Kagura is a large scale ski and snowboard resort located to the south-west of central Yuzawa town in Niigata Prefecture. Kagura was originally known as two separate ski resorts - Kagura Mitsumata and Kagura Tashiro. Since 2006, the whole area has been operating and is known simply as 'Kagura'. It is made up of three official areas - the Mitsumata Area, the Tashiro Area and the central Kagura Area. The courses at both Mitsumata and Tashiro are reached from their respective car parks by large Ropeway cable cars. The Mitsumata Ropeway (about 10km from central Yuzawa town) holds up to 121 people, while the Tashiro Ropeway (about 17km from central Yuzawa town) holds up to 101 people. The slopes of the central Kagura Area are accessed via the slopes and lifts of the Mitsumata or Tashiro Areas.
The Tashiro Area is connected to the Naeba resort via the 'Dragondola' (gondola cable car) during the main season. The whole of Kagura and connecting Naeba resort are together known as 'Mt Naeba' and a joint lift ticket is available.
Kagura is famous for it's 6 month-long season, backcountry access and usually some of the best snow conditions in the region. Artificial 'snow mats' have been laid on the 1,100m Family course in the Mitsumata area which is open during the summer and on weekends in the autumn.
Due to damage caused by the powerful typhoon in October 2019, the downhill course at Mitsumata (from the base of the ski course down to the Mitsumata car park) will be closed for the 2019-2020 winter season. They tried to fix it but unfortunately they were unable to in time for this season. This course not being available does not really affect the experience of Kagura at all - you just need to get the Ropeway back down to base at the end of the day.
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 over 20 individual ski and snowboard resorts, including some of the most well-known ski resorts in Japan. With easy and quick access by both train and road and a wide choice in a relatively compact area, this region is one of the most popular ski destinations in Japan. The region usually enjoys very heavy and consistent snowfall each winter and with Yuzawa town also being the inspiration and setting of the famous Nobel prize-winning novel Yukiguni (Snow Country), it can certainly lay claim to being the original 'Snow Country'.
Niigata Prefecture is located in the central region of Honshu to the north of Tokyo and has a 250km long coastline facing the Sea of Japan. Convenient transportation links make Niigata very easy to get to from Tokyo and other surrounding regions. Most of the larger ski and snowboard resorts in Niigata Prefecture are concentrated in the southern regions around Yuzawa town, Minamiuonuma city and Myoko city.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Kagura. There are a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Yuzawa area and offer lessons in English - 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
There is a childrens play area at the bottom of the Family Course in the Mitsumata area.
Park information
There are a few snow parks areas at Kagura, including the 'Mitsumata Ups'n'Downs' and 'Area 51s Park' in the Mitsumata Area, the 'Beginners Park' in the Tashiro Area and the 'Kagura Park' in the Kagura area.
Kagura Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Late November until Late May
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 7:30am until 5:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
No
Weekdays
No
Opening information
Kagura is normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm on weekdays and from 7:30am until 5:00pm on holidays.
There is no nighta at any of the areas of Kagura.
Kagura Mitsumata Area (via Mitsumata Ropeway) planned season: Saturday 23rd November 2019 until Sunday 24th May 2020
Tashiro Area (via Tashiro Ropeway) planned season: Saturday 14th December 2019 until Wednesday 6th May 2020
Kagura Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age
Older Child
High School age
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day
4,900 yen
4,000 yen
4,400 yen
2 Days
9,000 yen
7,200 yen
8,000 yen
Morning (Open-1pm)
3,600 yen
2,700 yen
3,100 yen
Afternoon (11:45am-5pm)
3,600 yen
2,700 yen
3,100 yen
1 Day Mt Naeba
6,000 yen
4,600 yen
5,300 yen
1 Lift Coupon
500 yen
500 yen
500 yen
Kagura Gondola (1-way)
1,400 yen
Kagura Gondola (return)
2,100 yen
Mitsumata Ropeway (1-way)
800 yen
800 yen
800 yen
Mitsumata Ropway (return)
1,300 yen
1,300 yen
1,300 yen
Tashiro Ropeway (1-way)
1,200 yen
1,200 yen
1,200 yen
Tashiro Ropeway (return)
1,800 yen
1,800 yen
1,800 yen
2019-2020 Season Lift Tickets
The 1 Day Mt Naeba ticket is valid at both Kagura and the connecting Naeba resort.
Getting to Kagura
By public transport
Train
10.3km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line
10.3km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Line
10.3km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Hokuhoku Line
Information
The Mitsumata Station of Kagura resort is just over 10km from Echigo Yuzawa Station. Echigo Yuzawa Station is serviced by the local Joetsu line and Joetsu Shinkansen line as well as connecting with the Hokuhoku line.
A shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station and takes about 15-20 minutes to Mitsumata Station.
Echigo Yuzawa Station to the Mitsumata Station of Kagura costs 380 yen for adults and 190 yen for children up to the age of 12 years.
Echigo Yuzawa Station to the Tashiro Station of Kagura costs 530 yen for adults and 270 yen for children up to the age of 12 years.
Echigo Yuzawa Station to the Naeba Prince Hotel costs 660 yen for adults and 330 yen for children up to the age of 12 years.
Additional charges of 100 yen apply for skis, snowboards and other large luggage.
A taxi journey costs around 2,900 yen.
A shuttle bus that operates between Mitsumata Station, Tashiro Station and Naeba Prince Hotel is also available(free if you have an 'all Mt Naeba' lift ticket; otherwise 300 yen adults, 150 yen children).
By Car
8.6km from the Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
43.8km from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 17 (0.1km away)
Direction
From the Yuzawa IC exit, turn left onto Route 17 and continue on the road for just over 8.5km to Mitsumata Ropeway. The Mitsumata Ropeway Station car park is on the right hand side of Route 17. Continue on Route 17 for about another 6.5km to reach the Tashiro Ropeway and car park, also on the right hand side of the road and signposted.
Alternatively, from the Tsukiyono IC exit on the Kanetsu Expressway in Minakami to the south, follow Route 17 north towards and past Naeba. Tashiro Ropeway is about 37.4km on the left and Mitsumata Ropeway is a further 6.5km along Route 17.
Parking at both Mitsumata Station and Tashiro Station car parks is free on weekdays and 500 yen on Saturdays, Sundays and other special holidays.
There is space for about 1200 vehicles at Mitsumata Station and 800 vehicles at Tashiro Station. On weekends - and in the early and late season in particular, when other nearby resorts are closed - the car parks can fill up very quickly!
If you are interested in ski areas from Japan's past, please check the new SnowJapanHistory
2020-2021 season ski area information on SnowJapan will be checked & updated through November. In the meantime, unless otherwise noted, information is from the 2019-2020 season.
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Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
