I’m not really sure if there are many “cheap” ski resorts in distance from Tokyo. Since you’ll have to travel quite a decent amount to actually get to snow and all the closest places are in Nagano and are pretty famous.
What do you think is cheap? I’m from Canada where day passes for some ski resorts are 16000円, so almost any ski resort in Japan is cheap for me when I compare it to the price back home.
what’s your budget?
but generally university student and skiing don’t gel unless you have rich parents.
Maybe try something like [Ski Ichiba](https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/). Look around and you’ll find cheap day-trip deals (bus transport + ski pass).
Go online and look for package deals. Lots of travel companies run package deals for bus +lift ticket to and from Tokyo to various places and it can be like 6,000 total all inclusive.
If you are not a Japanese citizen, you can use the Tokyo Wide Pass: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/tokyowidepass.html This is a JR pass that’s available for foreign residents (most JR passes are only for tourists). This will take you to Gala Yuzawa, and the ski lifts start from the shinkansen station. As a holder of the Tokyo Wide Pass, you also get a small discount on the lift pass, I believe. And you can save money on hotels if you go from Tokyo every day (and maybe catch up on some sleep on the train).
However expect Gala Yuzawa to be crowded on weekends, as it’s easily reachable from Tokyo, so if possible you might want to go on a weekday. And definitely avoid long weekends, if possible.
I’d go to Akakura/Myoko. Relatively close, day passes are reasonable, walking distance to lifts.
Killer is going to be accommodation no matter where you go but if you get a shared bunk room it will be a bit cheaper.
Cheapest way is a 0 stay night bus ski package (夜行日帰り).
You get on the bus at like 11pm from Tokyo on Friday (or Saturday), and the bus gets to the ski hill, usually Nagano, at around 6 or 7 am the next day. You ski all day, hit the onsen, then get back on the bus at 5-6pm and arrive back in Tokyo at near midnight.
This is really cheap because, as you might have noticed, you don’t need a hotel! Runs around 10000-15000 yen for the whole package, rental and lift ticket included.
Ski tours such as orion, ski-bigs, ski-ichiba, etc.
You’d want a bus tour as it’s the cheapest that they offer. Prices vary depending on the ski resort. The cheapest I paid for was Ryuoo ski park in 21-22. I believe it was around ￥30,000 per person for 3 days and 2 nights; hotel and food included. Cheapest rentals were around 1k per day, IIRC.
Just go on a tour. If you google スキーバスツアー a load of cheap options will come up especially for day trips.
From ¥5600 for lift pass and transportation to and from resort is as cheap as you’re gonna get.
Define cheap? Cheap for you might not be possible.
If you want it cheap, Echigo-Yuzawa. You can day trip from Tokyo, no staying required.
If you’re gonna go more than 3 days in Japan, it’s definitely worth it to buy second hand snow gear instead of renting. The snow this season is earlier than last and the snow resorts start charging their season rates around 23rd December, so if you can go before you’ll have cheaper “preseason” prices. Its really possible to go cheaply, I’m a student on a less than minimum wage stipend and I went for 19 days in total last season, from Kyoto 🙂
Higaeri through [https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/](https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/) . The expensive part is lodging. Higaeri bus is ticket+bus trip, for a very low price.
If you’re a student and don’t have plans for the spring break, find a place to work at a resort.
Still lots of work available.
Most places will set you up with lodging and a season pass.
Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata. Can take a shin (from Tokyo / Ueno) or bus (Iekebukuro). Shin is better cus you can ski the whole day till close and chill on the ride back, which is about 1 hour 20min.
Maiko and Ishiuchi are the bomb, often cheap deals and huge area if its all open. I’d avoid GALA, JR has cheap deals for it but its honestly only worth it once or twice. Just my two cents.
Start your plan early. Most properties release EB rates end of April. All the steal are there. Now either expensive or not great accommodation.
if you are student, go ask your coop. They have student packages
Shizukuishi, Iwate has 3 resorts, not touristy, awesome snow and not busy as all. Prices are usually about 3000-4000 for a day pass. Pretty cheap!
Join Inawashiro ski resort’s Facebook fan club and it’s free entry on weekdays! Still gotta get up here though (Fukushima), but can’t say fairer than that. Whatever winter gear you need just buy in the second hand shops, though i don’t know if you’ll need to rent/buy a board… or skis if you’re willing to make that mistake 😉 It’s a good set of slopes. Won’t be open til late December though.
24 comments
I’m not really sure if there are many “cheap” ski resorts in distance from Tokyo. Since you’ll have to travel quite a decent amount to actually get to snow and all the closest places are in Nagano and are pretty famous.
What do you think is cheap? I’m from Canada where day passes for some ski resorts are 16000円, so almost any ski resort in Japan is cheap for me when I compare it to the price back home.
what’s your budget?
but generally university student and skiing don’t gel unless you have rich parents.
Maybe try something like [Ski Ichiba](https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/). Look around and you’ll find cheap day-trip deals (bus transport + ski pass).
[Sun Alpina Sanosaka ](https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/sun-alpina-sanosaka/) in Nagano is about 3000 yen for a day pass, [Chokai Kogen Yashima ](https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/chokai-kogen-yashima/) in Akita is 3200 yen for a day pass. To that you will need to add the price of renting equipment (if you don’t have it) which is usually not cheap. [Akagiyama ](https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/akagiyama/) is 800 yen for a day pass, in Gunma, but it doesn’t have very good ratings.
Go online and look for package deals. Lots of travel companies run package deals for bus +lift ticket to and from Tokyo to various places and it can be like 6,000 total all inclusive.
If you are not a Japanese citizen, you can use the Tokyo Wide Pass: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/tokyowidepass.html This is a JR pass that’s available for foreign residents (most JR passes are only for tourists). This will take you to Gala Yuzawa, and the ski lifts start from the shinkansen station. As a holder of the Tokyo Wide Pass, you also get a small discount on the lift pass, I believe. And you can save money on hotels if you go from Tokyo every day (and maybe catch up on some sleep on the train).
However expect Gala Yuzawa to be crowded on weekends, as it’s easily reachable from Tokyo, so if possible you might want to go on a weekday. And definitely avoid long weekends, if possible.
I’d go to Akakura/Myoko. Relatively close, day passes are reasonable, walking distance to lifts.
Killer is going to be accommodation no matter where you go but if you get a shared bunk room it will be a bit cheaper.
Check out [JR SKISKI](https://www.jreast.co.jp/jrskiski/) for transportation inclusive package deals.
Cheapest way is a 0 stay night bus ski package (夜行日帰り).
You get on the bus at like 11pm from Tokyo on Friday (or Saturday), and the bus gets to the ski hill, usually Nagano, at around 6 or 7 am the next day. You ski all day, hit the onsen, then get back on the bus at 5-6pm and arrive back in Tokyo at near midnight.
This is really cheap because, as you might have noticed, you don’t need a hotel! Runs around 10000-15000 yen for the whole package, rental and lift ticket included.
Ski tours such as orion, ski-bigs, ski-ichiba, etc.
You’d want a bus tour as it’s the cheapest that they offer. Prices vary depending on the ski resort. The cheapest I paid for was Ryuoo ski park in 21-22. I believe it was around ￥30,000 per person for 3 days and 2 nights; hotel and food included. Cheapest rentals were around 1k per day, IIRC.
Just go on a tour. If you google スキーバスツアー a load of cheap options will come up especially for day trips.
https://www.orion-ski.jp/fair/special/departure/kanto/tokyo/tokyo/
From ¥5600 for lift pass and transportation to and from resort is as cheap as you’re gonna get.
Define cheap? Cheap for you might not be possible.
If you want it cheap, Echigo-Yuzawa. You can day trip from Tokyo, no staying required.
If you’re gonna go more than 3 days in Japan, it’s definitely worth it to buy second hand snow gear instead of renting. The snow this season is earlier than last and the snow resorts start charging their season rates around 23rd December, so if you can go before you’ll have cheaper “preseason” prices. Its really possible to go cheaply, I’m a student on a less than minimum wage stipend and I went for 19 days in total last season, from Kyoto 🙂
Higaeri through [https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/](https://www.ski-ichiba.jp/) . The expensive part is lodging. Higaeri bus is ticket+bus trip, for a very low price.
If you’re a student and don’t have plans for the spring break, find a place to work at a resort.
Still lots of work available.
Most places will set you up with lodging and a season pass.
Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata. Can take a shin (from Tokyo / Ueno) or bus (Iekebukuro). Shin is better cus you can ski the whole day till close and chill on the ride back, which is about 1 hour 20min.
Maiko and Ishiuchi are the bomb, often cheap deals and huge area if its all open. I’d avoid GALA, JR has cheap deals for it but its honestly only worth it once or twice. Just my two cents.
Start your plan early. Most properties release EB rates end of April. All the steal are there. Now either expensive or not great accommodation.
if you are student, go ask your coop. They have student packages
Shizukuishi, Iwate has 3 resorts, not touristy, awesome snow and not busy as all. Prices are usually about 3000-4000 for a day pass. Pretty cheap!
Join Inawashiro ski resort’s Facebook fan club and it’s free entry on weekdays! Still gotta get up here though (Fukushima), but can’t say fairer than that. Whatever winter gear you need just buy in the second hand shops, though i don’t know if you’ll need to rent/buy a board… or skis if you’re willing to make that mistake 😉 It’s a good set of slopes. Won’t be open til late December though.
Yuzawa
Not Niseko