Akasawa is a small ski area located in the southwest region of Minakami town in Gunma Prefecture, close to Hoshi Onsen and the border with Niigata Prefecture. It is only about 14km from the famous Naeba ski resort in Yuzawa town just to the north. This small area has two single lifts and a rope tow. Akasawa used to be generally only open on weekends and holidays (and only open privately on weekdays) but it is now also opening on many weekdays to the general public. There are a few weekdays when it will be closed to the general public. Details can be found below.
The Mountain
1050m
250m
800m
35"
3
1000m
3
20%
30%
50%
Skiers 75%
Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
Boarders 25%
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Akasawa Snow Depth Statistics
Official snow depth numbers from the current season and previous season
There is a ski school at Akasawa that offers ski lessons. But be warned, while the official website has English text on it, concerning ski lessons it states 'Foreigners can not accept'. Perhaps a more tactful wording of what they mean would be 'we cannot do lessons in languages other than Japanese', but best to check...
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Not available
Snowboard Rental:
Not available
Rental equipment and wear is available.
Children's facilities
There is a sledding area at the base area of Akasawa and it is free to use.
Park information
There is no specific snow park.
Akasawa Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Late December until Mid March
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
No
Weekdays
No
Opening information
Akasawa is normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm.
Fully open on weekends, 29th December until 5th January, 10th January, 11th and 23rd February 2022.
Normally it is only partly open on weekdays in the months of January and February (when the rope tow or Number 2 lift are rested), with some exceptions.
Closed on the following dates: - 28th December 2021 - 6th January 2022 - every Tuesday between 11th January and 22nd February 2022 - 2nd February 2022
Closed to the general public due to private reservation on the following dates: - 14th, 28th, 31st January 2022 - 1st February 20222
Closed on weekdays in March 2022
There is no night skiing at this area.
Akasawa Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day (8:30am-4:30pm)
2,500 yen
1,500 yen
2,000 yen
Morning (8:30am-1pm)
1,600 yen
1,000 yen
1,300 yen
Afternoon (12pm-4:30pm)
1,600 yen
1,000 yen
1,300 yen
Lift 1 ride
200 yen
200 yen
200 yen
Lift 6 rides
1,100 yen
1,100 yen
1,100 yen
Rope Tow only (1 day)
1,200 yen
Rope Tow only (half day)
800 yen
Rope Tow only (1 ride)
150 yen
2021-2022 Season Lift Tickets
The lift tickets include use of lifts and the rope tow.
Akasawa is not open to the general public every day of the season - see opening dates information elsewhere on this page.
Getting to Akasawa
By public transport
Train
21.6km from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line
21.4km from Gokan Station on the Joetsu Line
27.1km from Numata Station on the Joetsu Line
Information
Akasawa is about 21.5km from Gokan Station in Minakami and about 27km from the larger Numata Station on the local Joetsu line.
Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line is just under 22km from Akasawa.
Bus
There is no ski area shuttle bus but local buses operate between Jomo Kogen Station and Sarugakyo Onsen.
Another bus operates from Sarugakyo Onsen to Hoshi Onsen (15 minutes). Get off at the Akazawa ski-jo stop.
By Car
21.9km from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
27.1km from the Minakami IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
36.3km from the Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 17 (3.2km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 261
Direction
Tsukiyono IC is the nearest exit on the Kanetsu Expressway, about 22km away.
From the Tsukiyono IC exit, turn onto Route 17 to head north - follow the signpost mentioning Niigata and Naeba. Go past Akaya-ko lake and through the Sarugakyo onsen area, and after about 17km from the IC exit follow the signs for Akasawa on the left side to head towards the base.
Parking
There is parking for 200 vehicles close to the base of Akasawa. Parking is free every day of the season.
For more details and explanations about the information presented on this page,
please read this.
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Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
