The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Kagura operates across three interconnected zones spanning 620 to 1,845 metres elevation with 1,225 metres vertical drop. The resort delivers 32 runs across 418 acres, divided 37% beginner, 40% intermediate, 19% advanced and 4% expert terrain. Annual snowfall averages 10 metres, making Kagura one of Niigata's most reliable powder destinations with a summit elevation that guarantees dry, light snow throughout the season. The longest run extends 6 kilometres from top to bottom.
The Kagura zone delivers the steepest terrain and best tree skiing, whilst Mitsumata and Tashiro offer gentler progression for developing skiers. Kagura Main Gerende runs 1,512 metres with a 27-degree maximum pitch, and the Kobu Kobu Course provides mogul challenges. Backcountry access via gated entry at the summit attracts experienced riders, with English-speaking guides and permit systems in place. Two terrain parks cater to freestyle progression.
The resort maintains a local Japanese atmosphere with limited international crowds, drawing Tokyo weekenders and serious powder hunters. Mid-mountain Wada Goya offers traditional mountain hut accommodation at 1,380 metres elevation with ski-in access. On-mountain facilities focus on function over luxury, with rental shops at both Mitsumata and Tashiro stations. Wind holds occasionally affect upper lifts during storms.
The 5.5-kilometre Dragondola connects Kagura to neighbouring Naeba, creating Japan's third-largest linked ski area under the Mt Naeba designation. Joint lift tickets cover both resorts plus shuttle buses between base areas. Kagura suits confident intermediates seeking uncrowded powder, backcountry enthusiasts, and skiers prioritising snow quality and season length over resort amenities. Children 12 and under ski free with parents.
1225m
Vertical
32
Runs
418 acres
Skiable
10m
Annual snow
The Terrain
32 runs across 418 acres skiable
Kagura spreads 32 runs across 418 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 12 beginner runs to find your feet and 7 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
32
runs
32 runs across 4 grades
Beginner12 runs · 37%
Intermediate13 runs · 40%
Advanced6 runs · 19%
Expert1 run · 4%
Time it right
When to visit Kagura
The 2025-2026 season sees Kagura and Mitsumata areas operating 22 November 2025 through 17 May 2026, with Tashiro running 20 December 2025 to 6 May 2026. This represents one of Japan's longest lift-served seasons, regularly extending nearly six months from late autumn through late spring. Early season relies partly on snowmaking to supplement natural accumulation at the 620-metre base elevation. May skiing attracts enthusiasts seeking late-season powder whilst cherry blossoms bloom in the valleys below.
Kagura receives 10 metres average annual snowfall concentrated between December and March, with the third week of December typically delivering 73 centimetres across 4.8 snowy days. The 1,845-metre summit elevation ensures cold temperatures preserve snow quality throughout winter. Base depths regularly exceed 3 metres mid-season, with the February 2025 event depositing 3 metres in 72 hours. High elevation provides more stable conditions than lower Yuzawa resorts, though warm spells can affect valley-level skiing.
January through March delivers peak powder frequency with consistent storms tracking from the Sea of Japan. December offers early-season value with lighter crowds, whilst April and May provide spring corn snow and extended daylight. Mid-week visits outside Japanese school holidays guarantee uncrowded slopes. The snowiest period concentrates in January and February when Pacific weather systems intensify.
Kagura-Mitsumata Sunrise Ski operates 2 April through 8 May, offering early-morning access from first light. The Kagura No. 5 Romance Lift provides touring course access 26 February through 8 May. No special events calendar operates beyond seasonal spring programmes. Lift tickets include elementary school children free with valid ticket. The extended season makes Kagura particularly attractive for northern hemisphere skiers seeking late spring conditions unavailable elsewhere in Japan.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
10 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Kagura, and where to stay
Kagura sits in Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata Prefecture on Honshu's west-facing slopes 8 kilometres southwest of Yuzawa centre. The resort occupies terrain between the Tanigawa mountain range and Route 17 corridor at Japan's geographic centre. Mitsumata base area sits 620 metres elevation, with Tashiro station located 6 kilometres further south along the valley floor. The surrounding Echigo mountains receive heavy snowfall from moisture-laden Sea of Japan weather systems.
Echigo-Yuzawa town 9 kilometres north serves as the primary service centre with onsen baths, restaurants and accommodation. The historic hot spring town dates to the Edo period and gained fame through Yasunari Kawabata's novel Snow Country. Yuzawa proper offers convenience stores, ski shops and sake breweries. Mitsumata and Tashiro villages provide limited lodging directly at lift bases. The area sits 175 kilometres northwest of Tokyo in the Jōshinetsu Kōgen highlands.
The Kan-etsu Expressway reaches Yuzawa Interchange 8 kilometres from Mitsumata, then Route 17 leads directly to resort base areas. Tokyo drivers cover the distance in approximately 2.5 hours under normal conditions. Winter tyres or chains are mandatory November through April. Shuttle buses connect Echigo-Yuzawa Station to both Mitsumata and Tashiro bases in 20 minutes, costing 300 yen. Free shuttles link base areas for ticket holders.
Tokyo Narita Airport sits 240 kilometres southeast, whilst Haneda Airport lies 220 kilometres away with more efficient Tokyo access. The Jōetsu Shinkansen reaches Echigo-Yuzawa Station from Tokyo in 70 to 90 minutes, making Kagura amongst Japan's most accessible major resorts via public transport. Local buses depart the station approximately every 30 minutes during operating season. Niigata Airport 150 kilometres north offers domestic connections from Osaka, Sapporo and limited international flights from Shanghai, Taipei and Seoul.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Kagura, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Kagura Lift Tickets
Kagura lift tickets & passes
The 2025-2026 season at Kagura closed on Mar 29, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Lift tickets FAQ
How much does a Kagura day pass cost?
Kagura day pass pricing varies by date and advance booking - see the full breakdown in the tickets panel.
Can I buy Kagura lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets online or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Kagura lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Kagura, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Kagura lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Kagura - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Kagura lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Kagura offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Kagura directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Kagura.
More Kagura intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.