NAGANO JAPAN

Yuzawa & Niigata

Yuzawa & Niigata

Bordering Nagano, Niigata is a large prefecture known for its mountains and heavy snow. Serviced by the Joetsu Shinkansen running from Tokyo to Niigata City, the hot spring and ski resort town of Yuzawa is a popular destination for many international visitors. Fondly referred to as ‘yukiguni’ or ‘snow country’, Yuzawa and the surrounding area is subject to heavy snowfall and home to multiple ski resorts. Best known as a winter destination, summer events including Fuji Rock Festival – Japan’s largest music festival – and the increasingly popular Echigo-Tsumari Art Field mean that Yuzawa is quickly becoming all-year-round destination.

ENJOY YUZAWA'S BEST SKI RESORTS

Readily accessible from Tokyu, resorts of Yuzawa are cater to all tastes and levels, from absolute beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL

As a traditional hot spring town, Yuzawa has plenty of accommodation ranging from large hotels to high-end guesthouses.

JOETSU SHINKANSEN

The Joetsu Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Niigata and stops at Echigo-Yuzawa Station, your gateway to the region.

ECHIGO-TSUMARI ART FIELD

Laying claim to being the largest open-air arts festival in the world, Echigo-Tsumari defies explanation and needs to be experienced.

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL

Taking place each July, Fuji Rock is held at Naeba Ski Resort and is Japan's largest music festival.

15 THINGS TO DO AROUND YUZAWA & WHERE TO STAY

Best-known for the heavy snow of winter, Yuzawa is quickly establishing itself as an all-year-round destinations with a busy calendar of summer events…

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Best Yuzawa Ski Resorts: GALA Yuzawa, Kagura, Naeba, Joetsu Kokusai & Hakkaisan

Bordering Nagano Prefecture to the north, Niigata is home to around ...

15 Things to Do Around Yuzawa & Where to Stay

A convenient stop on the Joetsu Shinkansen line running from Tokyo t...

Best Places to Stay in Yuzawa

Yuzawa boasts multiple ski resorts and plenty of accommodation inclu...

ACCESS

How to Get to Yuzawa

Yuzawa is a popular hot spring town located in Niigata. Best-known a...

ACTIVITIES

Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway & Alpine Botanical Gardens

Operating most of the year other than brief periods either side of w...

Mount Tangiawa & Tanigawadake Ropeway

Lying within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, Mount Tangiawa is known...

Mount Naeba & ‘Dragondola’ Ropeway

Standing 2145 metres above sea level, Mount Naeba is one of the majo...

Mount Hakkai & Hakkaisan Ropeway

Mount Hakkai lies around 35km from Echigo-Yuzawa Station and is well...

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field / Triennial

Running since 2000, Echigo-Tsumari Art Field or Echigo-Tsumari Art T...

Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, KINARE

Located in Tokamachi, Niigata, the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of...

Matsudai Nohbutai Center

One of two major hubs for Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, the Matsudai Noh...

Kiyotsu Gorge inc. Tunnel of Light

Known as ‘Kiyotsukyo’ in Japanese, Kiyotsu Gorge is known for its un...

Kyororo Forest School

Located in the beautiful area of Matsunoyama – around 60 minutes dri...

Bijinbayashi (Beauty Forest)

Translating as both Beauty Forest’ or ‘Forest of Beautiful Women’, B...

Hoshitoge Rice Terraces

Located in the Matsudai region of Niigata – not too far from Kyororo...

Autumn Leaves of Akiyamago

Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Niigata and Nagano prefecures, the ...

HOTELS

Yuzawa Area

Yuzawa Onsen is a popular hot spring town in Niigata first made famo...

Naeba Area

Naeba Ski Resort is one of the most popular winter destinations in N...

Joetsu Kokusai Area

Offering 380 hectares of connected ski fields, Joetsu Kokusai is the...

Ishiuchi Maruyama Area

Visitors heading to GALA Yuzawa can considered staying in the area o...

EVENTS

Fuji Rock Festival

Taking place on the last weekend of July each year, Fuji Rock Festiv...

BLOG

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?

For our friends living in Japan, you have no doubt heard of the nati...

Using the Joetsu Shinkansen to Visit Yuzawa & Niigata – Escape the City & Get Back to Nature

With the summer holidays now drawing to a close, our attention turns...

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: ‘Go To Travel’ Extended to Tokyo as of October 1st 2020

As highlighted in our recent blog article – ‘#SNOWMONKEYRESORTS LOCA...

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: Nagano in Autumn – ‘Koyo’ Season Will Soon Be Here!

Over the past week, the temperature has certainly begun to drop here...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Japan Set to Lower Travel Advisories for Certain Countries

It’s important to start this blog by saying that at this time, trave...

SNOW MONKEY RESORTS
AREA MAP

Established in 1964, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the world known to naturally bathe in hot springs. Open all-year-round, the park is one of Nagano's most popular destinations
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- ENZA CAFE
- HOTARUTEI
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- Kanbayashi Onsen 'Sendayaki' (Fire Festival)
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Only 45 minutes from Nagano City and within easy reach of the Jigokudani Monkey Park and Shiga Kogen, Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are blessed by numerous natural hot spring sources which feed their many guesthouses and public bathhouses
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Shiga Kogen is the largest and highest ski resort in Japan, boasting Nagano's longest season and most reliable snow; and located within the expansive Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, Shiga offers just as much to do from spring to autumn as it does in winter
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Home to the Obuse Hokusai Museum and Gansho-in Temple along with lots of good restaurants, craft shops and a couple of ‘sake’ breweries, the small but historic town of Obuse is an easy day-trip from Nagano City
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- 15 Things to Do Around Obuse & Where to Stay
- How To Get To Obuse
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- Obuse Area
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Home to one of Japan's oldest and most important temples, Nagano City is your launching point from where to explore the region using train and bus services, including the Hokuriku Shinkansen, from Nagano Station
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One of Nagano's most popular ski resorts, Nozawa Onsen is boasts great powder, terrain and a lively village - which guarantees as much off the mountain as on it – while retaining much of its character as a traditional hot spring town
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- Nozawa Onsen 'Dosojin' (Fire Festival)
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Home to the most popular and international ski resorts in Nagano, Hakuba Valley attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world while offering the best accommodation and dining of any ski area in the region
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The fabled 'Snow Walls' of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route are at their best from April to May before the melting snow opens-up some of Japan’s best alpine hiking from July to November. Accessible from both Nagano and Toyama, this is one of Japan’s best travel experiences
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- [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour from Nagano: Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
- 1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the 'Roof of Japan'
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- Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival
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Matsumoto Castle is a registered National Treasure and without question, the cultural heart of this engaging city; a beacon that calls you to explore the city and onto the beauty of the North Alps including Norikura and the alpine valley of Kamikochi
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Karuizawa is one of Japan's most popular resort towns, offering a little taste of Tokyo in the mountains including some of Nagano’s best accommodation, fine dining and shopping, and all within easy reach of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park
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- [START FROM KARUIZAWA] Private Snow Monkey Tour
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- Ueda Sanada Festival
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Located in the picturesque surrounds of Kiso Valley, the Nakasendo Trail follows the Edo Period (1603-1868) route once linking Kyoto and Tokyo. To this day, travelers can walk sections of the route including through the beautiful postal towns of Narai, Magome and Tsumago - a rare glimpse of traditional Japan in the 21st century
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- 2-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle, Nakasendo & Countryside Azumino
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- Kiso-Fukushima & Narai Area
- Magome, Tsumago & Nakatsugawa Area
EVENTS
- Narai-juku Ice Candle Festival
- Kaida Kogen Kamakura Snow Festival
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Known as the 'Sannomachi', Takayama's old town is famous for its preservation of Edo period streetscapes while also attracting foodies for its renowned ‘Hida beef’ and ‘Takayama ramen’ - all within easy reach of the World Heritage villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
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TOURS
- 2-Day Snow Monkey Tour: Nagano To Takayama via Matsumoto
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- Takayama Morning Markets
- Takayama Festival
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Only 20 minutes from Iiyama Station, Madarao Mountain Resort is known for its deep powder bowls, tree zones and fantastic backcountry along with mountain-biking and water activities from spring to autumn
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TOURS
- [START FROM NOZAWA/MADARAO] Private Snow Monkey Tour
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- Enjoy the Fruit of Nagano
- Fruit-picking Nearby JR Iiyama Station
HOTELS
- Madarao Area
- Iiyama Station Area
EVENTS
- Iiyama Nanohana Flower Festival
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Myoko Kogen consists of five main ski resorts jointly known for one thing – amazing powder, lots of it. Boasting some of Asia’s deepest powder and fantastic backcountry, the resorts of Myoko are waiting to be discovered
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Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most historic and rewarding destinations. A city of wealth and artistic achievement during the Edo Period, Kanazawa retains many historic attractions and districts along with some of Japan’s best gardens, museums, galleries, dining and shopping
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As the largest city in Central Japan, Nagoya is known for its modern industries, lively entertainment, great restaurants and plenty of shopping while putting visitors in reach of some fantastic regional destinations
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- Autumn Leaves of Korankei
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Lying around 2.5 hours to the west of Tokyo, Mount Fuji is a grand and awe-inspiring sight and without question, Japan’s most recognizable destination. Quite simply, it’s a must-see for anyone visiting this wonderful country
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Accessible via Echigo-Yuzawa Station, the area around Yuzawa includes the resorts of Gala Yuzawa, Naeba and Kagura; while in summer, Yuzawa plays host to Japan's largest music festival and provides acccess to the country's largest arts festival
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- Fuji Rock Festival
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Tokyo is the economic, political and cultural centre of 21st century Japan. Impossible to define and inconceivable in size, the only way to really understand Tokyo is to dive in and experience it for yourself
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As of the seats of imperial power for more than one thousand years, Kyoto and Nara are the most historic cities in Japan while nearby Osaka is big, bold, brash and tremendous fun
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The most northern Japan’s four main islands, Hokkaido is a destination unto itself – a place where you’ll find wildlife and open spaces including pristine landscapes and vast national parks, and of course some of the world’s best powder skiing and snowboarding.
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Famous for its beautiful landscapes including rugged coastline, historic 'onsen' villages, festivals, food and a couple of good ski resorts, Tohoku can be explored starting with the World Heritage shrine complex of Nikko
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From the global significance of Hiroshima to Himeji and its celebrated castle, Chugoku is a region known for its blend of cities and histories and as the launching point from where to discover the Seto Inland Sea along with Shikoku and its 88 temple pilgrimage
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Lying in the south of Japan, Kyushu is a blend of cultural and natural attractions with the islands of Okinawa located even further to the south surrounded by the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
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