Ipponsugi Snow Park is a small ski area located close to the central town area of Yuzawa Town in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
The gentle slope of Ipponsugi Snow Park is just a few hundred metres from the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station, just off the main onsen road of Yuzawa town.
Until 2023, a pair lift operated at this ski area, and it was known as just Ipponsugi (and a long time ago there was a second ski lift). The official name changed to Ipponsugi Snow Park in time for the 2023-2024 season, and the pair lift was closed.
A snow escalator (moving walkway) now services the short town-level slope, with Ipponsugi trying to appeal to first-time skiers and people wanting to enjoy 'playing-in-the-snow' activities.
Ipponsugi is one of Japan's few remaining ski areas that does not allow snowboarding. The only other 'skiers-only' area in the region is the nearby NASPA Ski Garden.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
390
Vertical (m)
15
Bottom/base (m)
375
Beginner runs (%)
80
Intermediate runs (%)
20
Advanced runs (%)
0
Longest course (m)
60
Steepest slope (°)
12
Number of courses
1
Ski lifts
0
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
0
Quad lift (4-person)
0
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
0
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Ipponsugi Snow Park usually plans to be open from late December until early April. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
Ipponsugi Snow Park is normal open from 9:00am until 4:00pm every day.
Night skiing
There is no floodlit night skiing.
Families & children
A special area is reserved for children who can play with items, slides and sledding.
Lessons
'Beginner ski support' is available for beginner skiers. Charges apply.
Rental
Limited ski equipment rental is available, along with ski wear and sleds.
Restaurants
The ski area is just a short walk from the main onsen road of Yuzawa which has various restaurants and bars.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day
Adult: 2,700 yen
Child: 2,200 yen
Senior: 2,700 yen
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: 28th December - 31st March (94 days)
2024-2025 season: 21st December - 3rd April (104 days)
2023-2024 season: 24th December - 2nd April (101 days)
2022-2023 season: 28th December - 31st March (94 days)
2021-2022 season: 25th December - 3rd April (100 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 220cm on 9th February
2022-2023 season: 240cm on 31st January - 1st February
2021-2022 season: 360cm on 23rd-25th February
2020-2021 season: 270cm on 11th February
2019-2020 season: 135cm on 11th February
2018-2019 season: 285cm on 29th January
2017-2018 season: 275cm on 30th January, 21st-22nd February
2016-2017 season: 290cm on 15th February
2015-2016 season: 145cm on 11th February
2014-2015 season: 310cm on 3rd-4th 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
Hatago Isen (about 0.3km)
Takahan (about 1.4km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 3.6km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 3.7km)
Bears House (about 4.4km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 5.3km)
Garden Cress (about 5.4km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 6.8km)
Osawakan (about 8.8km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 9.1km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 9.5km)
Ryugon (about 18.4km)
The Kinta Naeba (about 21.7km)
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).
Ipponsugi Snow Park 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.
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