Naeba Ski Resort

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Naeba

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Naeba Ski Resort

Naeba Ski Resort - Key Info
Resort altitude	top - 1789m	bottom - 900m
Season dates	mid Nov - early May
Number of lifts / courses	30 / 27

Skill level	Beginner courses 30%	Intermediate courses 40%	Advanced courses 30%
Weather report	top of mountain	middle of mountain	foot of mountain

Naeba ski resort hotels		Naeba ski resort piste map (Japanese)

Naeba powder snow

Naeba is one of the best-known ski resorts in Japan. The snow quality is great, and this is one of the larger resorts. There are some long, challenging runs to be tackled at this resort, in addition to the multitude of family slopes and chairlifts at the foot of the mountain.

The base of the resort is 900m, which is high by Japanese resort standards. In general, temperatures tend to be 2-3 degrees lower than in Yuzawa town centre.

This resort has a lot of ski lifts - especially on the wide lower slopes, its amazing to see the amount of infrastructure on the hill. Indeed, Naeba was chosen as the starting point by the WeLoveSnow team who broke the Guinness World Record for ski lifts ridden in one day.

On weekends and national holidays, there are plenty of skiiers and riders on these lower slopes, and these chairlifts are needed. However, the higher slopes do not get so busy. For beginners or families, however, we advise that there are better ski-in-ski-out options for the peak days.

Naeba ski resort

Sushi lunch at Naeba
Sushi lunch at Naeba

This resort offers some top facilities. The newly-opened 'N-Plateau' building offers great restaurants, with the added bonus of a heated running-water footbath built along one wall. They even sell towels for JPY300 with which you can wipe your feet.

This is the furthest building to the left as you look down the mountain. Its far easier to ski or ride to where you want to go: trekking across the foot of this wide resort can take quite a while.

Naeba is a small ski village, 40min from Echigo Yuzawa by bus. It just so happens that there is a 1,800 room hotel between the village and the resort. The Naeba Prince hotel dominates this resort, and provides some great facilities.

However, there are plenty of small, cosy lodges which offer friendly service and are situated only a 10min walk from the ski slopes.

We recommend Kinta Lodge and La Neige has two such lodges that are great places to stay.

Kinta Lodge Naeba
Kinta Lodge, with Naeba ski resort
in the background

View from Naeba Gondola No 2

Whilst this is a great place to find powder snow on the pistes, Naeba isn't a good resort for backcountry adventures.

The terrain and the snow conditions are there, but the the ski patrol is very efficient and strictly enforces a no-off piste policy. They know where all the good spots are!

However, the resort does offer a 'first tracks' service, allowing you onto untouched powder. Highly recommended for early-birds...

Naeba is all you need for some top skiing and riding. However, the resort is also linked to Kagura ski resort via a 5.5km 'dragondola' - the longest ski gondola in the world.

Within a speedy 25min, you are whisked away to another of our favourite resorts. The ride in itself is worth it. The last gondola finishes early though – around 3.30pm, so make sure not to get stuck on the wrong side of the mountain.

We found this video footage of the Naeba Dragondola made by the resort. It might be a good idea to turn the volume off - the promo music accompanying the video is somewhat of an acquired taste...

Kinta Lodge Naeba
The Naeba Dragondola