Tsugaike Kogen is a large ski and snowboard resort located in Otari village and has been operating since 1950. The main wide lower areas of Tsugaike Kogen are particularly suited to beginner skiers and snowboarders. The Tsugaike Ropeway at the top of the resort opens for the spring season every year. The Heli-ski operations are also available in the spring months.
Tsugaike Kogen this year celebrates its 60th anniversary.
There's a Burger King in the Yuki-no-hiroba building for your Whopper fix!
Hakuba village is just over 40km to the west of Nagano city in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. Hakuba was host to some of the major events of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics including alpine skiing (at Hakuba Happo-one), ski jump events and cross country events. The backdrop of the North Alps makes for a spectacular mountain setting. Along with the ski and snowboard resorts in neighbouring Otari village to the north and Omachi City to the south - collectively known as 'Hakuba Valley' - this is one of the major ski and snowboard resort regions of Japan. This map shows the ski and snowboard resorts in the main Hakuba region. In recent years the Hakuba region has become one of the most popular winter sport regions of Japan for visitors from overseas.
Nagano Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of the main island of Honshu. Most of the Northern Alps, Central Alps and Southern Alps are located within Nagano (along with neighbouring prefectures). Nagano has the second highest number of ski and snowboard resorts in all of Japan and they are spread around the whole prefecture. Nagano city and many of the major ski resorts are located in the northern region.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Tsugaike Kogen. There are also a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Hakuba area, please check the Lessons in English section for current listings on SnowJapan.
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 Park' can be found by the Kane-no-naru-oka course area and features a moving walkway and items to play with - entry is 500 yen. Usually open from 10:00am until 3:00pm.
There is also a free 'Kids Corner' in the same area and the 'Yuki-no-hiroba' kids area in the Karamatsu area.
Park information
There are a few 'Board Park' areas - mid January to mid March at Han-no-ki; mid March to mid May at Tsuga-no-mori.
Tsugaike Kogen Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Late November until Early May
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Sometimes
Weekdays
No
Opening information
Tsugaike Kogen is normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm in the daytime.
Night skiing is from 6:00pm until 9:00pm in the Karamatsu and Shirakaba areas, on the following dates:
26th December 2020 until 2nd January 2021; 9th, 10th, 16th, 23rd, 30th January 2021; 13th, 20th, 27th February 2021
Tsugaike Kogen Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age
Senior
60 years & over
1 Day
5,500 yen
3,300 yen
4,000 yen
2 Days
9,700 yen
5,900 yen
6,800 yen
Morning (8am-1pm)
4,400 yen
2,800 yen
3,400 yen
Afternoon (12pm-5pm)
4,400 yen
2,800 yen
3,400 yen
Beginner Area only
3,400 yen
2,300 yen
Nighta
2,500 yen
2,000 yen
Season Ticket
60,000 yen
40,000 yen
55,000 yen
Hakuba Valley 1 Day
6,600 yen
3,800 yen
Hakuba Valley 2 Days
12,500 yen
7,100 yen
Hakuba Valley 3 Days
18,700 yen
10,500 yen
Hakuba Valley 4 Days
24,900 yen
13,900 yen
Hakuba Valley 5 Days
31,000 yen
17,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 6 Days
37,200 yen
20,800 yen
Hakuba Valley 7 Days
43,400 yen
24,300 yen
Hakuba Valley 8 Days
49,000 yen
27,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 9 Days
54,700 yen
30,400 yen
Hakuba Valley 10 Days
60,300 yen
33,500 yen
2020-2021 Season lift tickets
The tickets in the table are for Tsugaike Kogen.
'Hakuba Valley' tickets 2020-2021
The tickets marked as ‘Hakuba Valley’ can be used at any of 10 ski and snowboard resorts in the Omachi-Hakuba-Otari valley (listed below). Child classification for Hakuba Valley tickets: 6-12 year olds. Includes use of the Hakuba Valley shuttle bus on the day of skiing, available from 25th December 2020 until 14th March 2021.
The 1 Day ticket is valid on the day of purchase. The 2 Day ticket is valid for 4 days from the first day of use. The 3 Day ticket is valid for 6 days from the first day of use. The 4 Day ticket is valid for 8 days from the first day of use. The 5 Day ticket is valid for 10 days from the first day of use. The 6 Day ticket is valid for 11 days from the first day of use. The 7 Day ticket is valid for 12 days from the first day of use. The 8 Day ticket is valid for 13 days from the first day of use. The 9 Day ticket is valid for 14 days from the first day of use. The 10 Day ticket is valid for 16 days from the first day of use. Night skiing operations are not included.
A bus from Nagano Station takes about 80-90 minutes. A bus from Minami Otari Station takes about 25 minutes.
By Car
40.9km from the Itoigawa IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
52.3km from the Nagano IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway
57.6km from the Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 148 (3.5km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 433
Direction
Otari village is located in the north-western region of Nagano Prefecture, just to the north of Hakuba village. Route 148 goes north-south through the region. Tsugaike Kogen is actually located in Otari village but many people know of it as one of the 'Hakuba' resorts. The resort is just over 3km from the main Route 148 road to the north of central Hakuba.
To get to Tsugaike Kogen from the central area of Hakuba (Hakuba Station), head north on Route 148 towards Otari. At the the traffic lights about 2.3km along the road (7-11 convenience store across on the right side of the junction), turn left onto Prefecture Road 433. Follow this road for about 5.5km to Tsugaike Kogen.
If approaching from the north, turn right onto Prefecture Road 433 at the Tsugaike Kogen and Hakuba Norikura signpost before reaching central Hakuba and follow the signs.
Getting to the Hakuba region There are three main ways to approach Hakuba village by road – from Nagano city (and the Nagano IC exit on the Joshinetsu Expressway), from the south (and the Azumino IC exit on the Nagano Expressway) and from the north (and the Itoigawa IC exit on the Hokuriku Expressway).
Approaching Hakuba village from Nagano IC (Joshinetsu Expressway) From the Nagano IC exit, turn right Prefecture Road 35 and head north for about 3.5km until arriving at the Nagano Minami By-pass (Route 19). Turn left onto Route 19 and drive by the river for around 13km until arriving at the Hakuba Nagano Toll Road. Turn onto this road (the normal charge is 210 yen per vehicle) and then continue straight on Prefecture Road 31 and then Prefecture Road 33 to head into Hakuba, which is well signposted. The journey from Nagano IC to central Hakuba is around 46km.
Approaching Hakuba village from Azumino IC (Nagano Expressway) From the Azumino IC exit, go straight ahead at the exit traffic lights and follow Prefecture Road 310 for just over 4.5km until reaching Route 147. Turn right onto Route 147 (signposted as Omachi and Matsukawa Village). Follow this road and then Route 148 into Hakuba. The journey from Azumino IC to central Hakuba is around 50km.
Approaching Hakuba village from Itoigawa IC (Hokuriku Expressway) From the Itoigawa IC exit, turn left to head south on Route 148 to the Hakuba area, passing through Otari Village along the way. The journey from Itoigawa IC to central Hakuba is about 45km.
There are various car parks around the base area of Tsugaike Kogen holding around 1500 vehicles. Some of the parking areas are free (800 cars) and some are charged.
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