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

There are many family-friendly ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures!

Ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures are home to many talented skiers and snowboarders, so you may be wondering, ``Is it okay to bring children or beginners there?''

However, there are actually many ski resorts that are equipped with beginner's courses, children's parks, and schools, so even families with small children can enjoy the whole day.

From here, we will introduce ski resorts that families should definitely visit, divided into two areas: Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture.

7 recommended ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture for families

Here are 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 recommended for small children to make their debut in snowy mountains. Even children who cannot ski or snowboard can enjoy playing in the snow by sledding or tubing. We also sell 1-day passports for the tubing and sledding areas.

The ``Snow Play Park Area'' is full of activities that allow you to fully experience the snow country, such as eating lunch in a kamakura, making ice cream, riding a snowmobile, and playing sledding.

Shuttle buses from Haneda Airport and Narita Airport, as well as a free shuttle bus from JR Minami Otari, are also available to reach the ski resort.

Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort

``Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort'' has a ``Kids Park'' next to the hotel that anyone can use for free. Surrounded by netting, children can enjoy playing equipment and sledding within the reach of their parents.

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

On ``Ski Children's Day,'' held once a month from January to March, lift tickets for elementary school students are half price. The kids' school, where you can learn how to ski with Japan's top-class 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 its wide variety of kids parks.

Hinode Kids Park is surrounded by a protective net and has various shapes of vinyl cushions and sleds.

"Pine Beak Smile Park" is a spacious kids' slope with a maximum skiing distance of 100m and over 50 items. In addition to a 40m snow escalator, Pinebeak Smile Park is open to children aged 2 and up.

For children who want to get serious about winter sports, we also offer one-on-one ski lessons, so you can have fun tailored to your child's age and level.

Kashimayari Ski Resort Family Park

Kashimayari Ski Resort Family Park is full of activities and facilities for families and small children.

``Pokemon Snow Adventure'' is popular with many families every year, and its thrilling snow tubing course is 150m long and has up to 6 lanes. We also have connected tubing for two to three people, which you can ski by yourself, or with your family or friends.

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

There are also private rooms available indoors that can be reserved for private use, so you can feel at ease while changing clothes, resting, and eating. There is also a free indoor playland, which is full of ways to keep kids from getting bored even if they are there all day.

Shimashika Ski Kids Lesson: 4 to 6 years old

Ski Kids Private Lessons: 4 years old to elementary school students

Ski Family Lessons: Families including children aged 4 and over

Able Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park

``Able Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort'' and ``Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park'' can be accessed with a common lift ticket, so it is recommended for people who want to use many activities and courses.

``Able Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort'''s ``Tomi Slope'' is fully equipped with a kids area where children can play safely. It's only for sledding and playing in the snow, so you don't have to worry about getting hit by skis or snowboards.

There is also a ``Woodland'' indoors where you can play with play equipment made from wood from Nagano Prefecture, where you can spend a fun time with your family while feeling the warmth of the wood.

"Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park" holds "Ski Children's Day" on the third Sunday of every month from December to April and on May 5th. In addition to free lift tickets for children under elementary school age, there will also be a treasure hunt starting at 11 a.m.

Able Hakuba Goryu

Hakuba47 Winter Sports Park

Shirakaba 2in1

"Shirakaba 2in1" has two courses for beginners: "School Master Course" and "Holiday Course". The relaxing slope with an average slope of 7 to 8 degrees and a width of over 300m is attractive.

There are two kids parks: ``Penguin Park,'' where you can enter for free and enjoy sledding, and ``Chibikko Park,'' which requires a fee. If you are a child park with a snow escalator, you can easily climb up the slope when playing on a sled. Snow rafting and carousels are also popular.

Lift tickets are the same for the adjacent Shirakaba Kogen International Ski Resort. Shirakaba Kogen International Ski Resort also has courses and facilities that are perfect for making your debut on the slopes, so it is recommended for those who want to stay overnight and have fun on the slopes.

Shiga Kogen Yakebiyama Ski Resort

Shiga Kogen Yakebiyama Ski Resort has four beginner courses, and is recommended for those who want to practice at their own pace. The beginner's course is a long course with an altitude of 1,785m at its highest point and a running distance of 1,210m, so you can ski while enjoying the beautiful view of the Shiga Kogen area.

In front of Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel West Building, there is a ``Family Snow Park'' where parents and children can play. In addition to being fully equipped with a snow escalator with a total length of 70 meters, ``Snochaleland'' has six types of winter gear, so even children can enjoy it with confidence.

Furthermore, if you join PRINCE KIDS CLUB, we offer a great service where children up to elementary school age can ride lifts for free. The discount applies to Prince Snow Resort's ski resorts nationwide, so it is recommended for people who want to visit the slopes many times during the season.

3 ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture recommended for families

Here we will introduce three ski resorts in Niigata Prefecture that are popular for their relaxing and spacious 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 slope is perfect for making your debut on the slopes, and if you use simple skis that can be attached to your shoes, you can easily make your debut on the slopes.

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

There are also courses where you can ski through the trees and courses where you can leisurely ski on wide slopes, so you can have fun that suits your pace and level.

NICO Kids Snow School: 3 to 7 years old

Mama Miki Kids Snow School: 4 years old - elementary school students, etc.

Joetsu International Ski Resort

``Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort'' is full of ideas that not only hardcore skiers and snowboarders, but also families can enjoy all day long.

For children making their debut on the slopes, we recommend the ``Yuki no Yuenchi'' in front of the hotel. One of the most popular is Kids Paradise, a slope exclusively for playing in the snow, which is surrounded by a fence.

We have created an environment where children who are not yet able to put on skis or snowboards can play, including snow tubing, air play equipment, and plastic play equipment.

Another appeal of Joetsu Kokusai Ski Resort is that there are many courses with gentle slopes. In particular, the Mina Family Rinkan Course is a relaxing course with an average slope of 7 degrees and a longest run distance of 6,000 meters, making it recommended for families with children.

Naeba Ski Resort

Naeba Ski Resort, famous as one of the biggest ski slopes in Niigata, has many activities perfect for children who are making their debut on the slopes.

"Pandaruman Hiroba" offers a snow school that is open to children as young as 3 years old. It uses original teaching materials for skiing and snowboarding, and is unique in that it allows you to learn skiing safely while having fun like a game. It is popular among overseas travelers as it supports not only Japanese but also English and Chinese.

``Wakuwaku Family Snowland'', which adults can also enjoy together, has play equipment such as snow tubing, sledding, and carousels.

10 of the 24 courses are beginner courses, so even if you're not used to skiing, you can experience a variety of slopes. The width is wide, so you can concentrate on practicing without worrying about your surroundings.

Tips on how to choose a ski resort to go to with your family

There are many ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures, so many people may be tempted to look elsewhere. Here are some points to keep in mind when choosing a ski resort to visit with your family.

Accommodation plans and hot springs are available

If you are planning to go skiing or snowboarding with your family, we recommend planning an overnight stay instead of just a day trip. Some hotels and inns offer great deals that include lift tickets, so be sure to check in advance.

In particular, the Hakuba area in Nagano Prefecture is known as a hot spring area 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 multiple nights and visiting multiple ski resorts, visiting hot springs, and enjoying local gourmet food.

We recommend taking a bus that goes directly to the ski resort.

Skiing trips require traveling long distances with a lot of luggage, and if you have children with you, you may not be able to reach your destination smoothly. Therefore, when choosing a ski resort for a family trip, it is best to focus on ease of access.

The express bus ``Snowliner'' runs directly from terminal stations such as Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Tokyo, and Yokohama to the Hakuba area and Shiga Kogen ski resorts. On the way there, you can conserve your energy until you reach the ski resort, and on the way back, you can rest assured that even if your child gets tired and falls asleep, you can get to your destination without changing trains.

For more information, please check the official Snow Liner website .

summary

There are many ski resorts in Japan that have been designed in a variety of ways, including courses that are perfect for making your debut on the slopes and kids' parks where you can enjoy playing in the snow even if you can't ski or snowboard.

It is a good idea to choose based on the price of the lift ticket, the contents of the ski school, the number of courses, etc., but if you want to enjoy the whole day with your family, it is important to carefully check the accommodations and transportation. is.

If you use the convenient express bus ``Snowliner'' that takes you directly from major stations to popular ski resorts, you can not only take a day trip with small children, but also stay at a hotel or inn and enjoy the taste of winter and sightseeing spots. .

Click here to reserve the Snow Liner