station to Nagano Station. |
Yuzawa to Hakuba (Nagano) |
200-280 minutes |
Local line: Joetsu-sen from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Muikamachi Station. Hokuhoku-sen line from Muikamachi Station to Naoetsu Station. Nihonkai Hisui line from Naoetsu Station to Itoigawa Station. Oito-sen from Itoigawa Station to Hakuba Station. >> SnowJapan Hakuba Travel Guide - By train : By car |

See also:
>> Regional train lines connection map >> Regional expressways connection map >> On the above map click on the resort names, train lines and expressway names for more details.
 View from Yuzawa Kogen
Additional Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma resources on SnowJapan
For detailed information on how to get to Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma by car, please go to this section.
SnowJapan Travel index >>
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