Oze and Katashina area is one of the best ski areas in Japan and ski/snowboard enthusiasts should check out.
Where is Oze and Katashina Area?
Oze is a highland area surrounded by mountains in Fukushima, Gunma, and Niigata prefectures. It is designated as a special natural monument by the government and is also a Ramsar Convention registered wetland.
It is an area where ecosystems and landscapes that are strictly protected and preserved. Oze is well known as a hiking area in Japan.
And Katashina Village is a small village located in the Oze National Park area in the northeast of Gunma Prefecture, and is the only village in the Kanto region designated as a "special heavy snowfall zone".
It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, making it a popular ski area for people from the Kanto region.
6 Skiing Resorts in Oze and Katashina area
Here are 7 skiing resorts in Oze and Katashina area.
Kawaba Ski Resort
Kawaba ski resort is popular among snowboarders. With the concept of "ENJOY THE RIDE" as its new theme, Kawaba Ski Resort offers snowboarders a great experience through four contents: "The Surf Ride Park", "Off The Piste Powder Ride", "First Track Cat Service", and "Powder Shape Premium Rentals".
- "The Surf Ride Park" offers a man-made terrain attraction course with man-made 3D terrain that can be skied.
- "The Off The Piste Powder Ride" offers an off-piste area that can only be skied by those who have taken a safety course.
- "The First Track Cat Service" operates at the peak of the ski area before the lifts are in operation.
- "Powder Shape Premium Rentals" offers a rental service that specializes in powder and freeride.
Kawaba Ski Resort also has a huge eight-story resort center with rental stores, restaurants, changing rooms with showers, and "Murasaki Sports" where sells snowboarding equipment.
Website (Japanese only) : https://www.kawaba.co.jp/snow/
Enjoy the ride website (Japanese only) : https://kawaba.co.jp/snow/enjoytheride-LP/?fbclid=IwAR1-Ihc3I8DEmjanl53TSWhFbiJiMasMcu0GrnuKswknNwYLII5qpersApg#surf
Snow Park Oze Tokura
Snow Park Oze Tokura offers lift-accessed tours of the surrounding dedicated backcountry areas and one of the few snowboard schools in Japan that specializes in freestyle tricks.
Website (Japanese only) : https://ozetokura.co.jp/snowpark/
Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort
Located in the northern part of the Kanto area, the slopes are spread out on the hillside of Mt. Nikko-Shirane, known as one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan.
It usually opens in early November and stays open until early May, so many skiers and snowboarders visit for their first skiing or spring skiing.
More information : https://www.marunuma.jp/winter/
Katashina Kogen Ski Resort
This is the only skier-only slope in the Kanto region. Unusually for a ski resort, it has an image character.
"Miffy" from the Netherlands is the image character here.
Katashina Kogen, which has been a family ski resort for a long time, was established with the aim of becoming the best family ski resort in Japan, out of respect for Dick Bruna, the Dutch picture book author of Miffy, who always has a child's point of view, thinks and expresses.
This ski resort, which emphasizes services for families and children, is full of schools and activities for children.
Website (Japanese only) : https://katashinakogen.co.jp/winter/
Tambara Ski Park
The Tambara Ski Park has been in operation since 1988, and the Tambara Lavender Park is popular in the summer.
It is open for a long period of time, from late November until Golden Week (holidays from the end of April to the beginning of May).
More information : https://japan-skiguide.com/guide/htm/r0170ens.htm
White World Oze Iwakura
It consists of 18 courses.
More information : http://www.oze-iwakura.co.jp/ski/language/en/
Oguna Hotaka Ski Resort
Oguna Hotaka Ski Resort is a ski resort with 6 lifts and 13 courses.
Common season tickets are available for use at Minakami Town Hodaigi Ski Resort.
