Yuzawa (Niigata)
Discover Yuzawa (Niigata)
Yuzawa (湯沢) is a town in Niigata prefecture and the most convenient ski resort in Japan. Often called Echigo-Yuzawa (越後湯沢, capped with old province name) to avoid confusion. The canonical backwoods hot spring and skiing resort, Nobel prize winner Yasunari Kawabata's classic novel Snow Country (雪国 Yukiguni, see box) takes place in Yuzawa. Or so the Yuzawans claim; to be quite strict, the novel never mentions the name of its setting, but Kawabata wrote the novel while staying in Yuzawa so perhaps it's not too big a leap to make.
What to Experience in Yuzawa (Niigata)
Taste of Yuzawa (Niigata)...
Japan's only fully foreign owned and operated Austrian-style ski lodge, STI Ski Lodge in Isiuchi
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Yuzawa (Niigata).
Japan's only fully foreign owned and operated Austrian-style ski lodge, STI Ski Lodge in Isiuchi
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsNiigata Airport - the closest airport to Yuzawa - is served by domestic flights and a small number of flights from China, South Korea and Taiwan. Shuttle buses run from the airport to JR Niigata station every 20–30 minutes (25 minutes, ¥410). From there, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa (50 minutes, ¥5380). Yuzawa is easily reached via the Echigo-Yuzawa (越後湯沢) station of the Joetsu Shinkansen line. Trains run 2-4 times per hour from Tokyo station, taking 75–90 minutes at a cost of ¥6670. The fare is covered by the national Japan Rail Pass, as well as several regional rail passes offered by JR East. Among the better deals for tourists traveling from Tokyo to Yuzawa is the ¥10000 JR Tokyo Wide Pass. Toki trains generally make fewer stops and continue on to Niigata, while Tanigawa trains terminate at Echigo-Yuzawa after stopping at all stations on the route. In the wintertime, most Tanigawa trains continue on to the Gala Yuzawa ski resort (see Do)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Japan's only fully foreign owned and operated Austrian-style ski lodge, STI Ski Lodge in Isiuchi
Where to Stay
Japan's only fully foreign owned and operated Austrian-style ski lodge, STI Ski Lodge in Isiuchi
Money & Budget
Japan's only fully foreign owned and operated Austrian-style ski lodge, STI Ski Lodge in Isiuchi
Safety Information
Glimpses of Yuzawa (Niigata)
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.
Snowy village with construction equipment and ski jump.