"Time tickets" have recently appeared with the introduction of IC tickets. If used properly, it seems to be a very efficient way to enjoy skiing to the fullest. This is interesting! So, I've put together a list of ski resorts offering timed tickets for the 2024-25 season. ``Time tickets'' can also be purchased at an early discount, and some are only available for a limited time. Be sure to check out the official website as well.
How does a “time ticket” work?
Simply put, a time ticket is a ticket containing a one-hour ticket for ● (set number of hours). It can be used in hourly increments, and breaks etc. are not counted. Furthermore, the remaining hours can be carried over and used from one day to another within the set period during the season.
As an example, let's consider the case of a 20-hour ticket. When you pass through the gate for the first time, one hour will be subtracted from your IC lift ticket, leaving you with 19 hours left. You can pass through the gate as many times as you like for one hour after the subtracted timing. From then on, the amount will be deducted every hour, giving you a total of 20 hours of usage.
If you look at this visual of the 20-hour ticket case for Natsuyu Kogen, it is concrete and easy to get an idea of.
For example, if you arrive at the ski resort at 8:30 and first pass through the gate at 9:00, the 1 hour from 9:00 to 9:59 will be counted and subtracted from 20 hours. So, if you get on the lift at the last minute at 9:59 and come down the slope at 10:15, and the next time you pass through the gate is at 10:45, the next 1 hour from 10:45 to 11:44 will be counted and subtracted. . In other words, if you pass through a gate within one hour, your credit will not be deducted until you pass through the next gate.
It's really user-friendly, and it's also a good value. You can have a leisurely lunch or take a break without worrying about the time, and if you use an hourly ticket, you won't have to worry about regrets like, "Oh, I didn't get the money for the one-day ticket today!" There's no need to ski. How efficient and convenient!
Now, let's take a look at the ski resorts that offer such convenient time tickets.
[Common] NSD Snow Resort | Common time ticket *NEW!
Now on sale are the new “25-hour pass” and “15-hour pass” that allow you to ski freely and efficiently at nine resorts.
This season, two types of time passes have been introduced as a new service at NSD Group Partner Resorts operated by Japan Ski Resort Development Co., Ltd.: ``25-hour tickets'' and ``15-hour tickets.'' A limited number of common time tickets that can be used for multiple purposes at these nine popular resorts will be on sale from October 1st. Click here for eligible NSD Group ski resorts.
Miyagi Prefecture - Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort
Gunma Prefecture - Ogna Hotaka Ski Resort |
Kawaba Ski Resort Nagano Prefecture - Kashimayari Ski Resort Family Park | Tsugaike Mountain Resort | Hakuba Iwatake Snowfield | Ryuo Ski Park | Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort
Gifu Prefecture - Meiho ski resort
The sales period is from October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. It will end as soon as it is sold out.
| Denomination | Sales period | 15 hour ticket | 25 hour ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common lift time ticket | 10/1~3/31, 2025 | 22,500 yen (limited to 10,000 pieces) | 30,000 yen (limited to 20,000 pieces) |
[Hokkaido] Sapporo Teine | “25-hour advance ticket + 5”
Limited advance sale of 25-hour tickets with 5-hour benefits to fully enjoy Sapporo Teine
from October 15th to November 29th
About 40 minutes by car from the center of Sapporo city, the access is excellent. From the summit, which is more than 1,000m above sea level, you can enjoy exciting riding while viewing the beautiful scenery of Sapporo city and Ishikari Bay. The sparsely forested nature zone is a powder paradise with uncompacted snow.
In recent years, Sapporo Teine has become very popular among advanced skiers and snowboarders who love freeride. Their target is the vast backcountry that stretches out beyond the gate installed at the top of the mountain. The quality of the snow and the interesting terrain are unparalleled. With easy lift access, you can ski on powder-filled faces and end up back at the ski resort parking lot. The ``25 hours + 5'' allows you to ski such interesting Sapporo Teine efficiently for 30 hours only when the conditions are good. A 25-hour ticket comes with a 5-hour bonus.
The hourly price for the "Advance 25 Hour Ticket + 5" is 834 yen for adults, a 17% discount compared to the regular "25 Hour Ticket"! 30% savings for the regular "5 Hour Ticket"!! October 15 Limited advance sale from Sunday to November 29th, so don't miss your chance!
| Denomination | Sales period | Adult (19-64 years old) | Senior (65 and over) | Junior and senior high school students (13-18 years old) | Child (4-12 years old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance 25 hour ticket +5 | 10/15～11/29 | 25,000 yen | 22,000 yen | 22,000 yen | 16,000 yen |
[Hokkaido] Rusutsu Resort | “25 hour ticket +5”
The “25-hour ticket” allows you to ski in 1-hour increments and comes with a “5-hour” bonus!
Limited time sale from November 1st!
The ``25 Hour Ticket + 5'' is a great value and convenient option that allows you to ski in 1 hour increments across dates during the season, plus 5 hours of bonus time. The image is something like ``a card containing 30 one-hour tickets.''
30 hours means you can enjoy it 6 times if you use it for 5 hours a day, and 10 times if you use it for 3 hours a day. When purchasing online, the 1-hour price for the 25-hour advance ticket + 5 tickets is 1,050 yen for adults. It's a 17% savings compared to a 25-hour ticket, and a 47% savings compared to a 5-hour ticket.
In Rusutsu, Mt. Yotei blocks the moisture flowing in from the Sea of Japan, resulting in drier powder than in the Niseko area. Due to intermittent snowfall from December to February, the face is reset with fresh snow almost every day, and the powder hit rate is high.
Rusutsu is full of great nature, with a side country park that takes advantage of the undulating and varied natural terrain, and a tree run that you can enjoy to your heart's content in the beautiful forests here and there.
``25 hours + 5'' to enjoy Rusutsu efficiently and strategically. If you're going on a ski trip twice a season where you stay in Rusutsu for a few days, or if you're a Hokkaido resident and want to go skiing in Rusutsu on days when the conditions are good, this ticket is definitely a good deal.
| Denomination | Sales period | Adult (19-64 years old) | Senior (65 and over) | Junior and senior high school students (13-18 years old) | Child (4-12 years old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 hour ticket +5 | 11/1 ～12/10 | 33,000 yen (31,500 yen) | 27,500 yen (26,300 yen) | 27,500 yen (26,300 yen) | 16,500 yen (15,800 yen) |
[Gunma area] POWDER5 Gunma | Common time ticket
Sales of common lift time tickets for Kawaba, Marunuma, Iwakura, Houdaigi, and Oguna Hotaka
will 00:00 on October 1st (Tuesday)
The extremely popular "POWDER5 Hourly Ticket Gunma 5" is available at 5 locations in Gunma Prefecture: Kawaba Ski Resort, Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort, White World Oze Iwakura, Gunma Minakami Hodaigi Ski Resort, and Katashina Guna Hotaka Ski Resort. A time pass that allows you to ski around the ski resort to your heart's content conveniently and affordably. There are two types of tickets this season: a 10-hour ticket and a 20-hour ticket.
It can be used in one-hour increments from the time when you first pass through the IC gate (touch your IC ticket), and if you have any remaining time, you can use it on another day during the season, making it very efficient. You can check the remaining time on your IC ticket at each ski resort ticket counter. It's very convenient and allows you to use your time effectively. There is no need to exchange it at the ski resort, and you can go straight to the lift and board the lift, so there is no need to line up at the ticket counter, making it stress-free.
Each of the five ski resorts is unique. It has a wide variety of course variations, including terrain play that takes advantage of the particularly rich natural terrain unique to the Gunma area, powder courses, long courses, and grooming burns. Please check the official website for more details.
“POWDER5 Time Ticket Gunma 5” will be sold in limited quantities this season as well. The sales ban will be lifted from 00:00 on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at WINTER PLUS. The ``1 drink included at each ski resort'' option is also a nice touch. (A total of 5 drinks will be provided. Contents vary depending on the ski resort)
| Denomination | Sales period | 10 hour ticket | 20 hour ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| early bird | 10/1〜11/30 | 9,600 yen | 18,700 yen |
| generally | After December | 12,000 yen | 22,000 yen |
[Tohoku Area] Natsuyu Kogen | Super early bird lift 20-hour ticket
Heavy snow/powder/tree run freeride paradise super early
bird discount until October 31st!
Speaking of Natsuyu Plateau, it is well known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan. It is located in the southwestern part of Iwate Prefecture, with the Kitakami Mountains to the east and the Ou Mountains to the west. The terrain allows for a fair amount of dry powder to fall, and it is said to have the highest snowfall in Honshu. The powder reset rate is also high, making it irresistible for powder lovers. What makes Natsuyu Plateau even more outstanding is the vast tree riding zone in the beautiful forest. The super early bird 20-hour lift ticket is recommended for efficiently and fully enjoying the charming Natsuyu Plateau. Starting this season, general sales will begin during the season.
The special feature of the 20-hour pass for Natsuayu Plateau is that you can use it anytime during the season, so you don't have enough time! When this happens, it is possible to charge in 5-hour increments. (Limited to those who have purchased a 20-hour ticket)
When you have only 1 or 2 hours left, or when you want to extend your skiing because the conditions are getting better, being able to add 5 hours is really convenient. is. A 5-hour charge is 5,500 yen.
Charges can be made at the ticket counter.
| Denomination | Sales period | 20 hour ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Super early bird | 9/1〜10/31 | 21,800 yen |
| generally | 11/1～ | 26,000 yen |
[Shinetsu Area] Madarao Kogen Ski Resort | Time Ticket
I want to go skiing in the morning when Madapow is piled up!
for those who want to stay.The '24-25 season is more convenient and you can choose from 3, 5, 7, 14, and 24 hours.
Madarao is also known for its unique high-quality powder called ``Madapow'' and for its abundant amount of natural snow. The course layout that takes advantage of the undulating natural terrain is also attractive, and in particular, it has the largest number of tree run courses in Japan! The variety of courses is spectacular, and it is said to be the best tree run in Japan. There are countless powder freeride enthusiasts who are fascinated by the outstanding environment. I don't go there often enough to buy a season ticket, but I want to go skiing in the morning when Madapow is piled up! This is the perfect time ticket for people like you.
Flexible "time pass" valid throughout the season. Increased convenience for the '24-25 season! Previously, a 4-hour ticket was valid for 4 consecutive hours from the first time you passed through the gate, but this season's new timed ticket is valid for 1 hour from the time you pass through the gate.
After that, the system was updated so that if more than one hour has passed, the next hour will be valid from the time you pass through the gate.
It can also be used for night games. Convenient and value-packed to meet a variety of needs, including those who want to ski in a short period of time, those who want to take longer breaks, those who want to ski depending on the weather and snow conditions, and those who live in an area with easy access to Madarao. Another attractive feature of Madarao is that it has a wide variety of expensive time tickets, ranging from 3 hours to 24 hours.
| Denomination | Adult (Junior high school students and above) | Senior (55+) | Elementary school student |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 hour ticket | 3,900 yen | 3,600 yen | 2,700 yen |
| 5 hour ticket | 6,500 yen | 6,000 yen | 4,000 yen |
| 7 hour ticket | 7,700 yen | 7,000 yen | 4,900 yen |
| 14 hour ticket | 14,000 yen | 13,300 yen | 9,100 yen |
| 24 hour ticket | 24,000 yen | 22,800 yen | 15,600 yen |
[Yuzawa Area] Kandatsu Snow Resort | 25-hour ticket
Only 100 25-hour tickets are on sale, so you can make the most of your long day at Kandatsu, which is open from early morning until late at night
``I want to go on a day trip and ski only during convenient times'' ``I'm a laid-back person who likes to have plenty of lunch and coffee time, so I don't ride the lifts very often'' ``I just want to enjoy the first powder in the morning'' ``I only want to ski at night for an hour each time'' For those who want to decide the skiing time each time depending on the weather, this 25-hour ticket is likely to be of great value.
Speaking of Kandatsu Snow Resort, it is a short 69 minutes from Tokyo by Joetsu Shinkansen, about 7 minutes by free shuttle bus from Echigo Yuzawa Station, and by car, it is about 1 km from Kanetsu Expressway Yuzawa IC, only 3 minutes, and parking is free all day. The quality is outstanding. Lifts operate from 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays and holidays, and night skiing runs until 2:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and days before holidays. It is by far the most well-equipped with a hot spring and sauna where you can relax during the day, a nap space with Wi-Fi, many restaurants with a wide variety of menus, and contracted lockers to make your day trip as comfortable as possible.
The high-quality snow park and Kandatsu Freeski School are familiar to freeskiers who love jumping and jibbing, but they also offer uncompacted powder areas, hump areas, tree run areas, steep slopes with a maximum slope of 45 degrees, and a total length of 2,900 meters. The long course along the ridge will satisfy any type of skier's desire.
Why not try commuting to Kandatsu wisely with a 25-hour ticket this season?
| Denomination | place of sale | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 hour ticket | GROUNDBASE 2F Ticket Counter | 20,000 Yen |