Japan's widest beginner piste, plus the Tsugaike DBD — lift-served backcountry zone on the top of the mountain. Rare resort that works for a first-timer AND a freerider.
Runs
14
Vertical
904m
Summit
1702m
Base 800m
Annual snow
12m/season
Popular
Best season Early December to early May
Why Tsugaike Kogen
Japan's widest beginner piste, plus the Tsugaike DBD — lift-served backcountry zone on the top of the mountain. Rare resort that works for a first-timer AND a freerider.
Japan's widest beginner slope; 904 m vertical
Plan your trip
Tsugaike Kogen is the family / beginner anchor of the Hakuba Valley — Japan's widest beginner slope at the base, plus Tsugaike Mountain Resort backcountry zone for advanced freeriders. 904 m vertical.
Long-haul gateways and the cheapest domestic hops.
Tokyo is the gateway. From HND/NRT, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Alpico bus to Tsugaike.
Matsumoto is the closest regional airport — limited service from Sapporo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Trains, shuttles, and rentals from the airport.
Nagano Station East Exit → Tsugaike Kogen via Hakuba Station in ~85 min, ¥2,400 one-way.
Free inter-resort shuttle linking Tsugaike, Cortina, Norikura, and the rest of the Valley.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Tsugaike Kogen Hotel area (slopeside), Tsugaike Onsen ryokan zone, and family pensions throughout the village.
Slopeside 4-star — onsen, multiple restaurants, family rooms, and ski-in/ski-out access.
Traditional Japanese onsen ryokan in Tsugaike Onsen village — 5-min walk to the gondola base.
Range of family-run pensions and small lodges within walking distance of the Tsugaike base.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
Tsugaike single-resort 1-day ¥6,500–7,500. Hakuba Valley 1-day at ¥10,400 covers all 10 resorts.
Hakuba Snowsports School (HSS) and Evergreen both run lessons at Tsugaike — large beginner slope is ideal for first-timers.
Tsugaike base rental, plus Rhythm and Central Snowsports deliver from central Hakuba.
Tsugaike Mountain Resort freeride zone, plus Evergreen and Hakuba Powder Tours guides.
Onsen soaks and rest-day excursions nearby.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (90 min) and Matsumoto Castle (90 min south).
Tsugaike Onsen village is 5-min walk away; Hakuba Norikura Onsen and Hakuba Mura Onsen Center are 10–15 min by car.
Cover, connectivity, and bag forwarding before you fly.
Activate before you fly. ~$10–15 for 7 days vs $35–60 for pocket WiFi. Coverage at Tsugaike is strong.
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
Inland alpine — variable depending on storm direction.
Drier on cold storms, deeper when the Sea of Japan fires.
12
m
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
3 of 14
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
904m
Big-mountain vertical.
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
3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Train / bus
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station 3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Overview
Shuttle from JR Nagano Shinkansen Station
From airport
3 hours by Shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 12°C, wind 3 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 Nagano
destination resort
Hakuba's crown jewel and 1998 Olympic venue, offering Japan's most challenging piste skiing with epic vertical.
resort town
Two interconnected Hakuba faces — 47's terrain park and Goryu's wide groomers under one lift ticket, plus the valley's best night-skiing.
powder-focused
The snowiest resort in Hakuba Valley and Japan's finest steep in-bounds tree skiing — the Hotel Green Plaza at the base makes it the most underrated ski-in option in the country.
resort town
Known for the Mountain Harbor — a cliff-edge gondola deck looking straight at the Northern Alps — plus wide intermediate terrain and a genuine Japanese village at the base.
Trail map
Open full sizeReady 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
