NASPA Ski Garden, often known as just NASPA, is a ski area located close to the central town area of Yuzawa Town in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
This ski area opened in 1992, making it the newest of the ski areas in the region.
It is one of the very few ski areas in Japan that remains 'skiers-only', meaning that snowboarding is not allowed on the slopes. The ski area uses this to promote itself as being suitable for families and young children.
The popular penguin character 'Pingu' has been associated with this ski area for a long time with various themed facilities available.
The ski area has two quad lifts (791m and 562m), one triple lift (308m) and two pair lifts (514m and 463m) in a fairly compact design, with resort hotel at the base.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
691
Vertical (m)
260
Bottom/base (m)
431
Beginner runs (%)
30
Intermediate runs (%)
40
Advanced runs (%)
30
Longest course (m)
2200
Steepest slope (°)
38
Number of courses
8
Ski lifts
5
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
0
Quad lift (4-person)
2
Triple lift (3-person)
1
Pair lift (2-person)
2
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
NASPA Ski Garden usually plans to be open from late December until late March or early April. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
The ski lifts at NASPA Ski Garden are normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm.
Night skiing
'Night First Tracks' is on a few selected days from 6:00pm until 7:30pm. A separate lift ticket is required for that service which costs 2,000 yen.
Snow park and off-piste
There is a simple Wave Course on Course H and a special Mogul Area on Course A.
Families & children
NASPA Ski Garden offers a range of facilities for young children and families.
Pingu fun! fun! Kids Garden is located by the Number 1 lift. There is a moving walkway, a special kids skiing area, sledging and items for playing in the snow. The facility is open daily from 9:30am until 4:00pm. Entry is 2,500 yen for the full day and 2,000 yen for a half day (valid for 3 hours and 45 minutes from the time of purchase).
Various other activities are offered at the ski area including snow rafting and snowmobile experiences.
Lessons
There are a number of independent ski schools that cover the Yuzawa area and offer lessons in English and Chinese.
Rental
Ski equipment and ski wear is available in the Garden Annex building at the base of the ski area.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season
Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day
Adult: 7,000 yen
Child: 4,800 yen
2 days
Adult: 10,000 yen
Child: 7,300 yen
5 hours
Adult: 5,800 yen
Child: 3,800 yen
1 lift coupon
Adult: 700 yen
Child: 700 yen
Season ticket
Adult: 55,000 yen
Child: 40,000 yen
Senior: 48,000 yen
1 day ticket + lunch ticket + drink ticket: 7,500 yen for adults and 6,000 yen for children.
NASPA Day is every Wednesday between 15th January and 12th March 2025. On those days a 1 day ticket is 4,500 yen.
Children's Day is on the third Sunday of January, February and March 2025. On those days, a 1 day ticket for younger children is free.
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: 27th December - 31st March (95 days)
2024-2025 season: 20th December - 6th April (108 days)
2023-2024 season: 24th December - 31st March (99 days)
2022-2023 season: 26th December - 26th March (91 days)
2021-2022 season: 24th December - 3rd April (101 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 280cm on 31st January
2024-2025 season: 420cm on 20th-21st, 23rd-25th February
2023-2024 season: 170cm on 22nd March
2022-2023 season: 260cm on 6th January
2021-2022 season: 440cm on 23rd February
2020-2021 season: 310cm on 9th-10th February
2019-2020 season: 165cm on 11th February
2018-2019 season: 320cm on 29th January
2017-2018 season: 285cm on 19th February
2016-2017 season: 300cm on 25th February
2015-2016 season: 175cm on 11th February
2014-2015 season: 385cm on 15th-16th 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 2km)
Takahan (about 3.1km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 4.2km)
Garden Cress (about 5.9km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 6km)
Bears House (about 6.1km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 6.9km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 9.2km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 10km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 11.4km)
Osawakan (about 15km)
Ryugon (about 20.1km)
The Kinta Naeba (about 20.1km)
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).
NASPA Ski Garden 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.