Snow sports
There are many, many skifields within 30 to 60 minutes of the Villa. We’ve divided this guide into Minakami, Yuzawa and Kawaba/ Katashina areas. Depending on your appetite and experience of driving in snowy conditions, driving through the tunnel to Yuzawa is probably the easiest and straightforward way to the snow.
Minakami Area
The skifields on the Villa side of the alps offer variety and great snow without being the largest fields
Powderhounds Minakami guide here
50 mins to Hodaigi carpark
A family favourite, with gentle beginner slopes, some intermediate trails and quite a few steep powdery shoots. Buses leave from Jomo-Kogen station at weekends if you want to avoid the drive.
40 mins to Tanigawa ropeway carpark, 10mins by cable car
Some have cited this field as having the best snow in Japan, you must travel up to by cable car via the Tanigawa ropeway. Short runs for beginners and intermediates but the off-piste powder for advanced skiers is the jewel .
35 mins to Okutone carpark
A relatively small field close to Minakami onsen town with some fun, shorter beginner and intermediate runs
25 mins to Norn carpark
A small field behind the the Minakami IC with just two lifts but is popular for night skiing
55 mins to Minakami Kogen carpark
A relatively small field popular with families due to the high number of beginner and intermediate runs
Yuzawa Area
The skifields in Yuzawa are plentiful and epic with a lot of variety to suit all levels of skiers. The easiest way to get there is through the tunnel (13kms) and you can be there in 35mins
Powderhounds Yuzawa guide here
55 mins to Taishiro carpark, 45mins to Mitsumata
A vast field with a lot of variety including off-piste powder runs galore. Our regular skifield.
45 mins to Naeba carpark
A reasonably large field with a variety of runs. Connected to Kagura via the Dragondola, it’s the venue for Fuji Rock Festival in summer
45mins to Ishiuchi Maruyama carpark
A compact field with a lot of good intermediate runs. Good lifts, facilities and resturants. Can connect into Gala Yuzawa and Echigo-Yuzaw skifields
40 mins to Iwappara carpark
A great field for beginners with wide relatively flat slopes and a few intermediate trails up top. Also a brilliant wood fired pizza restaurant worth the visit alone. Tip. Go early
55 mins to Joestu Kokusai carpark
A great field for beginners with wide relatively flat slopes and a few intermediate trails up top. Also a brilliant wood fired pizza restaurant worth the visit alone. Tip. Go early
45 mins to Maiko carpark
A relatively large field that caters very well for beginners and intermediate skiers with many runs over three areas
Kawaba / Katashina Areas
The skifields in Kawaba and Katashina are generally smaller, great for families or learners and with easy access to Tokyo can be crowded at weekends
Powderhounds Katashina guide here
Kawaba
Katashina
60 mins to oze iwakura carpark
A vast field with a lot of variety including off-piste powder runs galore. Our regular skifield.
60 mins to Katashina Kogen carpark
No boarding allowed on this skifield which may be attractive to some
70 mins to Marunuma Kogen carpark
Lovely wide groomed slopes for beginners and intermediates