Popular with families! 10 recommended ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures

Nagano and Niigata prefectures have many ski resorts for families!

The ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures attract highly skilled skiers and snowboarders, so you may be wondering, "Is it okay for beginners or children to go?"

However, many ski resorts are actually equipped with beginner courses, kids' parks, and schools, so even families with small children can enjoy themselves throughout the day.

From here, we will introduce ski resorts that are recommended for families, divided into two areas: Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture.

7 ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture recommended for families

We introduce seven ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture that are packed with activities recommended for small children and families.

Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort

The Kids Park Area at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort is a great place for small children to make their first foray into the snow. Even children who can't ski or snowboard can enjoy playing in the snow with sledding and tubing. 1-day passes for the tubing and sledding areas are also available for purchase.

The "Snow Play Park Area" is packed with activities that will allow you to experience the snow country with your whole body, such as having lunch in a snow igloo, making ice cream, riding a snowmobile, and sledding.

To get to the ski resort, you can take a shuttle bus from Haneda Airport or Narita Airport, or a free shuttle bus from JR Minami-Otari Station.

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

At Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort, there is a Kids Park next to the hotel that anyone can use for free. It is surrounded by netting, so children can enjoy playing on the playground equipment and sledding within reach of their parents.

The beginner's course, the Hakunori Family Course, has a very gentle slope with an average gradient of 5 degrees, so even those who have just started skiing or snowboarding can ski with confidence.

On "Children's Ski Day," which occurs once a month from January to March, elementary school children can get half-price lift tickets. The kids' school, where you can learn how to ski from some of Japan's best instructors, is also very popular, making it the perfect place for young children to make their ski/snowboard debut.

Sugawara Kogen Snow Resort

Sugawara Kogen Snow Resort is characterized by the wide variety of kids' parks it offers.

Hinode Kids Park is surrounded by protective netting and is equipped with vinyl cushions and sleds of various shapes.

"Pine Beak Smile Park" is a spacious kids' slope with a maximum run of 100m and over 50 items. It is equipped with a 40m snow escalator, and "Pine Beak Smile Park" is available for children from 2 years old.

For children who want to start winter sports seriously, we also offer one-on-one ski lessons, so children can enjoy skiing in a way that suits their age and level.

Kashimayari Ski Resort Family Park

Kashimayari Ski Resort Family Park is packed with activities and facilities aimed at families and small children.

Pokemon Snow Adventure, which is crowded with many families every year, is popular for its thrilling snow tubing course that is 150 meters long and has up to six lanes. There are also linked tubings for two or three people that you can ride with your family or friends, as well as solo tubing.

For small children, we recommend the Playland Area, where you can rent sleds and snow striders (bikes for children without pedals) for free.

There are also private rooms available for reservation, so you can relax and change clothes, or take a meal. There is also a free indoor playground, so there are plenty of ways to keep your children from getting bored even if they stay there all day.

Shimashika Ski Kids Lessons: Ages 4 to 6

Ski Kids Private Lessons: Ages 4 to elementary school

Ski Family Lessons: Families with children aged 4 and over

Able Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park

Both Able Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort and Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park can be accessed with a common lift ticket, so it is recommended for those who want to take advantage of a wide range of activities and courses.

The Toomi Slope at Able Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort is equipped with a kids' area where children can play safely. It is exclusively for sledding and playing in the snow, so there is no need to worry about getting hit by skis or snowboards.

There is also an indoor "Woodland" where you can play with play equipment made from wood from Nagano Prefecture, where families can have fun while feeling the warmth of the wood.

"Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park" holds "Children's Ski Day" on the third Sunday of every month from December to April and on May 5th. In addition to offering free lift tickets for elementary school children and younger, a treasure hunt will also be held from 11:00 am.

Able Hakuba Goryu

Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park

White Birch 2in1

Shirakaba 2in1 has two beginner-level courses: the School Master Course and the Holiday Course. The course has an average gradient of 7-8 degrees and a gentle slope over 300 meters wide.

There are two kids' parks: "Penguin Park," which is free to enter and where you can go sledding, and "Chibikko Park," which requires a fee. At "Chibikko Park," which has a snow escalator, you can easily go up the slope when sledding. Snow rafting and carousels are also popular.

The lift ticket is the same as that of the neighboring Shirakaba Kogen International Ski Resort. Shirakaba Kogen International Ski Resort also has courses and facilities perfect for those new to the slopes, so it is recommended for those who want to stay overnight and enjoy the slopes to the fullest.

Shiga Highlands Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort

Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort has four beginner courses and is recommended for those who want to practice at their own pace. The beginner course is 1,785m above sea level at its highest point and has a long run of 1,210m, so you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Shiga Kogen area while skiing.

In front of the Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel West Wing, there is a "Family Snow Park" where parents and children can play together. It is equipped with a 70m long snow escalator, and "Sno Challenge Land" has six types of winter gear available, so even children can enjoy themselves safely.

Furthermore, if you join the "PRINCE KIDS CLUB", you can enjoy a special service in which children up to elementary school age can ride the lift for free. This service is available at all Prince Snow Resort ski resorts nationwide, so it is recommended for those who want to visit the slopes multiple times during the season.

3 recommended ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture for families

From here, we will introduce three ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture, which are popular for their spacious and relaxed courses.

Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort

The kids' park at Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort is divided into a sledding area and a ski/snowboard area.

The very gentle slopes are perfect for a first time on the slopes, and by using the easy skis that can be attached to your shoes, you can easily make your first skiing experience.

What's more, the 1,000 yen admission fee (free for children under 2) includes all sled and snow tubing rental fees, so no matter how much fun you have, it's easy on the wallet.

There are also other courses, such as one that lets you ski between the trees and one that lets you ski leisurely down wide slopes, so there are ways to enjoy the ski resort at a pace that suits your level and pace.

NICO Kids Snow School: Ages 3 to 7

Mama Miki Kids Snow School: Ages 4 to elementary school students, etc.

Joetsu International Ski Resort

Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort is packed with ideas that will keep not only hardcore skiers and snowboarders, but also families having fun all day long.

For children on their first time on the slopes, we recommend the "Snow Amusement Park" in front of the hotel. The most popular of these is "Kids Paradise," a fenced off slope for playing in the snow.

There are snow tubing, inflatable toys, and plastic play equipment available for children who are not yet able to put on skis or snowboards to enjoy.

Another attraction of Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort is that there are many courses with gentle slopes. In particular, the Mina Family Forest Course is a relaxed course with an average slope of 7 degrees and a longest run of 6,000m, making it a great choice for families with children.

Naeba Ski Resort

Naeba Ski Resort, famous as one of Niigata's largest ski slopes, offers many activities perfect for children making their debut on the slopes.

"Pandaruman Hiroba" offers a snow school that is open to children from the age of three. They use their own ski and snowboard teaching materials, and the school's unique feature is that you can learn to ski safely while having fun like playing a game. They offer classes in not only Japanese, but also English and Chinese, so they are popular with overseas tourists.

Exciting Family Snow Land, which adults can enjoy as well, has play equipment such as snow tubing, sleds, and carousels.

Of the 24 courses, 10 are for beginners, so even if you're not used to skiing, you can experience a variety of slopes. The course is also wide, so you can concentrate on your practice without worrying about your surroundings.

Tips for choosing a ski resort for your family

There are so many ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures that it can be hard to choose. Here are some points to keep in mind when choosing a ski resort to go to with your family.

A wide range of accommodation plans and hot springs available

If you're going skiing or snowboarding with your family, we recommend planning an overnight stay rather than a day trip. Some hotels and inns offer great deals that include lift tickets, so be sure to check in advance.

Hakuba area in Nagano Prefecture is especially known as a hot spring resort, and is crowded with many tourists every year. It is an attractive spot because you can enjoy it in your own way, such as staying for several nights and visiting multiple ski resorts, touring hot springs, and enjoying local cuisine.

We recommend taking the bus directly to the ski resort.

Ski trips require you to travel long distances with lots of luggage, and having children can make it difficult to get to your destination. For this reason, when choosing a ski resort for a family trip, it's a good idea to prioritize easy access.

The Snow Liner express bus runs directly from terminal stations such as Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Tokyo, and Yokohama to ski resorts in the Hakuba area and Shiga Kogen. You can save your energy on the way to the ski resort, and even if your children fall asleep on the way back, you can rest assured that you can reach your destination without having to transfer.

For more details, please check out the Snow Liner's official website .

summary

Japan has many ski resorts that have been designed with various features in mind, such as courses that are perfect for first timers on the slopes and kids' parks where even those who can't ski or snowboard can have fun playing in the snow.

It's fine to choose a resort based on the price of the lift ticket, the ski school options, the number of runs, etc., but if you want to have fun all day with the whole family, it's important to carefully check the accommodation and transportation options as well.

If you use the convenient Snow Liner express bus that runs directly from major stations to popular ski resorts, you can take small children on a day trip, or stay overnight at a hotel or inn and enjoy the winter flavors and tourist spots.

Snowliner reservations here