For skiers and snowboarders living in the Tokyo metropolitan area who are tired of the scorching heat, summer slopes offer a refreshing breeze on the cool highlands, allowing you to enjoy a sensation similar to that of snow. Why not try the refreshing experience of skiing that can only be experienced in summer at a ski resort with a green atmosphere that is completely different from the snow season?
What is the appeal of summer slopes?
As the name suggests, a summer slope is a slope at a winter ski resort that has been adapted so that skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in the summer. You might think that there must be something really attractive about going to a ski resort in the summer.
That's right! Summer slopes have a "charm that can only be experienced and obtained in the summer."
5 recommended summer slopes you'll want to visit right away!
Marunuma (Gunma Prefecture) | You'll be amazed at how close it feels to skiing on snow!
This 400m long winter yellow course is covered with special mats and has a maximum slope of 15 degrees. Water is sprinkled on the course to improve glide. The edging feels a bit loose, but turning and other aspects are similar to normal skiing or snowboarding, allowing you to glide with a feeling similar to that of snow. Check out the video below to get a better idea of what it's like
Although Marunuma does not have a permanent ski school, it does hold lesson camps run by famous skiers, providing an environment where you can improve your skiing skills over the summer. In addition to camping, Marunuma Kogen also offers a wide range of activities during the green season, such as tree adventures and summer luge. Being able to enjoy both activities is one of its attractions
Information
| address | 4658-58 Higashiogawa, Katashina Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture |
| telephone number | 0278-58-2211 |
| Business days | July 13th (Saturday) - October 14th (Monday, national holiday) 8:30am - 4:30pm *Some holidays |
| Fee | 1-day ticket: Adults ¥3,600, Elementary school students ¥2,000 |
| rental | Ski and snowboard set ￥3,500 |
| School | There is no permanent school. There are lesson camps with demo skiers |
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort (Nagano Prefecture) | A long course measuring 500m in length and 30m in width, offering excellent skiing!
PIS LAB is located along the Hikage Four Lift, Nozawa Onsen's signature slope. The course is 500m long and a generous 30m wide, so there's no shortage of big turns. With a maximum slope of 27°, it's a challenging slope to ski. Even in summer, it feels very close to snow, so you can enjoy carving turns and freestyle tricks
Naski Park is equipped with a 40m long beginner course, as well as a 100m long, 10m wide corridor training area where you can practice short turns with poles. There's also a 50m long, 5m wide mogul lane where you can make 15 mogul turns!
The summer slope is located on the Hikage slope at the bottom of the ski resort, but if you take the Nagasaka Gondola to Kaminodaira Picnic Garden, you can relax in the cool air even in midsummer, admiring wildflowers and other flowers, or get active on a mountain bike. A tour of Nozawa Onsen's 13 symbolic outdoor baths is also perfect for enjoying the summer atmosphere
Information
| address | 7653 Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture |
| telephone number | 0269-85-3166 |
| Business days | July 13th (Sat) - September 23rd (Mon, holiday), 2024: 9:00-16:00 Open every day * Closed for maintenance on July 24th (Wed), August 21st (Wed), and September 11th (Wed) September 24th (Tue) - November 4th (Mon), 2024: 9:00-16:00 Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays * Open on public holidays |
| Fee | 1-day lift ticket: Adults ¥4,000, Seniors ¥3,600, Children ¥2,500 |
| rental | Summer skis (skis, boots, poles) 5,500 yen per day |
Kagura Summer Slope (Niigata Prefecture) | One of the largest in Japan, where you can also practice moguls
It is easily accessible, being within a 2.5 hour drive from Tokyo, and during the summer season a summer slope is set up on the family course in the Mitsumata area (A1, along the Mitsumata No. 1 high-speed lift)
The course is covered with snow mats called "PIS LAB," which give the feeling of gliding on snow, and is one of the largest in Japan, with a total length of approximately 1,100m and a width of 25-50m. To reduce friction and improve glide, the course is watered by sprinklers and special wax is regularly applied. The wide course allows skis to glide easily, allowing you to perform long turns and freestyle tricks to your heart's content, making .
Another reason for its popularity is the permanent installation of artificial mogul lanes. In addition to 30 consecutive lanes, each reaching a total length of 120m, there are also 10 consecutive artificial waves and mogul courses. These courses are highly rated by technically advanced skiers as being challenging, making them the perfect place to get your mogul skiing going in the season ahead
Information
| address | 742 Mitsumata, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture |
| telephone number | 025-788-9221 |
| Business days | Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from July 13th (Sat) to September 29th (Sun), 2024, and from August 13th (Tue) to 16th (Fri), 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (last ropeway ride up at 2:30 PM) |
| Fee | Gondola/lift 1-day ticket: Adults ¥4,500, Seniors/Middle and High School Students ¥4,000 |
| rental | Summer skis (skis, boots, poles) 4,500 yen per day |
GALA Yuzawa (Niigata Prefecture) | You can ski empty-handed at GALA even in the summer!
Located close to the Yuzawa Interchange on the Kan'etsu Expressway, GALA Summer Park also operates a free shuttle bus from Echigo-Yuzawa Station on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen. What sets it apart is its easy accessibility. Located at an altitude of approximately 800m via gondola, the 350m-long summer slope stretches out over the area. Taking advantage of the natural terrain, the course is enjoyable even in summer for everyone from experts to beginners, making it a popular destination for families and serious skiers
The ground is covered with "PIS LAB ." It makes edging your skis easy, so even those who are not used to skiing can start with a similar feeling to skiing on snow. Even small children can try it, and lessons are available. In addition to skis, you can also rent protective gear at the rental corner, so you don't have to worry if you come empty-handed.
The area is also home to trekking trails, swimming pools, and other indoor and outdoor attractions, as well as hot springs, making it a place where everyone from adults to children can enjoy a satisfying summer time
Information
| address | 1039-2, Yuzawa-cho, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture |
| telephone number | 025-785-6543 |
| Business days | :30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from July 13th (Saturday) to September 1st (Sunday), and every day from August 10th (Saturday) to August 25th (Sunday) (summer slopes closed from August 19th to 23rd) |
| Fee | Gondola/lift 1-day ticket: Adults ¥3,000, 6-12 years old ¥2,000 |
| rental | Summer ski (Balship) 3-piece set ¥4,000 per day |
| School | Half-day lessons from ￥4,000 |
Fujiten Resort (Yamanashi Prefecture) | Easy day trip from Tokyo, Yokohama, or Shizuoka without having to carry anything!
Fujiten Resort is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture. Its greatest appeal is its easy access from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Just 90 minutes from Tokyo, Yokohama, and Shizuoka, you can plunge into the refreshing coolness of nature at an altitude of 1,200 meters. You can even enjoy a half-day of skiing or snowboarding on the summer slopes while driving to the Fuji Five Lakes. There is a wide selection of rental equipment, so you can come empty-handed whenever you feel like it!
The course uses high-performance mats developed specifically for summer slopes, which combine smooth running and long turn performance. By adjusting the hardness of the material and the length of the pins, it is easier to grip the edges and get a sharp turn feeling. The course is about 300m long, with a maximum gradient of 15 degrees and an average gradient of 12 degrees, making it wide and spacious for relaxed skiing. There is also a single row of moguls that is about 150m long
There is also a grass skiing course nearby where you can roller ski on the grass, so it's fun to enjoy different types of skiing sensations using the same boots
In addition, families will be delighted to enjoy mountain biking, mountain boarding, children's activities and barbecues
Information
| address | 8545-1 Fujisan, Narusawa Village, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| telephone number | 0555-85-2000 |
| Business days | June 29, 2024 (Sat) - October 20, 2024 (Sun) 9:00 - 16:45 |
| Fee | 1-day ticket: Adults ¥4,000, 3-hour ticket: ¥3,000 |
| rental | Summer ski set fee: 1 day ¥3,000, 3 hours ¥2,000 |