Mt. Naeba Resort Guide
Insider tips from our team
Our Mt. Naeba Resort Guide covers everything you need to know about skiing in Mt. Naeba, where to ski, stay, eat and drink - plus all of the backcountry skiing options, the best non-ski activities, and other useful tips for getting the most out of your ski holiday.
Set in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture and within the Joshin'etsukogen National Park, Naeba and Kagura (collectively called Mt. Naeba) are connected by Japan's longest, fastest, and best-named gondola, the 5.5km 'Dragondola'. Together, they provide one of Japan’s most accessible and varied ski destinations, just a short ride from Tokyo by bullet train and private transfer. And with daily night skiing until 8pm, it's even possible to be on the slopes the day you arrive!
Our team skied Mt. Naeba in March 2026, so everything below is based on first-hand experience. If you're looking for an authentically Japanese experience accompanied by varied skiing, epic snowfall and a brilliant ski-in ski-out hotel, you're in the right place.
Skiing in Naeba and Kagura
Firstly, it's worth mentioning that both resorts are skiable on the same lift pass, so there's no faff going between the two.
Naeba is where all of our guests will stay. It offers a fantastic variety of mixed-ability terrain, with immaculate grooming and long, wide runs. The upper mountain reaches 1,789m, providing awesome snow conditions with around 6-8m of snowfall per year. This means you can expect that famous deep powder, even on groomed slopes, during the peak months of December-March. It's also great for families, with a selection of cruisey green runs and everything on the doorstep of the hotel.
Kagura may not look massive on the piste map, but when you ski it, it feels huge with its 1,225m vertical drop. We think it's the perfect resort for powder skiing due to its 10m average snowfall, quiet slopes, open faces, and designated tree skiing zones. It has some amazing groomers too, so it's worth all skiers or boarders catching the gondola across, though powder hunters will be particularly at home here.
Where to ski in Naeba
In Naeba, everything starts from the central base area, outside the Naeba Prince Hotel.
Whether the pistes are freshly groomed or you've woken up to overnight snow, we recommend heading straight for Prince Gondola No. 1 or 2 first thing in the morning. You'll be whisked up to 1,500/1,650m fast, with some of the best runs on the mountain waiting on the way back down.
The upper section, accessed by the Takenokoyama Pair Lift, offers spectacular views and cruising blue runs down the K1 course, which mellows into the J2 green run - ideal for laying out wide carves or powder turns. For a steeper challenge, point your skis down the black K2 run.
If you're hunting for powder, Naeba's black runs include a handful of designated 'powder fields' - ungroomed terrain that often lends itself to moguls. The steepest of the lot is Splash Bowl, hitting a maximum gradient of 39.5 degrees and only opening when conditions are at their best.
Naeba boasts excellent terrain parks, with a collection of jumps, side hits, rails, boxes and banked slalom, including a snow-cross course, as well as a kids snow park which is right at the base of the resort.
Families looking for mellow, confidence-building slopes need look no further. Naeba has family and slow zones, hugely wide lower sections, and the off-ramps from each of the lifts are super gentle.
Our favourite runs in Naeba:
Beginners (Green): A special mention should be given to E1, the green run which is open for night skiing and provides access to the fun Naeba Snow Park.
Intermediates (Blue): Starting on K1 and cruising down to A1, you’ll be perfecting turns all the way down from the very summit to the resort base.
Expert (Black): Take the Prince Gondola No.2 and dive into A2 Splash Bowl, enjoying steeper turns and choosing between the B2 men’s and B3 women’s slalom trails, the signature runs for Naeba’s FIS World Cup downhill events.
Night skiing
The night skiing at Naeba is legendary, with a real buzz. It's available every night up to 8pm, and is an awesome experience for those wanting to get some extra turns in. In fact, it might well be your first taste of the slopes due to the resort's easy access from Tokyo. We did this in March 2026, arriving in Tokyo at 8am, and getting our first turns in by mid-afternoon!
Lift No.5 is the lift of choice for night skiing, with the lower runs floodlit - including the Naeba Snow Park.
Where to ski in Kagura
Getting to Kagura is simple and stunning. On the right side of Naeba, at the bottom of the green run DG1, you’ll find the 5.5km Dragondola, which passes some jaw-dropping scenery and joins the two resorts in 20 minutes.
For warming up your ski legs, we suggest taking the Tashiro Pair Lift No 1, just a short slide from the Dragondola exit. From here, you can access butter-smooth pistes, wide-open trees, and powder steeps. These runs are short, quick, fun and easy to lap before heading into some of the best in-bounds terrain in Japan - for skiing and scenery alike.
We love the confidence-building tree runs just off the side of H1 -Panorama Trail, and off the H2 - Tashiro Connection Trail. Not overly steep, these runs provide heaps of powder fun.
With each lift, you can discover a new powder line - but the terrain never feels intimidating, instead encouraging and progressive. It really is the ideal place to try your hand at the world of Japow.
Our favourite runs in Kagura:
Beginners (Green): Take the Tashiro High Speed Lift No.2 and you'll find the most aesthetic trilogy of green runs imaginable, V1 - Gondola East Trail, U1 - Tashiro Ladies' Trail & U2 - Skyline Trail. Our favourite has to be U1 - Tashiro Ladies' Trail.
Intermediates (Blue): F1 - Kagura Main Trail is a great place for intermediates to practise carving. This super-wide, 1.5km run is magical.
Expert (Black): Easy access, steep powder runs are found from the summit of the Kagura Pair Lift No.5, which marks the highest point of both resorts at 2,029m. From here, you have incredible long descents with stunning views. When it's snowing, or visibility isn't the best, we recommend the tree skiing found between F4 - Giant Trail and F5 - Technical Trail, Japanese tree skiing at its best!
Backcountry and guided skiing
Naeba’s in-house Sherpa Backcountry Adventure Centre can provide highly professional tours to experience some of the best powder in Japan. The majority of the backcountry guiding takes place at Kagura, and it’s easy to see why; wide-open alpine faces, spacious meadows and phenomenal tree skiing are in abundance.
Sherpa Backcountry Adventure Centre also provides guided experiences for all levels, including beginners who can learn the basics of off-piste skiing and snow safety. Intermediates will be able to explore tree runs and powder fields beyond the resort boundaries, while advanced skiers and snowboarders will tackle those steeper, more technically challenging zones found in Kagura’s legendary backcountry.
For groups wanting untouched and serene powder rewards, the split-boarding/ski touring days are perfect, heading into the wilderness far away from the crowds.
Avalanche equipment rental is available (beacon, probe and shovel), plus training.
When to ski in Mt. Naeba
Mt. Naeba has one of the longest seasons in Japan, from late November through to May, due to the higher elevation slopes. However, we still recommend visiting when the snow is lightest, deepest and most consistent - and that’s from December through to mid-March. These are the best months to experience the famous Japow. If you want the safest bet for the famous Japanese snowfall, mid-January is the time to go.
The local market that skis in Naeba is mostly beginners and families, meaning that the powder hotspots around Mount Naeba are a lot quieter than more international resorts like Niseko and Hakuba - which means more fresh tracks for you!
You can still visit in December, with both resorts making snow for the early turners amongst us, and March is often incredible value with great snow, sunnier days and excellent backcountry and ski touring weather.
Late March and into April will be spring skiing. If you are keen to experience the famous cherry blossoms in Japan's cities, then Naeba is an excellent choice at this time of year due to its location, meaning it works seamlessly as part of a ski & city safari.
Throughout the season, Mount Naeba can be busy on weekends due to its close proximity to Tokyo. If you prefer much quieter slopes, the weekend is a great chance for a day trip or to try one of the activities on offer.
Where to stay in Mt. Naeba
This one's quite simple! There's one place to stay, and thankfully, it is incredible.
Naeba Prince Hotel
All of our guests will be staying in Mt Naeba's only ski-in ski-out accommodation, the full-service 4* Naeba Prince Hotel. This giant hotel is brilliantly Japanese, and is made up of a series of four huge blocks with a combined total of over 1,200 rooms.
Staying here is a great experience, with every amenity and facility you could ever need. Think of it as a resort within a hotel, with dozens of restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, rentals, onsens and more. Forgot something or need cash? The hotel has multiple ATMs alongside a variety of shops where you can buy or rent clothing, tech accessories, and over-the-counter medicine.
Choosing the correct building for your needs is paramount here. For the best and quickest slope access, choose buildings 2 or 3, as these blocks are closest to the lifts. Of course, we're here to help recommend which wing suits you best.
Getting around Naeba
As everything is on-site in the hotel, you don't need a car to get around. In fact, all you really need is two legs to walk around the hotel! There is a small town just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, where you'll find a small number of restaurants, but not too much else - everything happens at the hotel.
You can combine Naeba with other ski resorts in Japan, such as Madarao or Nozawa Onsen, with both less than a half day's travel away. Tokyo is an obvious option to add on as a city stay, as you'll fly into here, and Kyoto is accessible by public transport too.
Where to eat and drink in Mt. Naeba
Famously delicious Japanese food, home comforts, traditional mountain favourites or western fine dining - whatever you fancy, you'll find it here.
Naeba
Unlike most other resorts, Naeba does not have the traditional on-mountain style restaurants, as almost all runs cascade back down to the hotel, which has some of the most varied and amazing value restaurants and bars we've ever experienced within one hotel.
Whatever your preference, you are well catered for. There are five designated restaurants for breakfast, serving Western and Japanese buffet food. For lunch and dinner, there are 29 restaurants and cafés to pick from.
Breakfast in Naeba
Restaurant Azalea - where we'd recommend, serving a varied buffet breakfast with multiple cuisines.
Cafés - for a lighter grab and go brekkie, take your pick at one of the many cafés dotted about.
Lunch in Naeba
Food Trucks - a popular food truck network can be found by the après bar, offering tasty grab-and-go options.
Kitchen Car Homare - traditional Japanese street food (our favourite) featuring tonjiru (pork miso soup), yaki mochi (grilled rice cakes) and imagawayaki (filled pancakes).
Whistler Café Naeba - a Whistler-themed spot, a resort that we've been selling for 30 years!, that offers a warm retreat just 10 yards from the lift.
Thomas Café - tacos, burgers, hot dogs. Homely mountain food!
Doyadoya Kitchen - kebabs, sandwiches and churros are the offerings here.
Fuen - a traditional option with rice bowls and charcoal-grilled meats.
Dinner in Naeba
There are plenty of Western and international dining options available, as well as traditional Japanese. Here are our favourites we've yet to mention:
Restaurant Prince - New York-style cuts and international mains.
Restaurant Azalea - a superb mix of international dishes with some Japanese food.
Naeba de Napoli - as you can probably guess, a wonderful pizza restaurant.
Ariran & Bouru - Korean BBQ & Korean snacks.
Food court options - there are so many food courts and cafés selling all kinds of food from around the world, including pizza, fried chicken, fries, pasta, etc. You'll also find plenty of Japanese options here too.
Fine dining in Naeba
If you are looking for something extra special, it should be no surprise that the hotel can accommodate this! We recommend:
Sushi Minagawa - delicious Japanese counter dining for an authentic evening treat.
Beaux Sejours - an amazing French restaurant with a superb wine selection. Considered the hotel's premier dining option with high-end service.
Restaurant Takumi - a highly rated Kaiseki-style dining experience. Expect multiple courses of the most delicious and delicate Japanese cuisine.
Kogane - the hotel's Chinese restaurant, banquet style and very upscale with multiple dish options.
Après-ski in Naeba
Despite Naeba not being a party resort, après-ski is an option at Naeba - it's more low-key, yet is still fun and very accessible. We recommend you do what the Japanese love, and that’s visiting an Izakaya, a Japanese pub experience with food.
Izakaya Unagi Nosuke - traditional casual Japanese pub-style dining, with a laid-back atmosphere. Order drinks and small plates together, like a Japanese tapas.
Whistler Café Naeba - a solid option for some laid-back post-ski drinks.
Alpin Hutte Naeba - located “outside” by the food truck area. Think DJ, fire pits, s'mores, drinks and dancing.
Chatelaine Cocktail Lounge - for a laid-back drink to unwind at the end of the day, stop by Chatelaine and try one of their cocktails.
Lobby Lounge / Edelweiss - casual café-bar where you can order food and drink.
Kagura
Kagura is a bit more traditional in the sense that it has some excellent on-mountain options to choose from. We'd recommend sticking to Naeba for breakfast and dinner, but take your pick from the following for a bite at lunchtime.
Wada Goya - our personal favourite for an authentic Japanese on-mountain lunch. Serving simple Japanese food, udon, and pork dishes. Customers sit boots off on tatami seating.
Restaurant Alyeska - a stunning setting by Lake Tashiro, with hearty mountain food such as beef stew.
Restaurant Kagura - located by the Kagura Gondola top station, serving Japanese curry and steak.
Restaurant Alm - found by the Dragondola Summit Station, Restaurant Alm affords some of the most scenic views to accompany your food. Offers both Western and Japanese food.
Activities in Naeba
There are some great and easily accessible activities in Naeba. We recommend trying these on weekends, when the resort is a little busier. That's except for onsens - a must every day in our opinion!
Snowmobile Land - jump in the hot seat and ride snowmobiles on prepared tracks around Naeba. Children riding with adults is permitted. Located in-resort by the Dragondola, Naeba side.
Onsens - one of the best ways to relax off the slopes is to visit one of the many onsens. There are two within the Naeba Prince Hotel - Naeba no Yu, an indoor onsen in building 4 and Hiuchi no Yu, an outdoor onsen near the ski centre.
Sherpa Adventure Centre - explore Naeba's winter wonderland surroundings with guided winter walks and snowshoe tours.
Snow Monkeys - discover one of Japan’s most iconic winter attractions on a guided tour to Jigokudani Monkey Park, famous for its snow monkeys that bathe in natural hot springs.
Takuto Playland - found in the hotel, this is a fun option for the little ones.
Kids in Naeba
Naeba is very popular in the local market with families, and for good reason. There's a great set-up and welcoming vibe, meaning that kids can settle in despite being in a whole new atmosphere (and hemisphere!)
Family Snowland - located to the left of the hotel, Family Snowland is a winter wonderland for children looking to “play” in the snow. Think snow tubing, snowmobile rides, sledding and snow play zones.
Indoor Play Hall - in building 6 of the hotel, this is a supersized indoor soft play area, perfect for little ones to let loose while parents can take a break.
Kids ski free - children 12 and under ski for free!
Kids' ski lessons - ski school is available for little ones looking to progress their skiing. The beginner slopes are very child-friendly, and there is a great setup for complete beginners with the world's first indoor and outdoor ski programme inside the hotel (see more below). Lesson start times are generally 9:30am and 1pm.
Ski School in Naeba
Naeba has an extensive ski school programme and helpful facilities for skiers and boarders of all abilities.
Pandaruman Ski School - the world's first indoor and outdoor ski school designed for kids who have never skied before, based in the Naeba Prince Hotel. Start off in the warm, safe and approachable indoor facility, and move on to the outdoor slopes when you're deemed ready. This is ideal for learning the very basics before moving onto gentle slopes outside - and it suits all ages!
Naeba Ski School - you can book either private group or private lessons with Naeba Ski School, whatever your level, with English-speaking instructors. These lessons start at the top of each hour and are max. 2 hours long - but you can book multiple lessons to extend this and get the most out of your time, which we recommend.
Have a question about Naeba?
Take a look at our Naeba FAQs or call our team on 01273 224060 to speak to someone who has skied and stayed here.
Maps
Resort Map
Trail map
Resort Stats
Season
Nearest airport
Transfer time
Transport
Elevation
Vertical drop
Avg snowfall
Ski area
Ski lifts
Runs
Grade
Interested?
Let’s start crafting your perfect tailor-made ski holiday
Every holiday is tailor-made, just for you. Our ski specialists will look at your enquiry and will be in touch within a day or two. We promise it's worth the wait!