Powder Paradise: Winter in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture

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Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

Over the past few years I have been a regular winter visitor to Gunma prefecture, lured by its consistent snow, variety of ski resorts and authentic Japanese experience. It’s a unique and beautiful region, one where you’ll discover a huge variety of skiing and snowboarding options without the negative effects if over-tourism

Located in central Honshu, about 100km northwest of Tokyo, Gunma is a land-locked region known for its mountains, forests and clear rivers flowing through rugged valleys. In winter the northern region of Gunma, home to some of the prefecture’s highest peaks, receives consistent falls of quality dry snow and, given its easy access from Tokyo, Gunma has been a popular destination for local skiers and snowboarders for many years.

There are about 20 ski resorts in Gunma, many located in the northern Minakami and Katashina areas and also in the western region bordering Nagano prefecture. The resorts offer a huge variety of terrain from the steep accessible side-country at Mt.T to the mellow slopes of the skiers-only resort of Katashina Kogen.

There is something for everyone – perfect groomed runs, powder-filled open bowls and terrain parks. Gunma is also renowned for its onsens, the mountains and volcanic region in the feeding into hot springs located throughout the region.

If you are looking for an alternative to Japan’s larger and busier ski areas, Gunma may be just what you are looking for.

Minakami

Minakami town is located on the Tone River and the perfect base to explore the nearby resorts. It is easily accessed from Tokyo; there is a variety of accommodation choices from local ryokans to bigger multi-story hotels and a wide choice of small restaurants, bars and cafes scattered throughout town.

Hodaigi Ski Resort
Hodaigi Ski Resort  is about a 30-minute drive from Minakami town, possibly slower depending on road conditions. It has a variety of groomed trails, suitable for beginners through intermediate skiers while on a powder day advanced riders will find ungroomed slopes and tree runs. The long, smooth groomed runs and wide-open slopes near the base make it ideal for families and those getting comfortable on skis or board. Hodaigi is also north-facing which means less direct sun in winter, helping to maintain the snow quality.

Minakami Kogen Ski Resort
Minakami Kogen is popular with families, and the resort has a range of gentle runs for beginners, longer steeper runs for more advanced riders, various snow play areas and activities (like snowmobiling, sledding and dog sledding), plus ski-in/ski-out lodging (Minakami Kogen Hotel 200) and onsen.  While the mountain prides itself on its impeccable groomed runs there are also some more challenging off-piste options accessed from the top lift.

Mt. T by Hoshino Resorts
Formerly known as Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Resort, or simply Tenjin, Mt. T has long been regarded as one of Japan’s premium powder and backcountry destinations. Access is via a 2400m ropeway from the car park to the ski area base. The in-resort terrain is suitable for beginners to intermediates and is serviced by four lifts. Mt. T receives a lot of snow, and the easily accessed side country and backcountry offers a huge variety of terrain for experienced skiers and boarders, including some very steep expert-only pitches. Avalanche gear and a guide are highly recommended.

Norn Minakami Ski Resort 
Located 12km south of Minakami town, Norn is a smaller resort with four lifts and terrain suitable for beginners and intermediates. It also has night skiing, and a large snow play area at the base. It is easy to reach from Tokyo by car or train, the trip taking 1.25 to two hours, making it popular with families on weekends. If travelling by train, there are regular shuttle buses from Minakami Station and Jomo-Kogen Station.

Okutone Snow Park 
A ski area and close to Minakami town, Okutone Snow Park has seven lifts and a variety of trails for intermediate and advanced as well as a good beginner’s area and a terrain park. It has a vertical rise of 747m and a designated tree run from the top lift.

White Valley Ski Area
A small ski area three kilometres northwest of Minakami. At White Valley Ski Area  the terrain includes a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes and a longest trail around 2km. There are two lifts serving the mountain—including a lower beginner lift and an upper lift to steeper terrain. Snow quality is good with powder and occasional ungroomed sections on premium day

Fujiwara Snow & Spa Resort
A smaller ski area suitable for beginners and those wanting a quieter experience, Fujiwara has three fixed-grip chairlifts serve a compact 850–1000m area with 10 groomed trails. The skiable terrain is a mix of wide, gentle groomers for beginners with some steeper intermediate and advanced runs, plus non-groomed powder sections.

Katashina Area

Katashina is a small village with several ski resorts nearby.  A beautiful area, surrounded by the Oze National Park and is easily accessed from Tokyo, making it a popular destination on weekends while mid-week you will not encounter any crowds.

Katashina Kogen Ski Resort
A small, friendly ski area ideal for beginners and families, Katashina has mellow, well-groomed slopes and fun activities like kids’ areas and snow play. It’s one of the few resorts in Japan that is open only to skiers, making it great for learners and relaxed skiing.

Oze-Iwakura Ski Resort (White World Oze Iwakura)
A decent sized resort Oze-Iwakura has a good mix of runs for beginners through to advanced skiers. It’s known for quality powder snow, long cruisers. There is also steeper off-piste terrain for advanced skiers while the 2800m long Milky Way run is a real leg-burner and one of the longest runs in the area.

Marunuma Kogen Ski Area
One of the higher altitude resorts in the region, Marunuma holds snow for longer and offers dry, light powder conditions. It has a large vertical drop of 610m, eight lifts including a gondola to the top, a variety of groomed runs and a terrain park.

Snow Park Oze Tokura
A fun resort, Snow Park Oze Tokura has well-maintained slopes and a terrain park area, good for those who want varied runs in a relaxed setting. It has six lifts, accessing a variety of beginner to intermediate terrain with some advanced options both on and off piste.

Agatsuma Area

Agatsuma is in western Gunma, bordering Nagano Prefecture, a rural district known for its hot springs and natural scenery. It is a mountainous region with many spectacular peaks, including Mount Asama, an active volcano, one of the highest in the region with a top elevation of 2568 metres. 

Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort
A popular ski area near the famous hot spring town Kusatsu Onsen, with mellow slopes suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. You can also combine skiing with onsen (hot spring) relaxation.

Manza Onsen Ski Resort
Located at a high altitude of 1800 metres, the snow in Manza Onsen Ski Resort the snow tends to be high-quality powder.The runs are mostly suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, but there are several interesting features for the more adventurous, including a terrain park and designated backcountry zone.

Karuizawa Snow Park
Karuizawa Snow Park is a family-friendly snow area with a range of course difficulties, plus nearby amenities like restaurants and hot springs. Karuizawa Snow Park offers beginner-friendly terrain with gentle, wide slopes ideal for families and first-time skiers.

Kazawa Snow Area
Smaller local ski area in Tsumagoi Village Kazawa has something for everyone including a variety of beginner to intermediate terrain, while its north-facing slopes maintain a reliable snow cover. It has five lifts and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Palcall Tsumagoi Ski Resort 
A fun resort known for its groomed runs, Palcall Tsumagoi has the longest gondola in the Kanto region to a height of 2,100m, and diverse terrain suitable for beginners to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The resort features 22 trails, family-friendly parks, ski-in ski-out accommodations. It also caters well to free-ski and snowboarders and is home to one of Japan’s largest terrain parks.  Start your day on the slopes with the exclusive Sunrise Gondola. Few ski resorts in Japan offer this unique experience, where you can catch the first rays of sunlight while skiing or snowboarding down the mountain. The breathtaking views from the top are a perfect way to kickstart an unforgettable day of winter fun.

Travel by Train

One of the advantages of skiing Gunma is the easy and fast access by train from Tokyo. The Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen lines run throughout the day from Tokyo to Takasaki in around 50 minutes, or to Jomo-Kogen Station (Joetsu only) in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cheaper but slower options include local lines, which take around 1 hour 50 mins to Takasaki Station.

Visitors coming from Nagano can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki. The JR passes covering Gunma include unlimited travel on trains between Tokyo and Gunma during their validity period.

In winter Gunma offers diverse experiences – deep powder, incredible mountain views, frozen rivers and warm onsens – all within easy reach of Tokyo. For more information on experiencing Gunma in winter head to Visit Gunma.