Tsugaike
904m vertical, 13m annual snow, 50% beginner terrain. Epic Pass access. Northern Hakuba Valley, Japan.
Season 2025-2026
Opens
5 Dec 2025
Closes
29 Mar 2026
Days open
114
Annual snow
4.9m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Tsugaike Mountain Resort operates across 904 metres of vertical drop from 800 to 1,704 metres elevation, with 14 trails and 196 hectares of terrain covering 50 per cent beginner, 30 per cent intermediate and 20 per cent advanced grades. The resort receives 13 metres of average annual snowfall in the northern Hakuba Valley. A gondola provides direct summit access, serving wide cruising runs and lift-accessed tree zones that require a 20-minute safety briefing for entry. The resort holds five consecutive days of access on the Epic Pass alongside the Hakuba Valley Pass.
The lower mountain contains some of the widest beginner terrain in Hakuba, with green runs stretching 4,900 metres from summit to base. Mid-mountain terrain features long intermediate runs including the Han-no-ki course and Champion slope. The upper mountain accesses the Tsugapow DBD tree zone, divided into five gates from mellow powder runs to steep cliff terrain. Only one black diamond piste exists on the groomed trail network, whilst a terrain park operates near the summit, serviced by two pair lifts.
Tsugaike village maintains a traditional Japanese ski resort character, with ski-in ski-out lodging and limited nightlife compared to Happo One or Echoland 15 minutes south. The resort draws fewer international crowds than other Hakuba areas, operating night skiing on the lower mountain including Shirakaba, Karamatsu and Kane-no-naru-oka slopes during weekends and holiday periods. International ski schools offer private lessons in English and Chinese. The gondola base station houses Tsuga-no-yu hot spring baths and rental facilities, whilst a 50-metre moving walkway serves a dedicated children's learning area charging 500 yen.
Epic Pass holders receive five consecutive days with no blackout dates across all 10 Hakuba Valley resorts, requiring a physical RFID card rather than mobile pass. The Hakuba Valley Pass provides interchangeable access via a free shuttle bus network connecting all valley resorts. The 2025-26 season runs from 5 December to 29 March. Tsugaike suits families, first-time visitors and powder seekers looking for quieter slopes and backcountry access within Japan's Northern Alps.
904m
Vertical
14
Runs
484 acres
Skiable
4.9m
Annual snow
Epic Pass
Pass
The Terrain
14 runs across 484 acres skiable
Tsugaike sits at the northern end of the Hakuba valley in Nagano Prefecture, with 14 runs over 196 hectares and 904 metres of vertical between 800 metres and 1,704 metres. Half of its terrain is beginner, 30% intermediate and 20% advanced, with no expert grading, which makes it one of Hakuba's friendliest areas. The lift system includes a gondola, an aerial tram, seven quad chairs, six doubles and a triple. Gentle, broad slopes high on the mountain give learners room to practise, and the views toward the Northern Alps help make the long runs feel less like work.
The widest slopes are in the centre of the mountain, where cruisers can link long turns, and the longest descent covers about five kilometres. Official backcountry gates give advanced skiers a way into ungroomed sidecountry terrain, and a lift-served tree zone requires a safety briefing before entry. Night skiing runs on the lower slopes during busy periods. Tsugaike suits families, beginners and intermediates in particular, as well as backcountry-minded skiers who plan to go beyond the gates with guide support. Experts who want steep inbound groomers will find only a little, so look elsewhere in Hakuba for that.
Terrain split
14
runs
14 runs across 4 grades
Beginner7 runs · 50%
Intermediate4 runs · 30%
Advanced3 runs · 20%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Tsugaike
The 2025-26 season opened on 5 December 2025 and closes on 29 March 2026, operating daily from 8am to 4:50pm. Tsugaike typically opens in early December alongside Hakuba Goryu and Happo One, benefiting from northern valley positioning. The resort averages 13 metres of annual snowfall, with the 2025-26 season recording 722 centimetres through mid-season. Elevation advantage at 1,704 metres summit maintains consistent snow quality through March, whilst the base at 800 metres requires occasional snowmaking support for lower runs.
January and February deliver peak powder conditions as Siberian air masses cross the Sea of Japan, depositing consistent snowfall across the Northern Alps. The resort's northern Hakuba location receives marginally heavier accumulation than resorts further south in the valley. Night skiing operates nightly during New Year holiday periods, then typically once weekly for the remainder of the season from 6pm to 9pm. Spring conditions from mid-March onwards see the Panorama Ropeway cable car open for backcountry access to higher elevation terrain, with corn snow developing on lower slopes.
December and early January offer uncrowded conditions before Japanese school holidays, whilst late January through February sees peak visitation and pricing. March delivers warmer temperatures, longer daylight and stable weather windows ideal for families and intermediates. The resort historically operated into early May in some seasons, though recent closures occur in late March or early April depending on snowpack. Weekend and holiday periods bring higher visitor numbers from domestic markets, with weekdays remaining quiet throughout the season.
The resort schedules terrain park features for late season when snowpack stabilises. The Tsugapow DBD tree zone opens subject to avalanche conditions and requires all participants to complete a safety briefing at Jackie's Kitchen near the top gondola station before receiving access armbands. Special events and programming details update four times weekly via slope reports. Advance discount lift tickets and season passes sell from September, with cancellation insurance available at 90 per cent refund rates if requested before pass issuance.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
4.9 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Tsugaike
Daily snow reports at Tsugaike go back to 2012, 15 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
57 cm
Snowiest day
13 Jan 2017
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
454 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Tsugaike, and where to stay
Tsugaike Mountain Resort sits in Otari village, Kitaazumi District, in the northwestern corner of Nagano Prefecture bordering Niigata Prefecture to the north and west. The base village sits at 800 metres elevation in the northern Hakuba Valley, part of Japan's Northern Alps within Chubu-Sangaku National Park. The resort occupies the eastern slopes above the Himekawa River valley, with Mount Hakuba-Norikura-dake rising to 2,469 metres directly above the ski area. Otari village comprises fewer than 3,000 residents spread across 54 settlements, maintaining traditional satoyama mountain community character distinct from Hakuba's more developed southern villages.
Hakuba village sits 15 minutes south via shuttle bus, connecting to Happo One, Echoland and other valley accommodation centres. Nagano city lies 50 kilometres southeast, whilst Matsumoto sits 70 kilometres south. The village of Otari and Minami-Otari Station on the JR Oito Line provide the nearest rail access. Itoigawa city in Niigata Prefecture sits 30 kilometres north along the historic Senshi Kaido trade route that once transported salt and seafood between the Sea of Japan coast and inland Nagano.
Road access follows Route 148 north from Hakuba village, then turns west into Tsugaike via local roads for approximately 10 kilometres total from Hakuba. From Nagano city, drivers take the Nagano Expressway to Azumino IC, then general roads covering 52 kilometres in approximately 70 minutes. From Tokyo, the route follows the Chuo Expressway to Okaya Junction, then the Nagano Expressway to Azumino IC, totalling roughly four hours covering 295 kilometres. Free parking operates at a second lot 400 metres past the gondola, with the main gondola-adjacent lot charging 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays.
Nagano Airport sits 80 kilometres south, though most international visitors arrive via Tokyo's Narita or Haneda airports approximately 330 and 280 kilometres distant respectively. Direct express buses run from Nagano Station to Tsugaike in 90 minutes, departing four times daily. The journey from Tokyo requires the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station, then the ALPICO express bus to Tsugaike, totalling approximately five hours. From Narita Airport, total transfer time reaches five and a half hours including train connections. Hakuba Valley shuttle buses connect all 10 valley resorts throughout the season, with Tsugaike positioned on the northern Cortina route operating every 30 minutes during peak periods.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Tsugaike, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Tsugaike's ski season?
Tsugaike's 2025-2026 season typically runs from December 5 through March 29. That window is roughly 114 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Chubu, Japan often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Tsugaike have?
Tsugaike lists about 484 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 14 named runs (196 hectares alongside 484 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Tsugaike?
Trail grading at Tsugaike breaks down roughly as 50% beginner, 30% intermediate, 20% advanced. With a strong beginner share, Tsugaike suits families and first-time visitors who want forgiving warm-up terrain before exploring further upslope.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Tsugaike have?
Tsugaike operates 16 lifts across 5 lift types. The fleet includes 7 quad chairs, 6 double chairs, 1 aerial tram, 1 gondola, and 1 triple chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Tsugaike?
Base elevation at Tsugaike is about 800 m (2,625 ft), with the summit around 1,704 m (5,591 ft), giving roughly 904 m (2,966 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Tsugaike get each season?
Tsugaike averages about 486 cm (191 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Does Tsugaike accept the Epic Pass?
Tsugaike is affiliated with the Epic Pass. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Epic Pass, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Tsugaike before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 3 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Tsugaike so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Tsugaike have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Tsugaike. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Tsugaike located?
Tsugaike sits in Chubu, Japan. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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