Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort is located to the south east of the central area of Yuzawa town in Niigata Prefecture. This ski area first opened in 1959. The ski lifts of Yuzawa Nakazato can be found by the east exit of the small Echigo Nakazato Station on the local Joetsu line - the base ski centre is connected to the station. The old train carriages that act as a rest area at the base of the ski runs are popular with children and train enthusiasts. Yuzawa Nakazato has been operating since 1959.
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 Yuzawa Nakazato. 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 are a few areas for children including 'Smile Kids Park', 'Nanchatte Park' and 'Angel Gelande' - a special safe area for beginners and serviced by two snow escalators (100m and 50m). All are close to the base area.
Entrance to 'Smile Kids Park' is 1,000 yen and it is open from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
The snow escalators at the 'Angel Gelande' can be used with a valid ski lift ticket, or using a special ticket that costs 1,500 yen.
Stationary train carriages at the base - between the car parks and the base slopes - are a popular feature of Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort.
Park information
There is a cross course and special (kids) mogul area.
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort 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
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort is normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm.
There will be no night skiing at Yuzawa Nakazato for the 2020-2021 season.
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Older Child
High School age
Senior
55 years & over
1 Day (Open-5pm)
4,500 yen
2,500 yen
3,500 yen
3,500 yen
5 Hours
3,800 yen
2,000 yen
2,900 yen
2,900 yen
4 Lift Coupons
2,000 yen
2,000 yen
2,000 yen
2,000 yen
11 Lift Coupons
5,000 yen
5,000 yen
5,000 yen
5,000 yen
Season Ticket
23,000 yen
13,000 yen
2020-2021 Season lift tickets
Season tickets allow holders to purchase a discounted 1-day ticket (1,000 yen) at other Smile Resort ski areas. Those resorts are Muica Snow Resort, Ninox Snow Park and Cupid Valley. A 1-day ticket for Maiko Snow Resort for season ticket holders is 1,500 yen.
Pre-school children can ride the lifts for free and must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting to Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
By public transport
Train
5.3km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line
5.3km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Line
0km from Echigo Nakazato Station on the Joetsu Line
Information
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort is located just over 5km away from the main Echigo Yuzawa Station in Yuzawa town. Shuttle buses operate from this station to the resort. The small local Echigo Nakazato train station on the local Joetsu local line is conveniently located right at the base of the ski hill. It is just a short walk from the station exit to ski lifts. Trains using the local Joetsu line from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Echigo Nakazato Station take around 10 minutes, but they are not very regular.
A free shuttle bus is available from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station to Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort. The journey takes around 20 minutes.
A taxi journey from Echigo Yuzawa Station to Yuzawa Nakazato costs around 2,100 yen.
By Car
4.7km from the Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
12.8km from the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 17 (4km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 361
Direction
From the Yuzawa IC exit, turn left onto Route 17 and go about 600m to the traffic lights by the 7-11 convenience store. Turn left at the traffic lights and continue for about 650m until you reach another set of traffic lights by a Save On convenience store. Turn right at these traffic lights and continue straight on this road for about 1km through two sets of traffic lights. After going under the Expressway bridge and then the local train line bridge, the road quickly bends to the right - keep on this road. About 1.5km further on there are signs for Yuzawa Nakazato - follow the signs by turning left and then soon right again, and go under the local train line to enter the Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort car park.
If you have visited Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort, please share your experience with other SnowJapan readers by writing a Resort Review and/or uploading photos
Reader Resort Rankings
General
67
Snow conditions
60
Courses & terrain
57
Lift system
57
Apres ski
10
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