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.