Naeba is a ski area located in the southern region of Yuzawa Town, and close to the border with Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture, in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
This ski area is one of Japan's most famous ski areas with a long history and reputation. It initially opened as Naeba Kokusai in 1961.
Modern-day Naeba has 12 ski lifts within the ski area, including two gondolas (2221m, 1753m) and four quad lifts (654m, 779m, 723m, 765m). It is also lift-connected to the Tashiro Area of Kagura by Dragondola, the longest gondola lift in Japan at 5,481m.
Naeba and Kagura ski areas are collectively known as Mt Naeba, and a joint lift ticket is available. In our statistics, the Dragondola is counted as a Naeba lift and not counted in the Kagura lift count.
Over the years, Naeba has been host to many national and international events, including FIS Alpen Ski World Cup (most recently in 2020) and national ski and snowboard competitions.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1789
Vertical (m)
889
Bottom/base (m)
900
Beginner runs (%)
30
Intermediate runs (%)
40
Advanced runs (%)
30
Longest course (m)
4000
Steepest slope (°)
32
Number of courses
24
Ski lifts
12
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
3
Quad lift (4-person)
4
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
5
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Naeba usually plans to be open from mid-December until early April. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening hours
Naeba is normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm every day in the daytime. The one day ticket is valid until 5:00pm. Dragondola is the name of the 5481m gondola lift that connects Naeba with the Tashiro Area of Kagura. For the 2025-2026 season the planned Dragondola opening dates were 20th December 2025 until 22nd March 2026.
Night skiing
Daily night skiing until 8:30pm from Saturday 20th December 2025 until Saturday 21st March 2026.
Snow parks
The Naeba Snow Park is located by the side of the Number 5 quad lift and features jumps, banks and more attractions. Planned opening from 27th December 2025 through 22nd March 2026.
Families & children
The WakuWaku Family Snowland is located by the Naeba South Gate. There is an entry charge of 2,500 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for children.
The Pandaruman Hiroba area offers ski lessons as well as tubing, sledging and other playing in the snow activities.
The Kappa Snowmobile Land is located by the N-Plateau day trip ski center by the base of the ski area. Charges apply. Open from 20th December 2025 through 29th March 2026.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available. There are a number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Yuzawa area and offer lessons in English.
Rental
Ski and snowboard equipment & wear rental is available at various locations in and around Naeba. Many facilities can be found in the base hotel buildings.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day (Naeba only) Adult: 7,800 yen
8 hours (Naeba only) Adult: 8,300 yen
4 hours (Naeba only)
Adult: 6,300 yen
Mt Naeba 1 day (Naeba & Kagura)
Adult: 9,800 yen
Gondola (1 way)
Adult: 2,000 yen
Gondola (return)
Adult: 3,000 yen
Children up to elementary school age can ride the lifts for free. Everyone else is charged at the adult rate.
The Mt Naeba ticket shown above is valid at Naeba and the connecting Kagura ski area.
Various special lift tickets are also available for people who are members of the Seibu Prince Club and guests staying at the Naeba Prince Hotel.
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: 13th December - 5th April (114 days)
2024-2025 season: 14th December - 6th April (114 days)
2023-2024 season: 21st December - 7th April (109 days)
2022-2023 season: 17th December - 9th April (114 days)
2021-2022 season: 18th December - 10th April (114 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 250cm on 9th-15th February
2024-2025 season: 400cm on 21st-25th February
2023-2024 season: 160cm on 21st-25th March
2022-2023 season: 230cm on 27th February - 8th March
2021-2022 season: 310cm on 23rd February - 11th March
2020-2021 season: 180cm on 21st February
2019-2020 season: 120cm on 11th-14th February
2018-2019 season: 220cm on 16th-23rd February
2017-2018 season: 250cm on 18th February - 3rd March
2016-2017 season: 300cm on 13th-22nd February
2015-2016 season: 130cm on 11th-14th, 18th-19th February, 25th February - 6th March
2014-2015 season: 290cm on 15th-24th February
Resources
Daily weather & snow reporting on SnowJapan
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [links open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
The Kinta Naeba (about 0.4km)
Hoshi Onsen Chojukan (about 15.6km)
Hatago Isen (about 21.4km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 22.6km)
Takahan (about 22.7km)
Garden Cress (about 25.2km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 26km)
Bears House (about 27.2km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 27.9km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 28km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 28.6km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 30.9km)
Osawakan (about 34km)
Ryugon (about 40.6km)
SnowJapan Directory: ski school listing in the region
Introduction to the region
Niigata Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of the main island of Honshu, and it is commonly associated with the Hokuriku subregion. The long Niigata coastline faces the Sea of Japan, and the prefecture borders Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, and Toyama Prefecture.
Niigata played a significant role in the history of skiing in Japan. After Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture, it is currently home to the third-most ski areas in Japan.
The ski areas of Niigata are scattered across the mountainous regions of the prefecture, and there is even one on Sado Island. The majority can be found in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City in the Chuetsu region and Myoko City in the Joetsu region.
Yuzawa Town and neighbouring Minamiuonuma City are currently home to 18 individual ski areas, including some of the most well-known in Japan. With easy and quick access by train and road and a wide choice in a relatively compact area, this region is one of Japan's most popular ski destinations. The region usually receives heavy, consistent snowfall each winter. Yuzawa is also known for its hot springs and as the inspiration for the Nobel Prize-winning novel Yukiguni (Snow Country).
Naeba is one of 11 ski areas currently operating in Yuzawa 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.
Learn more about how we research, check and update information on SnowJapan.