Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, is a rare ski resort directly connected to Echigo-Nakazato Station on the JR Joetsu Line. This makes it easily accessible by train, but it is also just a 10-minute drive from Yuzawa IC on the Kanetsu Expressway, making it easily accessible from the Kanto region.
Although it is a ski resort that is visited by many skiers from outside the prefecture, it is also a popular destination for hardcore locals. We explored the secret behind why it is loved by locals.
Heavy snowfall like a cushion falls several times a year
Yuzawa Nakazato is a ski resort with a wide, sprawling shape, resembling two mountains combined into one, offering a variety of slopes. Besides its easy accessibility, abundant gentle slopes, and proximity of the ski area to the parking lot, it's extremely popular with families. However, Yuzawa Nakazato's hidden charm isn't limited to its family-friendly features.
Located closer to the Tanigawa mountain range within Yuzawa town, it's situated in an area with heavy snowfall. Therefore, on days with snowfall, it enjoys some of the most abundant snow in the Yuzawa area.
In recent years, the ski resort has been making the most of its appeal by expanding the tree run area and hosting freeride competitions, and thanks to these efforts, the appeal of Yuzawa Nakazato's powder snow is gradually becoming known.
To learn more about the many charms of Yuzawa Nakazato, we asked the Kishino family, who live at the foot of the ski resort and know it all, to show us around the resort.
Kishino Family
This active family lives at the foot of Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort and loves the outdoors. Both father Daisuke and son Eight started skiing at Yuzawa Nakazato and continue practicing there. They are such a big fan of Yuzawa Nakazato that even as adults, they continue to ski at this resort as a family.
A ski resort that is friendly to families who want to ski hard
"Since I was in kindergarten, whenever I had a day off, I would gather at Yuzawa Nakazato with my friends and ski. It's only a 3-minute drive from my house, so it's very easy to get to.
The best thing about this ski resort is the amount of snow. When there's lots of snow, there are plenty of fun places to ski, like the tree run area and the ungroomed zones. I especially love the steep powder slopes like Giant and Champion. When there's a lot of snow on those challenging steep slopes, it's just irresistible. So today is perfect! Even when tracks come down the steep slopes, there are still tree run areas and plenty of places to ski in powder,"
Daisuke says.
As Daisuke recommends, Yuzawa Nakazato has five ungroomed courses and numerous tree run areas.
All of the ungroomed courses are for advanced skiers, with a maximum gradient of over 30 degrees. The Dynamic Course in particular offers a long run of 600 meters, and on powder days it's a course where you can feel like you're floating. The Giant Course is also a challenging course with a maximum gradient of 32 degrees and a run length of 580 meters.
The Champion Course, located at the front of the ski resort, is a famous course with dramatic terrain changes and is also used for freeride competitions. With a maximum slope of 32 degrees, it attracts a lot of attention from the base of the slopes.
Along the course, there are kickers made of logs and wooden rails, making it a recommended course for those who want to ski actively.
Daisuke says that while there is plenty of content to satisfy even advanced skiers, Yuzawa Nakazato is best recommended for families.
The family enjoyed spending time together and were thoroughly satisfied after being covered in snow.
Overhead snow like the one in the photo is not uncommon in Yuzawa Nakazato.
Compact and easy to keep an eye on. Perfect for beginner skiers.
"Yuzawa Nakazato is recommended for those who want to ski hard, but it's also perfect for families. The slope from the third lift is actually perfect for teaching children to ski. I taught my children to ski on this slope. Sometimes parents can watch their children skiing while drinking beer and munching on takoyaki. The groomed runs are also fun, and there is a wide variety of terrain, so the appeal of Yuzawa Nakazato is its wide range of options."
There is a wide selection of rental items, so children can feel safe
"Another great thing for parents is that there is a wide selection of rental equipment. Children's bodies grow quickly, so you have to buy new gear every year, which is difficult unless you ski multiple times a year. However, Yuzawa Nakazato has a wide selection of stylish, high-performance rental equipment, so it's fun to choose, and you can rest assured that you'll find the right gear."
"The real appeal of Yuzawa Nakazato is how close the parking lots are. At other ski resorts, if you arrive late you might have to park a little further away from the resort, but at Yuzawa Nakazato, no matter where you park, you're right next to the resort. It's great for locals and families with lots of luggage.
From a family perspective, the Blue Train at the base of the slopes is also extremely convenient. If you get tired, you can take a break right away, and kids will be thrilled to have a train that doubles as a rest area right inside the ski resort."
A skiable slope that even teenage friends can enjoy
His son, Eight, who has been skiing at Yuzawa Nakazato with his father since he was a child, also seems to understand firsthand that the wide variety of slopes and comprehensive services make it enjoyable for a wide range of users.
"I've been coming here since I was little. It was at Yuzawa Nakazato that I first tried skiing and snowboarding. The great thing about Yuzawa Nakazato is that it's close to my house, but also that it's a ski resort that's easy for all kinds of people to enjoy. There are steep and gentle slopes, and the slopes are wide, so it's easy for beginners to ski."
"Also, because it's directly connected to the station, you can get there in no time at all by train, even if you don't have a car. Take the Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa Station, then change onto the Joetsu Line, which is two stops away (a 10-minute ride). When you think about it, Yuzawa Nakazato is a ski resort that's very close to the Kanto region, and I think it's a ski resort that anyone can come to. I sometimes come to Yuzawa Nakazato by train when my parents can't drop me off or pick me up.
It snowed a lot today, and it was fun to ski on powder snow for the first time in a while. The snow was deep, so at first I was worried about falling, but I was glad that I was able to ski properly. Of the various courses, the side of the Joyful Course has a relatively gentle slope, so you can enjoy the fresh snow, and I think it's a great course where anyone can experience the fun of powder snow.
Check out the video below to see a look back at their day together.
Video / Yuki Murayama
Instagram @yukimurayama_film
Information
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort,
5044-1 Tsuchitaru, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
Official website:https://www.yuzawa-nakazato.com/winter/
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