ski_06_naeba
Naeba
Naeba ski resort is one of Japan's biggest single-mountain ski resorts, built around a ski-in Prince Hotel — with the world's longest gondola swinging over to Kagura next door.
Buy Shinkansen ticket to Echigo-Yuzawa →About the resort
Ski-in, ski-out, all night
Naeba ski resort built its name on scale and convenience — a single mountain served by a ski-in Prince Hotel, wide groomed cruisers, and night skiing that runs late. This Naeba ski resort in Japan also links to Kagura via the Dragondola, one of the world's longest gondolas, on the same pass.
🏨 Ski-in, ski-out
The Naeba Prince Hotel sits right at the base — boots on, straight to the lifts.
🌙 Night skiing
Naeba's night sessions are among the best-lit and longest-running in the region.
🚡 Dragondola to Kagura
One of the world's longest gondolas links Naeba directly to Kagura's terrain.
⛷ Wide, groomed cruisers
Naeba's broad, well-groomed pistes are built for confident, high-speed cruising.
Terrain by level
Getting there
Tokyo to Naeba, step by step
Book your Shinkansen ticket online
Choose your date and train, pay online, and receive your QR voucher by email.
Joetsu Shinkansen: Tokyo → Echigo-Yuzawa
Print your tickets from your QR voucher at a station ticket machine, then board.
approx. 70 minNaeba bus: Echigo-Yuzawa Station → Naeba Prince Hotel
Buses leave from outside the station and run up the valley to the hotel. Pay on board — no reservation needed. See the timetable ↓
approx. 40–45 min · ¥700Ski Naeba — or ride the Dragondola to Kagura
One mountain, or two: the Dragondola links straight over to Kagura's terrain.
Resort info
The mountain, by the numbers
Big, groomed, and built around a single hotel.
| Courses | 22 on the main mountain |
|---|---|
| Longest run | 4 km |
| Dragondola | 5,481 m gondola to Kagura, about 15 min |
| Terrain mix | 30% beginner · 45% intermediate · 25% advanced |
| Night skiing | Runs most nights in peak season |
| Season | Late November – early May |
| Base | Naeba Prince Hotel — ski-in, ski-out |
| Getting around | Naeba bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station (approx. 40–45 min, ¥700), or the hotel's free shuttle for guests |
Winter services
Everything at one base
Naeba's scale means most services live right at the Prince Hotel base.
🎿 Rentals
A large rental shop at the base stocks gear for all levels; book ahead for peak weeks.
🎓 Ski & snowboard schools
Group and private lessons run daily, including English-language options.
👶 Kids park & childcare
A kids' park and childcare services sit right at the base area.
🚌 Free hotel shuttle
Prince Hotel guests can ride a free shuttle between Echigo-Yuzawa Station and the hotel — reservation required.
Village info
One hotel, one base area
Naeba isn't a village in the traditional sense — it's built around the Naeba Prince Hotel, with everything from lodging to dining under one roof at the base.
- Naeba Prince Hotel — A large ski-in, ski-out hotel complex with multiple towers, restaurants, and an arcade of shops.
- Kaikake Onsen — A small hot-spring stop along the bus route between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naeba.
- Fujirock territory — Naeba's grounds also host the Fuji Rock Festival each summer — a very different scene.
- Good to know — Staying at the Prince Hotel means zero commute to the lifts; other lodging options are limited near Naeba itself.
Restaurant & nightlife
Dinner at the base, no commute required
With most visitors based at the Prince Hotel, dining centers on the hotel's own restaurants and arcade.
- Hotel restaurants — The Prince Hotel complex has a range of restaurants, from casual to formal, across its towers.
- Base arcade — Cafes, izakaya-style spots, and shops cluster in the base area's shopping arcade.
- Local specialties — Niigata rice and sake are easy to find on hotel menus and in the arcade's shops.
- Good to know — Options outside the Prince Hotel complex are limited — most visitors eat where they stay.
When to go
Naeba season at a glance
Getting here
Echigo-Yuzawa Station → Naeba
Buses leave from outside Echigo-Yuzawa Station and run up the valley to the Naeba Prince Hotel, calling at Mitsumata and Tashiro on the way. Timetable below is provisional, based on the 2025–26 season (December 13 – March 22). Please confirm the latest schedule with the operator before your trip.
| Type | Yuzawa Stn. | Naeba Prince Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| EXP | 7:40 ◇ | 8:25 |
| LOCAL | 8:20 | 8:58 |
| EXP | 8:40 | 9:25 |
| EXP | 9:10 ◇ | 9:55 |
| LOCAL | 9:40 | 10:18 |
| EXP | 10:00 ◇ | 10:45 |
| EXP | 11:00 | 11:45 |
| LOCAL | 11:50 | 12:28 |
| LOCAL | 13:10 | 13:48 |
| LOCAL | 15:30 | 16:08 |
| LOCAL | 17:15 | 17:53 |
| LOCAL | 18:40 | 19:18 |
| Type | Naeba Prince Hotel | Yuzawa Stn. |
|---|---|---|
| EXP | 8:35 ◇ | 9:20 |
| LOCAL | 9:25 | 10:08 |
| EXP | 9:35 | 10:20 |
| EXP | 10:05 ◇ | 10:50 |
| LOCAL | 10:45 | 11:28 |
| EXP | 11:55 | 12:40 |
| LOCAL | 12:55 | 13:38 |
| LOCAL | 14:15 | 14:58 |
| EXP | 14:40 ◇ | 15:25 |
| EXP | 15:10 ◇ | 15:55 |
| EXP | 16:10 ◇ | 16:55 |
| EXP | 16:35 | 17:20 |
| LOCAL | 16:50 | 17:33 |
| EXP | 17:20 ◇ | 18:05 |
| LOCAL | 18:20 | 19:03 |
| LOCAL | 19:37 | 20:20 |
| Fare from Echigo-Yuzawa | ¥700 adult · ¥350 child (to Naeba Prince Hotel) |
|---|---|
| Ski & snowboard bags | ¥100 each, on top of the fare (free for children) |
| Journey time | approx. 38 min by local bus · approx. 45 min by express (via Tashiro) |
| Operating period | December 13, 2025 – March 22, 2026 |
| Hotel shuttle | Free for Naeba Prince Hotel guests — reservation required |
ℹ On weekdays there is a gap in return services between 14:15 and 16:35 — plan your last run accordingly.
ℹ An earlier local bus also leaves Echigo-Yuzawa at 5:35, before the first Shinkansen from Tokyo arrives.
⚠ Latest schedule: Naeba Ski Resort.
Good to know
Naeba FAQ
How do I get to Naeba by bus?
Is there a free shuttle for hotel guests?
Do I need to stay at the Prince Hotel?
Can I ski Kagura from Naeba?
Is Naeba good for beginners?
Is night skiing worth planning around?
How does the Shinkansen ticket work?
Ski-in, ski-out,
lights on late.
Tokyo → Echigo-Yuzawa Shinkansen · QR voucher by email
Buy your ticket →