10 day-trip ski areas from Kanto
- Indoor Sayama Ski Area runs October 30 to March 28; Hunter Mountain Shiobara and Tambara Ski Park open November 28.
- Adult one-day tickets from weekdays to peak days are ¥4,000 at Sayama and ¥6,000–¥7,500 at Hunter Mountain Shiobara.
- Lift tickets for elementary school children are free at Manza Onsen and free on weekdays at Hunter Mountain Shiobara.
This article contains advertising (affiliate links).
This page compares 10 ski areas that you can reach on a day trip from the Kanto area for the 2026-27 season. The indoor Sayama Ski Area (Tokorozawa, Saitama) opened on October 30. Among snow slopes, Hunter Mountain Shiobara and Tambara Ski Park open first, on November 28. An adult one-day lift ticket runs from ¥4,000 (Nikko Yumoto Onsen, 2025-26 price) to ¥8,400 (Kawaba, on peak days). Some areas give free lift tickets to elementary school children, which makes a big difference for a family.
In short
- To start skiing in November: Sayama (from Oct 30), Hunter Mountain Shiobara and Tambara (from Nov 28).
- Free lift tickets for children: Manza Onsen (elementary school age and under) and Hunter Mountain Shiobara (elementary school children on weekdays).
- By train: Sayama (Seibu-kyujo-mae Station) and Hunter Mountain Shiobara (a booked shuttle bus from Nasu-Shiobara Station).
Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time).
Read next7 pages, swipe sideways
14 Ski Resorts in Gunma for 2026-27: Regular One-Day Tickets from ¥3,700, Operating Periods and How to Get There from TokyoPlay
Winter Campsites in Kanto: 10 Places Compared by Winter Opening Days, Power Hookups and Wood-Stove Sites from ¥10,000Play
Cycling in Kanto: 10 Places for Rental Bikes, from National Parks to Kasumigaura and Miura, with FeesPlay
10 Beginner Day Hikes Near Tokyo (Kanto): Winter Closures and Cable Car Fares from ¥640Play
12 Glamping Sites in the Kanto Region: Winter Stays and Pet-Friendly Options, from ¥22,000 for 2 (2026)Play
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Kanto 2027: 10 Places Including Miura Kaigan and Matsuda, with Peak Times (2026 Results)Play
11 Science Museums and Museums in Kanto Outside Tokyo: Free to ¥1,600, for Rainy DaysPlay
1. 10 ski areas compared by opening date and one-day ticket
An adult one-day ticket costs ¥4,000 to ¥8,400, and at many areas the “peak days” (weekends, holidays and the New Year period) cost more than weekdays. The table shows the adult one-day ticket at the ticket window, with the range running from weekdays to peak days.
| Ski area | 2026-27 season | Adult 1-day ticket | Elementary school child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sayama (Saitama) | Oct 30 to Mar 28 | ¥4,000 (¥4,800 on peak days) | ¥1,000 (age 3 to elementary school) |
| Hunter Mountain Shiobara (Tochigi) | Nov 28 to May 5 | ¥6,000 to ¥7,500 | Free on weekdays |
| Tambara (Gunma) | Nov 28 to May 5 | ¥5,300 to ¥7,000 | Free on A and a days |
| Marunuma Kogen (Gunma) | Dec 4 to May 5 (planned) | ¥6,000 to ¥7,000 | ¥3,000 (elementary and junior high school) |
| Oze Iwakura (Gunma) | Dec 12 to Apr 4 | ¥6,000 to ¥7,200 | ¥4,000 to ¥5,200 |
| Norn Minakami (Gunma) | From Dec 18 (regular prices from Dec 21) | ¥6,300 | ¥4,000 |
| Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma) | From Dec 18 (opening period) | ¥6,000 | ¥2,000 (junior) |
| Manza Onsen (Gunma) | Dec 19 to Mar 22 | ¥6,300 | Free |
| Kawaba (Gunma) | Opening date not announced | ¥7,600 to ¥8,400 | ¥5,000 to ¥5,800 |
| Nikko Yumoto Onsen (Tochigi) | 2026-27 not announced (last season planned to open Dec 26) | ¥4,000 (2025-26) | ¥2,900 (2025-26) |
Source: each ski area’s official page for lift prices and the season (checked Nov 1, 2026). Nikko Yumoto Onsen has not yet published 2026-27 prices, so the table shows its 2025-26 prices.
2. Things to know about day-trip skiing from Kanto
The snow areas in Gunma and Tochigi are about 2 hours by car from the Tokyo area on the Kan-etsu Expressway or the Tohoku Expressway. Areas close to the expressway exit suit day trips: Norn Minakami is about 3 km from Minakami IC, and Tambara is about 30 minutes from Numata IC.
Few areas are reachable by public transport. Sayama is an indoor ski area next to Seibu-kyujo-mae Station on the Seibu line, and Hunter Mountain Shiobara runs a booked shuttle bus from Nasu-Shiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Lift ticket prices change by day even at the same area. Kawaba treats 10 days, including January 10 and 11, as peak days, and Oze Iwakura treats the New Year period and Saturdays in January and February, among others, as peak days.
Many areas have free weekday parking, and Tambara and Hunter Mountain Shiobara advertise free weekday parking. At Kawaba, parking on weekends and holidays is ¥1,500 in the multistory lot and ¥1,000 in outdoor lot 1 (lots 2 to 5 are free).
3. Sayama Ski Area (Tokorozawa, Saitama)
An indoor slope, open 10:00–21:00 from October 30, 2026 to March 28, 2027. A one-day ticket for junior high school students and older is ¥4,000 (¥4,800 on peak days), and an afternoon ticket is ¥3,000. A child ticket for ages 3 to elementary school is ¥1,000.
Rental is ¥4,500 for a ski or snowboard set, and ¥5,500 with clothing. Children of elementary school age and under must be accompanied by a guardian aged 18 or over. Get off at Seibu-kyujo-mae Station on the Seibu Sayama Line.
Official price page of Sayama Ski Area (Japanese)
| Name | Sayama Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | 2167 Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa City, Saitama |
| Hours / Closed | 10:00–21:00 (October 30, 2026–March 28, 2027) |
| Phone | 04-2922-1384 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. Hunter Mountain Shiobara (Nasushiobara, Tochigi)
A one-day lift ticket is free for elementary school children on weekdays. Adults pay ¥6,000 on weekdays, ¥6,500 on holidays and ¥7,500 on peak days. The season is planned from November 28, 2026 to May 5, 2027.
It is about 2 hours 30 minutes by car from the Tokyo area. Weekday parking is free, and there is a booked shuttle bus from Nasu-Shiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Official lift ticket page of Hunter Mountain Shiobara (Japanese)
| Name | Hunter Mountain Shiobara |
|---|---|
| Address | Nasushiobara City, Tochigi |
| Hours / Closed | November 28, 2026–May 5, 2027 (planned) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
5. Tambara Ski Park (Numata, Gunma)
It opens on the same day as Hunter Mountain Shiobara, November 28, and is planned to run until May 5, 2027. An adult one-day ticket is ¥5,300 to ¥7,000 depending on the day, and lift tickets are free for elementary school children and under on A and a days (proof of age is required).
It is about 30 minutes from Numata IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway, and weekday parking is free. Check the official calendar to see which days are A to C.
Official lift ticket page of Tambara Ski Park (Japanese)
| Name | Tambara Ski Park |
|---|---|
| Address | Numata City, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | November 28, 2026–May 5, 2027 (planned) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. Marunuma Kogen Ski Area (Katashina, Gunma)
The season is planned for December 4, 2026 to May 5, 2027. During the first-skiing period until December 18, an adult one-day ticket is ¥5,200. From December 19 it is ¥6,000 on weekdays, ¥6,700 on weekends and holidays, and ¥7,000 on peak days such as the New Year.
Elementary and junior high school students pay ¥3,000, and seniors aged 60 and over pay ¥5,700 on weekdays. Tickets go on sale from 8:00 every morning.
Official ticket price page of Marunuma Kogen (Japanese)
| Name | Marunuma Kogen Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Katashina-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | December 4, 2026–May 5, 2027 (planned), ticket sales from 8:00 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
7. White World Oze Iwakura (Katashina, Gunma)
It is open 8:30–16:45 from December 12, 2026 to April 4, 2027. At the window, an adult one-day ticket is ¥6,000 on weekdays, ¥6,700 on weekends and holidays, and ¥7,200 on peak days. Buying on the web in advance costs ¥6,500 on weekends and holidays and ¥5,800 on weekdays. A one-day ticket for elementary school children is ¥4,000 to ¥5,200 at the window.
Night skiing is held on 11 days in all (including December 31) and runs until 20:00.
Official gondola and lift price table of Oze Iwakura and its season hours page (both Japanese)
| Name | White World Oze Iwakura |
|---|---|
| Address | Katashina-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | 8:30–16:45 (December 12, 2026–April 4, 2027) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
8. Norn Minakami Ski Area (Minakami, Gunma)
From December 18 to 20, 2026 the opening price for an adult one-day ticket is ¥3,800. From December 21, the regular season price is ¥6,300 (¥4,000 for children). From January 8 to March 21, 2027, night skiing runs until 22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
It is about 3 km from Minakami IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway and about 95 minutes from the Tokyo area. Weekday parking is free.
Official hours and prices page of Norn Minakami Ski Area (Japanese)
| Name | Norn Minakami Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | December 18, 2026–March 22, 2027, night skiing until 22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 8 to March 21 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
9. Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area (Kusatsu, Gunma)
December 18 to 25, 2026 are “opening service days,” when the ¥6,000 adult one-day ticket costs ¥3,500. Juniors (age 4 to elementary school) pay ¥2,000, and seniors (60 and over) and junior and senior high school students pay ¥5,200.
A “hands-free ski set” that bundles a one-day lift ticket with ski or board rental, clothing and small items is ¥14,300 for adults, bookable only on the web.
Official prices and rental page of Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area (Japanese)
| Name | Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | From December 18, 2026 (opening service days) |
| Phone | 0279-88-8111 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
10. Manza Onsen Ski Area (Tsumagoi, Gunma)
Lift tickets are free for elementary school children and under. An adult one-day ticket is ¥6,300, and the season runs from December 19, 2026 to March 22, 2027. Children pick up a special ticket at the lift ticket counter. Preschool children cannot ride the lift alone.
For the 2026-27 season, the official site says that all courses are planned to open for the first time in 3 years.
Official lift price page of Manza Onsen Ski Area (Japanese)
| Name | Manza Onsen Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Tsumagoi-mura, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | December 19, 2026–March 22, 2027 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
11. Kawaba Ski Area (Kawaba, Gunma)
For 2026-27, an adult one-day ticket is ¥7,600 on weekdays, ¥7,900 on weekends and holidays and ¥8,400 on peak days. A child ticket (elementary and junior high school) is ¥5,000 to ¥5,800. In the first-skiing period an adult ticket is ¥5,900. As of November 1, the official site does not show the opening date for the 2026-27 season.
Rental of a 3-piece ski set or 2-piece snowboard set is ¥6,000 on the day and ¥5,800 with advance payment (2025-26 price list). Parking on weekends and holidays is ¥1,500 in the multistory lot and ¥1,000 in outdoor lot 1.
Official lift price page of Kawaba Ski Area and its rental page (both Japanese)
| Name | Kawaba Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Kawaba-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma |
| Hours / Closed | Opening date for the 2026–27 season not yet announced (as of November 1, 2026) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
12. Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Area (Nikko, Tochigi)
In the 2025-26 season an adult one-day ticket was ¥4,000, a child (elementary school) ticket ¥2,900, and a family set of 1 adult and 1 child ¥5,500. Operation and prices for 2026-27 have not been announced yet.
Last season the opening was planned for December 26, but there was not enough snow and only a safety prayer ceremony was held that day.
Official price guide of Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Area (Japanese)
| Name | Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Area |
|---|---|
| Address | Yumoto, Nikko City, Tochigi |
| Hours / Closed | 2026–27 season not yet announced |
| Phone | 0288-62-2532 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
13. Choose by purpose
- To ski for sure even with little snow: Sayama (indoor, from October 30).
- To keep the family’s lift costs down: Manza Onsen (free for elementary school children and under) and Hunter Mountain Shiobara on weekdays.
- For the lowest one-day ticket: Nikko Yumoto Onsen (¥4,000 in 2025-26).
- To ski into the night: Sayama (until 21:00) and Norn Minakami (until 22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 8).
Prices and hours may change.
Sources
11 pages we checked
- Sayama Ski Area: prices
- Hunter Mountain Shiobara: lift tickets
- Tambara Ski Park: lift tickets
- Marunuma Kogen: ticket prices
- Oze Iwakura: gondola and lift price table
- Norn Minakami Ski Area: hours and prices
- Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area: prices and rental
- Manza Onsen Ski Area: lift prices
- Kawaba Ski Area: lift prices
- Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Area: price guide
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time).
