Kagura is a ski area located southwest of central Yuzawa Town in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
For a long time, Kagura was two separate ski areas, Kagura Mitsumata and Kagura Tashiro. Since 2006, the whole area has been operating as Kagura.
Modern-day Kagura comprises three official Areas - the Mitsumata Area, the Tashiro Area and the central Kagura Area.
The slopes of both Mitsumata and Tashiro are reached from their respective car parks by large Ropeway cable cars. The Mitsumata Ropeway (about 10km from central Yuzawa town) holds 121 people. The Tashiro Ropeway (about 17km from central Yuzawa town) holds 101 people. The slopes of the Kagura Area can be reached via Mitsumata or Tashiro and connect the two in the middle. In addition, the Tashiro Area is connected to Naeba ski area via the Dragondola (gondola cable car) during the main season. At 5,481m, Dragondola is the longest gondola lift in Japan.
Kagura and Naeba ski areas are collectively known as Mt Naeba, and a joint lift ticket is available.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1845
Vertical (m)
1225
Bottom/base (m)
620
Beginner runs (%)
37
Intermediate runs (%)
44
Advanced runs (%)
19
Longest course (m)
6000
Steepest slope (°)
32
Number of courses
30
Ski lifts
17
Ropeway cable car
2
Gondola
1
Quad lift (4-person)
4
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
10
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Kagura usually plans to be open from late November until mid-May. (The Tashiro Ropeway base and Tashiro Area is usually open from early to mid-December through early May). See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
Kagura is normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm on weekdays and from 7:30am until 5:00pm on weekends and holidays. Varying opening and closing times are possible, especially during the early and late seasons.
Night skiing
There is no night skiing at any of the areas of Kagura.
Backcountry, off-piste and snow parks
Kagura is popular for people wanting to venture out into backcountry. The top BC gate, allowing access to the Number 5 pair lift and backcountry, is usually open from the beginning of January. There are usually a few snow parks areas at Kagura, including the Mitsumata Ups'n'Downs, the Tashiro Beginners Park in the Tashiro Area and the Kagura Park in the Kagura Area.
Families & children
There is an area for young children by the base of the ski courses in the Mitsumata Area.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at Kagura. 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 Kagura.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day
Adult: 7,500 yen
2 days:
Adult: 14,500 yen
Morning
Adult: 11,500 yen
Afternoon
Adult: 5,500 yen
Mt Naeba 1 day
Adult: 1,500 yen
Children of elementary school age and below can ride the lifts for free (though a ticket is required). All other people are charged the adult rate.
Cheaper lift tickets are available online and for members of the Seibu Prince Club.
The 1 Day Mt Naeba ticket shown above is valid at both Kagura and the connecting Naeba ski area. (The Dragondola connecting lift is not included in the Kagura-only tickets).
The planned season for the Dragondola lift connecting Kagura with Naeba is Sunday 21st December 2025 until Monday 23rd March 2026.
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: 22nd November - 17th May (177 days) Mitsumata 2025-2026 season: 20th December - 4th May (136 days) Tashiro
2024-2025 season: 27th November - 18th May (173 days)
2023-2024 season: 26th November - 12th May (169 days)
2022-2023 season: 8th December - 21st May (165 days)
2021-2022 season: 29th November - 22nd May (175 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 350cm on 16th-25th February
2024-2025 season: 550cm on 20th-28th February
2023-2024 season: 220cm on 21st-25th March
2022-2023 season: 360cm on 26th February - 8th March
2021-2022 season: 450cm on 26th February - 14th March
2020-2021 season: 340cm on 24th February - 15th March
2019-2020 season: 280cm on 11th-14th February
2018-2019 season: 400cm on 29th January - 6th February
2017-2018 season: 370cm on 19th February - 4th March
2016-2017 season: 380cm on 22nd February - 27th March, 29th March - 2nd April
2015-2016 season: 220cm on 10th February - 4th April
2014-2015 season: 370cm on 15th February - 31st March
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 7.1km) [Tashiro Ropeway]
Hatago Isen (about 8.2km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 9.4km)
Takahan (about 9.9km)
Garden Cress (about 11.9km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 13km)
Bears House (about 14.2km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 14.5km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 14.8km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 15.1km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 17.4km)
Osawakan (about 21km)
Hoshi Onsen Chojukan (about 21.8km)
Ryugon (about 27.6km)
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).
Kagura 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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