A small Yuzawa-area family hill with eight gentle courses and dependable Sea-of-Japan snowfall.
Runs
8
Vertical
550m
Annual snow
~8m/season
Region
Niigata
Hidden gem
Why Budo Ski Area
A small Yuzawa-area family hill with eight gentle courses and dependable Sea-of-Japan snowfall.
Small Yuzawa-area family ski zone. Basic terrain suitable for beginners and intermediates with reliable snowfall from Sea of Japan storms.
Plan your trip
Budo Ski Area is a small Yuzawa-region family hill — 8 runs, beginner-leaning terrain, reliable Niigata snow. Practical only with a car or as a day trip from Echigo-Yuzawa.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Budo has no on-mountain accommodation — base in Echigo-Yuzawa town for hot-spring inns and easy Shinkansen access.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
Local-hill pricing — adult 1-day around ¥3,500–¥4,000. Eight short runs; suitable for beginners and families.
Terrain in detail
MellowCruisey terrain — fine for advanced skiers as a rest day, not a destination. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
22
Cruisey terrain — fine for advanced skiers as a rest day, not a destination.
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.
8
m~
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
8 total
No advanced split published — see trail map.
Vertical drop
550m
Compact mountain.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Yes
Tagged for proper tree runs.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain & features
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
Approx
Train / bus
Bus or car from JR Echigo-Yuzawa area
Drive
Bus or car from JR Echigo-Yuzawa area
Overview
Bus or car from JR Echigo-Yuzawa area.
From airport
Approx. 2.5 hours from Tokyo Haneda via Joetsu Shinkansen.
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 16°C, wind 5 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.
Ready to book?
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