NASPA Ski Garden is a skiers-only resort located close to the central area of Yuzawa town in Niigata Prefecture. It is one of the few ski resorts in Japan that remains skiers-only and it is a popular ski hill for families with children. It is the only ski area in Japan that has certain elements themed with the popular 'Pingu' penguin character and the character makes special appearances in the winter season.
NASPA Ski Garden is located directly by the side of NASPA New Otani hotel. The ski area may be 'skiers only' but both skiers and snowboarders are welcome to stay at the hotel, which offers easy and quick access to the other nearby resorts in Yuzawa.
This ski area has been operating since 1992. The name NASPA comes from 'Nature And Sports Personal Area'.
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.
NASPA Ski School is the official ski school at NASPA Ski Garden. General, group and private ski lessons are available. Lessons in English and Chinese are available at NASPA Ski Garden during the peak season. There are also a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Yuzawa area, please check the Lessons in English section for current listings on SnowJapan.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski equipment and ski wear is available in the Garden Annex building which is located at the base of the resort and 20m from the NASPA New Otani hotel. There is also a limited selection of snowboard gear to rent - although NASPA Ski Garden itself does not allow snowboarding, many NASPA New Otani hotel guests snowboard at other nearby resorts in Yuzawa.
Children's facilities
NASPA Ski Garden offers a range of facilities for young children and families.
NASPA welcomes the popular character Pingu to it's slopes each season - and Pingu helps out with some special Kids Lessons as well.
'Pingu Kids Garden' is located by the Number 1 lift and is an area with a variety of fun things for children to take part in supervised safely. There is a moving walkway, a special kids skiing area, sledging and lots of items to play in the snow. Pingu Kids Garden is open daily from 9:30am until 4:00pm.
There is also a special 'Ski Debut Area' on the lower part of F course. It is free to use.
Park information
There is no one main Snow Park area at NASPA Ski Garden. There is however a Slopestyle area on Course G, a simple Wave Course on Course H and a special Mogul Area on Course A. All are free to use and do not require any special entry.
NASPA Ski Garden Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Late December until Early April
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Sometimes
Weekdays
No
Opening information
NASPA Ski Garden is normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm every day.
On certain days - called 'Thanks' - it is open until 6:00pm (Saturdays and certain holidays in December, January and February).
NASPA Ski Garden Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day
4,300 yen
3,300 yen
3,800 yen
2 Days
6,800 yen
5,100 yen
6,000 yen
Morning (8:30am-1pm)
3,300 yen
2,200 yen
2,700 yen
Afternoon (12:30pm-5pm)
3,300 yen
2,200 yen
2,700 yen
5 Hours
3,600 yen
2,700 yen
3,100 yen
PA.M
4,900 yen
3,900 yen
4,400 yen
1 Lift Coupon
450 yen
350 yen
400 yen
Season Ticket
43,000 yen
32,500 yen
38,000 yen
2020-2021 Season Lift Tickets
The PA.M ticket is valid from 12:30pm until 5:00pm on the first day and from 8:30am until 1:00pm on the second day.
A 'Thanks' ticket is available on some special days between 5:00pm and 6:00pm - 500 yen for both adults and children. On those days (see Opening times details above), the 1 Day, PM, PAM and Late tickets are all valid through 6:00pm.
A number of special set tickets are also available that include lunch and a drink.
1 day ticket + lunch ticket + drink ticket: 5,000 yen for adults and 4,000 yen for children Half day ticket + lunch ticket + drink ticket: 4,000 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for children Family set ticket (1 day ticket for 2 adults and 2 children + lunch ticket + drink ticket): 16,000 yen
Ladies Day is every Tuesday between 12th January and 16th March 2021. On those days a 1 day ticket for ladies is 2,600 yen.
NASPA Day is every Wednesday between 13th January and 17th March 2021. On those days a 1 day ticket is 2,200 yen.
Ski-kodomo-no-hi (Children's Day) is on the third Sunday of January, February and March 2021. On those days, a 1 day ticket is 1,700 yen for younger children and 2,200 yen for up to two accompanying adults.
Getting to NASPA Ski Garden
By public transport
Train
1.5km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line
1.5km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Line
1.5km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Hokuhoku Line
Information
NASPA Ski Garden is 1.5km from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station. Echigo Yuzawa Station is serviced by the JR Joetsu line and JR Joetsu Shinkansen line. Connections to the Hokuhoku line are also available at Echigo Yuzawa Station.
A free shuttle bus operates between the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station and NASPA Ski Garden. The bus takes less than 5 minutes to get to the resort base. An additional free shuttle bus service is also available that operates between NASPA, Yuzawa Kogen and GALA Yuzawa.
A taxi journey from Echigo Yuzawa Station to NASPA Ski Garden normally costs around 900 yen.
By Car
2.6km from the Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
10.2km from the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 17 (1.9km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 351
Direction
NASPA Ski Garden is 2.6km from the Yuzawa IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway and 1.9km from Route 17.
From the Yuzawa IC exit traffic lights, turn right and then turn left at second set of traffic lights (there is a large sign for NASPA on the left side). Follow this road past the town office on the left, over the local train line and then under the Shinkansen train line until reaching a T-junction. Turn left at the t-junction and then follow the road up to NASPA Ski Garden. The car parks for the resort are clearly signposted.
NASPA Ski Garden has plenty of parking for 2,000 vehicles near the base of resort, split up into 4 large car parks. Parking is free every day of the season and the car parks are open 24 hours a day.
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