Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort, often known as Yuzawa Nakazato or just Nakazato, is a ski area located in the Tsuchitaru neighbourhood of Yuzawa Town in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
This ski area currently has six ski lifts operating, including one quad and five pair lifts. The base of the ski area is just outside the East Exit of the Echigo Nakazato Station on the local Joetsu line and the base ski center is connected to the station.
Old train carriages that are used as a rest area at the base of the ski runs are popular with children and train enthusiasts.
For more of a challenge there are also some off-piste and tree run areas.
The smaller Nakazato Snow Wood ski area is close by. The two are not physically connected, and they do not share a lift ticket.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
702
Vertical (m)
244
Bottom/base (m)
458
Beginner runs (%)
40
Intermediate runs (%)
30
Advanced runs (%)
30
Longest course (m)
2000
Steepest slope (°)
32
Number of courses
17
Ski lifts
6
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
0
Quad lift (4-person)
1
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
5
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort usually plans to be open from mid- to late December until late March or early April. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort is normally open from 8:30am until 4:30pm. The Number 4 and 6 lifts normally only open on weekends and holidays.
Night skiing
There is no night skiing at Yuzawa Nakazato.
Snow park and off-piste
There are some official off-piste 'self-responsibility' areas as well as some runs that are left ungroomed at Nakazato, the FWT Zone and Growth Park.
Families & children
There are a few areas for children including Smile Kids Park, Nanchatte Park and Angel Gelande - a special safe area for beginners and serviced by two snow escalators (100m and 50m). All are close to the base area.
Entrance to Smile Kids Park is 1,000 yen and it is open from 10:00am until 4:00pm. The entry charge includes use of the snow escalator and rental of basic equipment.
The snow escalators at the Angel Gelande can be used with a valid ski lift ticket, or using a special ticket that costs 2,300 yen.
There are also a few Fun Ride Zones across the ski area: The Park, The Wavy, The Bumpy and The Woody.
Stationary train carriages at the base (between the car parks and the base slopes) are a popular feature of Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at the ski area.
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: 6,400 yen
Child: 3,200 yen
Senior: 5,200 yen
5 hours
Adult: 5,200 yen
Child: 2,500 yen
Senior: 4,200 yen
1 lift coupon
All ages: 650 yen
Season ticket
Adult: 45,000 yen
Child: 20,000 yen
Pre-school children can ride the lifts for free and must be accompanied by an adult.
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 - 29th March (92 days)
2024-2025 season: 21st December - 30th March (100 days)
2023-2024 season: 22nd December - 31st March (101 days)
2022-2023 season: 28th December - 2nd April (96 days)
2021-2022 season: 19th December - 10th April (113 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 205cm on 3rd February
2024-2025 season: 470cm on 20th and 25th February
2023-2024 season: 130cm on 6th-7th February, 22nd-23rd March
2022-2023 season: 235cm on 6th-8th January
2021-2022 season: 365cm on 25th-26th February
2020-2021 season: 305cm on 20th-22nd February
2019-2020 season: 130cm on 11th February
2018-2019 season: 240cm on 29th-30th January
2017-2018 season: 230cm on 28th-29th January
2016-2017 season: 220cm on 15th-16th February
2015-2016 season: 110cm on 11th-13th February
2014-2015 season: 260cm on 16th-18th February
Resources
More information on Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Official website [link opens in new window]
Daily weather & snow reporting on SnowJapan
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [opens in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 3km)
Garden Cress (about 4.6km)
Hatago Isen (about 6km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 6km)
Takahan (about 7.6km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 8.6km)
Bears House (about 9.2km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 10.7km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 11.9km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 14.2km)
Osawakan (about 17.5km)
Ryugon (about 23.6km)
The Kinta Naeba (about 25.2km)
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).
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort 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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