- Naeba
- Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro
Naeba
Naeba Ski Resort offers a nice amount of varied terrain to suit all ability levels (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced/expert). The resort offers 22 trails with a commendable vertical drop of 889m. Guests are somewhat limited to in resort areas only as off-piste exploring is discouraged by the resort.The top half of the mountain serves advanced skiers and riders well with inviting steep terrain that opens up further down into wider and more placid runs from around the halfway point for the beginners and intermediates.
Naeba is also linked with Kagura via Japan's longest gondola, the Dragondola (5.5km). The Dragondola operates 9am to 3:30pm and takes about 20 minutes each way. Guests need to be vigilant with their time to ensure they don't miss the last trip back. Otherwise there's the resort area shuttle buses as a last resort.
Due to its convenient access from Tokyo (approximately 2hours), this resort is popular with locals and can get quite busy on weekends.
Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro
Kagura consists of three areas; Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro. Kagura has a high altitude of 1,845m which sees the resort receive more snowfall on average when compared to Naeba (Kagura approximately 10m per year, Naeba approximately 6m per year).Kagura offers a nice variety of terrain which tends to favour beginners and intermediates more so than the advanced guests (35% beginner, 35% intermediate, 30% advanced). Kagura Ski Resort is also more relaxed with their off-piste skiing. The advanced/expert skiers and riders can enjoy fantastic tree runs.
From the top of Kagura you'll also find some of the best backcountry terrain. There are English speaking backcountry guides available as well.
