An introduction to some recommended spots at Kandatsu Snow Resort, reachable in as little as 66 minutes from the Tokyo Metropolitan area!

October 28, 2022
Kandatsu Snow Resort is a famous day trip ski resort, with great access from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Many skiers visit every year because it can take as little as 66 minutes to reach from the Tokyo Metropolitan area, and it’s a place where you can enjoy 100% natural snow. With a wide assortment of available meals and a large resort center that day trip skiers will love, it’s top-class in terms of comfort and convenience! We’d like to introduce you to 5 recommendations for your visit that we discovered from our first-hand visit to Kandatsu Snow Resort. After reading this travel report, you too will want to go out skiing! Have fun!

The largest domestic Day Ski Center, “GROUND BASE”

Outside view of Resort Hall
Upon arriving by bus, you’ll see the large, towering day ski center known as GROUND BASE.

In addition to the line-up of rental stores and other shops, you’ll find one of the largest bathing facilities in the Yuzawa area, Kami no Yu, which can accommodate a maximum of 400 guests.

It’s open 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays, so if you arrive late by car, you can take a quick nap, or also utilize it for a pleasant rest after skiing - a wonderful facility for day trip skiers!

Enjoy the 1,100-meter class long run course, Pollux

Pollux scenery
Pollux, the main slope of Kandatsu Kogen, has a length of 1,100 meters and a course width of about 50 meters.

It’s spacious with a great view, composed in a way that everyone from beginners to advanced skiers can enjoy.

It also features nighttime skiing - on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, you can ski from 6pm until 4am the following morning. You can ski virtually all night, giving you plenty of time to fully enjoy your nighttime skiing session!

Famous commemorative picture spot - Andromeda

Andromeda scenery
Andromeda, a course which runs along a mountain ridge near the summit, can be reached in just 10 minutes from the base of the mountain by riding the Musawa High-Speed Lift.

You can also view the one-of-a-kind scenery of the area’s steep mountains interwoven with falling snow. This is the definitive spot if you’d like to take a commemorative picture at Kandatsu Kogen! There are plenty of skiers who take a picture near the summit with the mountains as a background.

By the way, did you know that all of the courses at Kandatsu Snow Resort are named after constellations? In addition to Andromeda and Pollux, there’s also Hercules and Orion. It’s fun to try and master all 13 courses that are named after constellations!

Snow Park where beginners can fully enjoy themselves

Snow Park scenery
Kandatsu Snow Resort is famous for having long business hours into the night, but one other aspect that sets it apart from others is the Snow Park. It’s located to the side of the front-facing main slope for easy access.

It connects directly to another park where beginners can enjoy freestyle moves, so you can choose to take it on or simply watch - a park where those of any ability can find total satisfaction.

Galleria, famous as a gourmet cuisine treasure trove

Food court menu
One of the most famous aspects of Kandatsu Kogen is the food court, where you can find an assortment of shops selling famous Niigata cuisine. It’s a delightful location where you can enjoy a wide variety of meals.

Among the restaurant options, we’d really like to recommend Jacky’s Plate. With plenty of voluminous dishes, such as the teriyaki chicken, potatoes, and Neapolitan pasta, those of you with bottomless stomachs are sure to love this place!

The portion sizes are so large that 2 ladies can share a dish and still be plenty full.

A reasonably priced ski resort where you can fully enjoy skiing, even on a day trip!

Thus concludes the travel report for Kandatsu Snow Resort.

There aren’t many other places where you can experience 100% natural snow so close to Tokyo. There’s a full assortment of facilities that are convenient for day trips, and plenty of different types of foods for you to enjoy. You won’t find a more convenient day trip ski resort, so if you’re interested, be sure to make this your next ski trip destination.

Pricing information and schedule may not be up to date and are subject to change without notice. Please check before your trip.

Related ski resorts

Kandatsu Snow Resort Niigata Prefecture

Dec. 23rd to Apr. 21st
Courses16
Lifts6
Longest run distance3,500 m
Maximum gradient45 °
Courses16
Lifts6
Longest run3,500 m
Maximum45 °

Adult 2 people1 night

2024-05-09
USD 129.58〜 (JPY 20,000〜)
Book