Minakami Hodaigi is located on the north western slopes of Mt Hotaka in Minakami town, Gunma Prefecture. With a relatively high elevation and northerly position the region usually receives very good quality snowfall in season. A season ticket that can also be used at Oguna Hotaka (in nearby Katashina) is available. Minakami Hodaigi has been operating since 1979.
Minakami town is separated from Yuzawa town in Niigata Prefecture to the north by the impressive Tanigawa mountain range. The nine separate ski and snowboard resorts in Minakami are quite spread out throughout the central region of the town. These maps show all of the ski and snowboard resorts in the Minakami area together. Minakami is a popular year-round destination offering a wide range of outdoor sports and activities... and the onsen hot springs are very popular too.
Gunma Prefecture is located in the north west area of Kanto region on the main island of Honshu and shares borders with Niigata Prefecture to the north and Nagano Prefecture to the west. There are over 20 ski and snowboard resorts in Gunma Prefecture and they are mainly concentrated in the northern regions of Minakami and Katashina and the western region of the Prefecture.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Minakami Hodaigi.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available. Ski and snowboard wear rental is also available.
Children's facilities
The 'Kids Land' and 'Gunma Chan Park' are both located near the Center House Houdaigi and free to enter.
There is a child care facility available called 'Snow Fairy', suitable for young children from 6 months to 6 years. Charges are from 3,500 yen for 2 hours and 6,500 yen for 4 hours.
Park information
There are a few 'park' areas on the slopes including areas called 'Pocket Park' and '17 wave'.
Minakami Hodaigi Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Mid December until Early April
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
Minakami Hodaigi is normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm.
There is no night skiing at this area.
Minakami Hodaigi Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day
4,500 yen
3,000 yen
4,000 yen
Morning (until 1pm)
3,600 yen
2,400 yen
3,200 yen
Afternoon (from noon)
3,600 yen
2,400 yen
3,200 yen
5 Hours
4,300 yen
4,300 yen
4,300 yen
10 Hours
8,500 yen
8,500 yen
8,500 yen
20 Hours
16,000 yen
16,000 yen
16,000 yen
1 Lift Coupon
450 yen
450 yen
450 yen
Snow Escalator 1 Day
700 yen
700 yen
700 yen
Season (Joint)
48,500 yen
31,500 yen
38,500 yen
Season (Houdaigi only)
47,500 yen
30,500 yen
37,500 yen
2020-2021 Season lift tickets
An IC Card returnable deposit of 500 yen is required for all lift tickets.
Children's Day is on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from December through March. On those days a child ticket is 1,000 yen (and there's free juice too!).
A family pack for 1 adult and 1 child is 6,300 yen.
There are two types of Season Ticket - one is valid at only Minakami Hodaigi; the other is valid at both Minakami Hodaigi and Oguna Hotaka (marked as 'Joint' in above table).
Getting to Minakami Hodaigi
By public transport
Train
26.1km from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line
12.2km from Yubiso Station on the Joetsu Line
14.9km from Minakami Station on the Joetsu Line
Information
The resort is just over 12km from Yubiso Station on the Joetsu line.
Minakami Station on the same line is just under 15km away.
A local bus service is available from Jomo Kogen Station (70 minutes) and Minakami Station (45 minutes).
Buses stops at Takagawa Iriguchi - a ski area shuttle bus is available from there to the base of the ski area.
By Car
18.9km from the Minakami IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
30.8km from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 291 (11.2km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 63
Direction
Minakami Hodaigi is about 19km from the Minakami IC exit on the Kanetsu Expressway.
From the Minakami IC exit, turn left onto Route 291 and then turn left again at the first traffic lights after 1.3km to continue on Route 291 for about 6km. At the Oana traffic lights past central Minakami, turn right onto Prefecture Road 63 (also known as the Okutone-Yukemuri Highway). Go past Okutone Snow Park on the right and soon after you will arrive at some traffic lights. Either turn left (if you are equipped for and used to driving on winter snowy roads) or continue straight on for around a further 9km to the signposted turn off towards Hodaigi.
There is parking for about 2,400 vehicles close to the base of the resort. Parking is free on weekdays and 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays (500 yen after 12:00pm).
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