Norn Minakami is a ski area located to the south of central Minakami Town in the northern region of Gunma Prefecture.
This ski area on eastern facing slopes between Mt Azumaya and Mt Omine. Norn may not always get as much snow as some ski areas to the north, but it has 60 snow-making machines to help if required.
It has a large area at the base for families and children and for general 'playing in the snow' activities.
This ski area has been operating since 1994.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1220
Vertical (m)
400
Bottom/base (m)
820
Beginner runs (%)
30
Intermediate runs (%)
50
Advanced runs (%)
20
Longest course (m)
2000
Steepest slope (°)
30
Number of courses
6
Ski lifts
4
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
0
Quad lift (4-person)
2
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
2
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Norn Minakami usually plans to be open from mid-December until late March. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening hours
Norn Minakami is open until 10:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the main winter season.
From 18th December 2025 until 1st January 2026, opening times are 8:30am until 4:30pm
On Mondays to Thursdays between 2nd January and 15th March 2026, opening times are 8:30am until 4:30pm
On Fridays between 2nd January and 15th March 2026, opening times are 8:30am until 10:00pm
On Saturdays between 2nd January and 15th March 2026, opening times are 7:00am until 10:00pm
On Sundays between 2nd January and 15th March 2026, opening times are 7:00am until 4:30pm
On national holidays between 2nd January and 15th March 2026, opening times are 7:00am until 4:30pm
From 16th until 22nd March 2026, opening times are 8:30am until 4:30pm
Snow park
The snow park area is located in the lower B and D Course areas and features a bunch of items (narrow box, t-box, rainbow, wide box, wall, rails, kickers, pipe rails, etc).
Families & children
The large Snowland area is located at the base of the ski area and offers a variety of 'yuki-asobi' (playing in the snow) activities including items for children, snow strider and tubing.
It is scheduled to be open from late December until late March, from 9:00am until 4:00pm.
Entry to Snowland is 1,000 yen. Sleds, snow racers, strider (bikes), tubing etc are all available as a 'premium pack costing 3000 yen.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Norn Minakami.
Rental
Ski and snowboard equipment & wear rental is available.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day
Adult: 6,300 yen
Child: 4,000 yen
Senior: 500 yen
4 hours
Adult: 5,500 yen
Child: 3,500 yen
Senior: 500 yen
Early morning (7am-10am)
Adult: 3,800 yen
Child: 2,300 yen
Senior: 500 yen
Twilght (1pm-8pm)
Adult: 6,000 yen
Child: 3,700 yen
Senior: 500 yen
Nighta 22 (4:30pm-10pm)
Adult: 3,000 yen
Child: 2,200 yen
Senior: 500 yen
1 lift coupon
Adult: 700 yen
11 lift coupons
Adult: 7,000 yen
Season ticket
Adult: 53,000 yen
Child: 25,000 yen
Season ticket (weekdays only)
Adult: 38,000 yen
Season ticket (4 hours)
Adult: 45,000 yen
Season ticket (night skiing)
Adult: 30,000 yen
The 4 Hour ticket is valid for four hours from the time of purchase.
The weekday season ticket is valid for weekday daytime and Friday night skiing operations.
The twilight ticket is only available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The night season ticket is valid for night skiing only, from 4:30pm until 10:00pm.
Pre-school children can ride the lifts at no charge.
Historical snow depth data
The following ski season and official snow depth data have been independently compiled by SnowJapan for publication on this website. Where available, the data is updated annually after each ski season.
First and last dates of recent seasons
2025-2026 season: 18th December - 22nd March (95 days)
2024-2025 season: 19th December - 23rd March (95 days)
2023-2024 season: 24th December - 24th March (92 days)
2022-2023 season: 21st December - 26th March (96 days)
2021-2022 season: 20th December - 27th March (98 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 130cm on 9th-28th February
2024-2025 season: 180cm on 22nd February - 13th March
2023-2024 season: 100cm on 23rd March
2022-2023 season: 130cm on 22nd-28th February
2021-2022 season: 180cm on 22nd February - 9th March
2020-2021 season: 100cm on 22nd-28th December
2019-2020 season: 110cm on 11th-14th February
2018-2019 season: 150cm on 29th-30th January, 1st-3rd February, 10th-19th February
2017-2018 season: 180cm on 4th-9th January
2016-2017 season: 200cm on 13th-27th February
2015-2016 season: 130cm on 11th-14th February
2014-2015 season: 210cm on 16th February - 1st March
Resources
More information on Norn Minakami
Official website [link opens in new window]
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
Tenjin Lodge Minakami (about 16.3km)
Hoshi Onsen Chojukan (about 32km)
Introduction to the region
Gunma Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of the Kanto region on the main island of Honshu. It is one of eight landlocked prefectures in Japan. Gunma is surrounded by Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Nagano Prefecture to the west, Tochigi Prefecture to the east, and Saitama Prefecture to the south.
The ski areas of Gunma are largely found in the northern region (Minakami Town, Kawaba Village and Katashina Village) and the western region (Kusatsu Town and Tsumagoi Village).
Minakami Town is the most northerly town in Gunma, with Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture to the north, separated by the Tanigawa mountain range. Minakami is a popular year-round destination offering a wide range of outdoor sports, activities and onsen hot springs.
Norn Minakami is one of 7 ski areas currently operating in Minakami Town.
About the information on this page
SnowJapan independently researches, checks and updates the information on this page at least once each year, in the lead-up to every ski season. We also update it whenever we become aware of other changes. The information published on SnowJapan is based on independent research using official Japanese-language sources and is not supplied by ski areas. If you are planning to visit a ski area, we recommend checking the official ski area website for the latest operational information. We take great care to keep the information on SnowJapan accurate and up to date. However, SnowJapan accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on information published on this website.
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