The 2nd-largest resort in Japan by area — 22 lifts, 380ha, and the kind of wide groomers that reward cruise-skiers over powder chasers.
Runs
22
Vertical
817m
Summit
1017m
Base 200m
Annual snow
10m+/season
Popular
Best season Mid-December to early April
Why Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort
The 2nd-largest resort in Japan by area — 22 lifts, 380ha, and the kind of wide groomers that reward cruise-skiers over powder chasers.
Japan's 2nd largest resort by area; 380 ha
Plan your trip
Joetsu Kokusai is one of the largest single resorts in Japan by skiable area — 380 hectares, 22 courses, all served from a single base village. Direct shuttle from Echigo-Yuzawa makes it a viable Tokyo day trip.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Hotel Green Plaza Joetsu sits at the lift base — ski-in/ski-out — with smaller pensions in the surrounding village.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
Adult 1-day ¥5,800 weekday / ¥6,200 weekend. 22 courses across 380 ha — Japan's biggest single resort by area.
Terrain in detail
BalancedMixed terrain — solid intermediate base with sharper lines for advanced skiers. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
41
Mixed terrain — solid intermediate base with sharper lines for advanced skiers.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Sea-of-Japan storm cycles — deep, heavier snow.
Heavier, frequent storm cycles — deep refills, denser snow.
10
m+
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
4 of 22
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
817m
Solid sustained pitch.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Limited
Mostly groomed terrain.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain & features
Photo: Ski Mania / Public domain · Source
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
90 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo
Train / bus
Shuttle from JR Echigo-Yuzawa or JR Shiozawa stations 90 minutes by Shinkansen f
Overview
Shuttle from JR Echigo-Yuzawa or JR Shiozawa stations
From airport
90 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 16°C, wind 10 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Nearby resorts
More resorts in Niigata
destination resort
Home of the Dragondola — at 5.5km the world's longest gondola, linking Naeba to Kagura. The Prince Hotel anchors a full Niigata ski town.
powder-focused
Niigata's high-altitude powder magnet — base elevation above 1,200m means season lasts into Golden Week, and gate-managed backcountry is easy to access from the top.
day trip
The only resort in Japan with a Shinkansen station at the lift base — you can literally ski in a suit on your lunch break. Beginner-heavy, famously accessible.
day trip
Yuzawa's most walkable resort — the NASPA hotel sits on the slope, the Shinkansen station is a short shuttle away, and the runs are firmly beginner–intermediate.
Trail map
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Stays, lift passes, rentals — everything you need in one place.
Book & plan
At the resort
Book accommodationOfficial resort siteGetting there
Domestic flights to NiigataNiigata airport transfers
