Yuzawa Kogen

Popular ski resort in Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, the 'Snow Country' made famous by Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari's novel of the same name. The resort receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan, with powder conditions that delight skiers and snowboarders from December through April. A large ropeway gondola whisks visitors from the base to the summit, where runs of varying difficulty descend through birch forests with views across the snow-covered Niigata plains. In warmer months, the mountain transforms into a highland retreat with wildflower meadows, hiking trails, and a children's adventure playground, while the base area's numerous hot spring inns provide year-round relaxation after a day of outdoor activity.