A higher-altitude Katashina resort — steeper pitches, thinner crowds than nearby Kawaba, real advanced terrain.
Runs
15
Vertical
600m
Summit
1828m
Base 1255m
Region
Gunma
Hidden gem
Best season Mid-December to early April
Why Ogna Hotaka Ski Area
A higher-altitude Katashina resort — steeper pitches, thinner crowds than nearby Kawaba, real advanced terrain.
Katashina area; high altitude terrain
Plan your trip
Ogna Hotaka is a quiet local Gunma resort with wide tree-lined groomers — heavy lake-effect snow, family-focused, and a popular escape from busier nearby Kawaba. Joetsu Shinkansen + 60-min shuttle.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Small lodge at the lift base; broader options in Numata and Minakami towns 30 min away.
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
57
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.
—
m
per season
Snowfall data not published — frequency is the regional baseline.
Expert runs
5 of 15
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
600m
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
80 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo
Train / bus
Rental car recommended from JR Jomo-Kogen Station 80 minutes by Shinkansen from
Drive
Rental car recommended from JR Jomo-Kogen Station 80 minutes by Shinkansen from
Overview
Rental car recommended from JR Jomo-Kogen Station
From airport
80 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 10°C, wind 6 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 Gunma
powder-focused
A ropeway onto Mt Tanigawa — serious steep backcountry, gate-managed powder, genuine alpine terrain much closer to Tokyo than people think.
resort town
Japan's most famous onsen town, with a working ski resort on the ridge above — 2,000m summit, expansive views of Mt Shirane, and 100 public baths in the village.
resort town
A high-elevation onsen resort next to an active volcano — one of Japan's highest ski bases, dry snow, and a very distinctive sulphur-scented village.
family-focused
Long groomed runs across the Agatsuma highlands — high enough to ski late into March reliably.
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 Tokyo HanedaNagano airport transfers
