Japan is renowned as one of the world’s premier snow destinations, featuring numerous ski resorts stretching from central Japan to Hokkaido. In recent years, the number of international skiers has been steadily increasing, particularly around Nagano City. Below are highlights of the top ski resorts and nearby attractions in the Nagano area.
Ski Resorts and Nearby Attractions
Ski Resorts
Nagano Prefecture is a winter wonderland with high-quality snow and around 80 ski resorts of various sizes. The northern region, where Nagano City is located, boasts a dense concentration of these resorts. Here are three major ski areas that hosted events during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics:
Hakuba Area
Hakuba offers several independent ski resorts renowned for their excellent snow quality. The largest among them, Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort, is famous for hosting numerous domestic ski championships. Its terrain is especially popular with intermediate and advanced skiers, but the wide slopes are welcoming for beginners as well.
- Course Distribution: Advanced 20%, Intermediate 50%, Beginner 30%
- Number of Courses: 16
- Longest Run: 8 km
- Grooming: Groomed runs are available from the summit to the base, attracting early morning skiers.
In recent years, international visitors to Hakuba have surged, with end-of-year reservations often filling up by April. Many shops now feature English signage more prominently than Japanese. While the immediate vicinity may not offer many tourist attractions during the ski season, direct buses to Matsumoto and Zenkoji Temple make it easy to explore beyond the slopes. Note that prices for accommodation and dining in this area can be higher than in other parts of Japan.
Main Resorts near JR Hakuba Station and Hakuba Bus Terminal:
For more information, visit the Hakuba Valley website.
Shiga Kogen Area
Located within a national park at an altitude of around 2,000 meters, Shiga Kogen is one of Japan’s largest ski areas, offering 16 interconnected resorts. Thanks to its high altitude, the area enjoys consistently high-quality snow throughout the season.
Highlights:
- Shibutoge Ski Resort retains abundant snow even in early May.
- 13 interconnected ski resorts stretch from Sun Valley to Okushiga, providing diverse terrains and unique features for all skill levels.
- Maruike and Sun Valley resorts have bumpy slopes, while advanced skiers will enjoy the wide, steep slopes at Giant and Okushiga resorts.
You can stay at hotels within the Shiga Kogen area or opt for accommodations in Shibu Onsen or Yudanaka Onsen, which are accessible via a short bus ride. For more details, visit the Shiga Kogen Ski Area website.
Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen combines a charming hot spring village with a ski resort featuring over 40 courses. With a course distribution of 30% advanced, 30% intermediate, and 40% beginner runs, the resort caters to skiers of all skill levels.
- Longest Run: 10 km
- Grooming: 70% of the runs are groomed, ensuring a comfortable skiing experience.
A gondola from the base transports visitors to the middle of the ski area, where gentle slopes await beginners. This resort is ideal for travelers seeking to combine skiing with relaxing in natural hot springs. For more information, visit the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort website.
Winter Tourist Attractions
Nagano Prefecture is rich in natural beauty and offers several attractions perfect for winter exploration. Here are four destinations you can visit within an hour and a half from Nagano Station:
Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji Temple is one of Japan’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temples, housing what is believed to be the country’s first Buddha statue. The temple, a National Treasure, attracts visitors from across Japan.
Note: The banner displayed in front of the main hall of Zenkoji Temple features a symbol called the “manji,” a traditional emblem representing peace and harmony. This symbol has been used for thousands of years in religious contexts, particularly in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other traditions. Even today, it is commonly seen in temples throughout Japan. Unfortunately, its resemblance to the swastika adopted by Hitler has led to misunderstandings, causing some international visitors to feel uncomfortable. It is important to recognize that the “manji” is entirely unrelated to the Nazi swastika and serves solely as a symbol of peace and goodwill.
Access:
- From Hakuba: Direct bus, ¥3,500, about 1 hour 45 minutes
- From Shibu Onsen: Bus to Yudanaka → Nagano Electric Railway to Gondo Station, ¥1,500, about 1 hour 30 minutes
- From Nagano Station: Bus, ¥250, 20 minutes
For more details, visit the Zenkoji Temple website.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
This park is famous for its wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) that soak in natural hot springs. The monkeys are particularly active on colder days, making it a must-see during winter. Note that the 40-minute walk from the bus stop to the park is along a snow-covered path, so non-slip, waterproof shoes are recommended.
Access:
- From Hakuba: Bus to Nagano Station (¥3,500), transfer to a bus to the park (¥1,450), and walk 40 minutes. Total: about 3 hours 40 minutes.
- From Shibu Onsen: Direct bus to the park (¥190), walk 40 minutes. Total: about 45 minutes.
- From Nagano Station: Bus to the park (¥1,450), walk 40 minutes. Total: about 1 hour 30 minutes.
For more details, visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park website.
Matsumoto Castle
One of Japan’s 12 original castles from the pre-Edo period, Matsumoto Castle is a striking National Treasure known for its black-painted exterior.
Access:
- From Hakuba: Direct bus, ¥1,800, about 2 hours.
- From Shibu Onsen: Bus to Yudanaka → Nagano Electric Railway to Nagano → JR Limited Express to Matsumoto, ¥4,200, about 3 hours.
- From Nagano Station: JR Limited Express, ¥2,900, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
For more details, visit the Matsumoto Castle website.
Togakushi Shrine
Dedicated to water and harvest gods, Togakushi Shrine is famous for its stunning 500-meter avenue of 400-year-old cedar trees. This sacred site is both a historic landmark and a natural monument.
Access:
- From Hakuba: Bus to Nagano Station → Transfer to a bus to Togakushi Shrine, ¥4,850, about 3 hours.
- From Shibu Onsen: Bus to Nagano Station → Transfer to a bus to Togakushi Shrine, ¥2,800, about 3 hours.
For more details, visit the Togakushi Shrine website.
Dining Guide
Around the ski resorts, heavy snowfall often accumulates overnight, sometimes reaching knee height. As a result, it’s often more convenient to dine at your accommodation or at nearby restaurants.
In Hakuba, which has experienced a significant rise in international visitors, there are many dining options catering to foreign tourists. Some establishments even prioritize English signage over Japanese, making it easier for non-Japanese speakers to navigate. The base area of Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort offers numerous restaurants, making it an excellent spot for a night out.
Shibu Onsen and Nozawa Onsen have also seen an increase in international visitors, but to a lesser extent than Hakuba. This allows them to maintain a more traditional Japanese atmosphere. For a quieter evening, small Japanese-style pubs or bars, coupled with relaxing hot springs, make these locations ideal.
Accommodation
The ski resorts mentioned operate primarily from December to March, with higher elevation courses remaining open until early May. Accommodations near the resorts tend to fill up quickly, so it’s advisable to plan and book early. If accommodations are unavailable, consider staying in Nagano City or nearby areas.
Hakuba: Each ski resort operates independently, so you’ll need to find accommodations near the specific resort you plan to visit. Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort, in particular, offers a wide range of lodging options.
Shiga Kogen: Hotels and lodges are available within each ski resort. If accommodations at your preferred resort are fully booked, check availability in connected resorts. Note that Kuma-no-Yu, Shibutoge, and Yokoteyama are not interconnected with the other 13 resorts and require bus transportation.
Shibu Onsen: About a 30-minute bus ride from Shiga Kogen, Shibu Onsen boasts approximately 35 ryokan (traditional Japanese inns). The neighboring town of Yudanaka Onsen offers an additional 30 hotels and ryokan.
Shibu Onsen is renowned for its charming, traditional townscape. Guests staying in the village can enjoy free access to nine public baths, collectively known as “sotoyu,” and can participate in a stamp rally by visiting each bath. Non-staying guests can access one public bath. To fully experience the hot springs, it’s best to secure accommodations in Shibu Onsen.
Shibu Onsen Official Website: Shibu Onsen
Yudanaka Onsen: Adjacent to Shibu Onsen, Yudanaka Onsen features mostly clear hot spring water, contrasting with the varied hues (milky white, brown, or transparent) found in Shibu Onsen.
Yudanaka Onsen Official Website: Yudanaka Onsen
Nozawa Onsen: Located at the base of Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, this area retains a traditional Japanese townscape with approximately 280 relatively small accommodations. The village also features 13 unique public baths known as “sotoyu.”
Nozawa Onsen Official Website: Nozawa Onsen
Transportation
To access the three ski areas, the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen is the most convenient option. This line connects Tokyo to Kanazawa and extends to Tsuruga. For both Shiga Kogen and Hakuba, alight at Nagano Station, approximately a 1.5-hour journey from Tokyo Station, costing around ¥8,500.
- Hakuba: From Nagano Station, transfer to a bus to the Hakuba Bus Terminal (1 hour 15 minutes, ¥3,500).
- Shibu Onsen (near Shiga Kogen): From Nagano Station, take a local bus to the Snow Monkey Park stop (about 45 minutes). Then, transfer to another bus for four stops to Shibu-Wagohashi (about 5 minutes). Total fare: ¥1,700.
- Nozawa Onsen: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Iiyama Station (¥8,800). Then transfer to the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus (25 minutes, ¥600).
Budget and Transportation Tips
Here are the operating hours and lift ticket prices for the ski resorts:
Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Night Skiing: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Lift Ticket Prices: 1-day ¥8,000, 2-day ¥16,000, half-day ¥6,600 (night skiing requires a separate ticket).
Shiga Kogen Ski Resort
- Hours: Vary by resort (generally 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). Note: Higashidateyama and Terakoya resorts have shorter hours, with Terakoya closing at 3:50 PM.
- Night Skiing: Available at some resorts until 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM.
- Lift Ticket Prices: 1-day ¥8,000, 2-day ¥14,800, 10-day ¥73,200 (night skiing requires a separate ticket).
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Night Skiing: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Lift Ticket Prices: 1-day ¥7,300, 2-day ¥13,500, 3-day ¥19,700, 4-hour ticket ¥6,200 (night skiing requires a separate ticket).
Weather Guide
- Hakuba: Average minimum temperature is -8°C, with snowfall reaching up to 1 meter in accommodation areas.
- Nozawa Onsen: Average minimum temperature is -5°C, with snowfall up to 2 meters.
- Shiga Kogen: Average minimum temperature can drop below -10°C, with substantial snowfall due to the mountainous terrain.
