Naeba

From WikiSki

Overview 

Naeba is a Prince Hotel resort in Niigata Prefecture. It's located on the eastern side of a range of mountains, while Nozawa Onsen & Shiga Kogen in Nagano Prefecture, are located on the same range on the western side. Naeba is about 6-7km south of Kagura, so while it gets a lot of snow, it's not usually as much as Kagura. This is because the mountain effect is more effective further north.

Naeba has 29 lifts, including 15 that run directly from the base complex, which means that the lift lines are not very long. Naeba is actually linked to Kagura via the 5km "Dragondola", which takes 20 minutes, giving Naeba access to another 24 lifts, 53 total.

Naeba has a reasonably strict off piste policy, but is completely offset by the almost complete lack of off piste restriction at Kagura.

Naeba has a good variety of runs, with easy green and blue runs near the hotel, and a variety of more difficult runs up the mountain. It has a vertical drop of just under 900m. There are quite a lot of fresh snow options on the mountain, many of which will go untracked for a while after a dump.

Some very good night skiing options are available, as it's easy to decide to go out with the snow so close. It’s capped off with a fireworks display at 10pm (every Saturday, weather permitting)

Across the valley just above the road and the small town of Naeba is the resort of Naeba Asagai. It has 3 lifts.

Contents 1 Location 2 Pros 3 Cons 4 Contacts 5 Planning 5.1 Getting There 5.2 Accommodation 5.2.1 On Mountain 5.2.2 Off Mountain 5.3 Lift Tickets 5.4 Ski School 5.5 Equipment Hire 6 Resort Facilities 6.1 Getting Around 6.2 Parking 6.3 Activities 6.4 Dining 6.5 Bars & Entertainment 6.6 Shopping 6.7 Children 7 Ride Guide 7.1 Beginner Areas 7.2 Groomed Runs 7.3 Off Piste 7.4 Out of Bounds 7.5 Cross Country 7.6 Parks & Pipes 7.7 Bumps 7.8 Powder Zones 7.9 Sheltered Runs 7.10 Snowplay 8 Other 8.1 Weather 8.2 Geography 8.3 History 9 Resources 9.1 Maps

Location

Naeba is located on Route 17, in Niigata Prefecture.

Pros

Easy to get to from Tokyo. Linked to Kagura, with 53 lifts on the same ticket.

Cons

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Contacts

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Planning

Getting There

Naeba is located on Route 17, in Niigata Prefecture. By car, take the Kanetsu Expressway out of Tokyo. Turn west on route 17(33km), or continue another 30km until you go through a 12km long tunnel, and turn west on Route 17 at the Yuzawa interchange and follow it to Naeba. (17km) The second way is an easier and less congested route. Be aware that the Kanetsu Expressway can get very congested on Friday nights, Saturday mornings & Sunday afternoons during the season. A much easier way is to take the Joetsu Shinkansen(From Tokyo station, takes between 72-93 minutes) to Echigo Yuzawa station, and bus or taxi(about 4000 yen) to Naeba.

Accommodation

On Mountain

If you are after the "real" authentic Japanese experience, the Naeba Prince Resort is not the place for you. If you are after total comfort and convenience, good food, easy access and hassle free skiing/boarding experience, then you are at the right place.

The rooms include indoor ski lockers downstairs, 20m from from snow (30m from the nearest lift), so you leave your skis/boards, boots etc there, and go up to your room without having to drag all of that with you. You don't even have to leave the hotel to get onto the two base complex gondolas. More than 1/2 the rooms have a view right onto the slopes, so you can see exactly what the conditions are like. The complex has a full range of shops, restaurants, onsen, swimming pool, etc.

The prime night for Japan is Saturday night, so the Prince Hotel is expensive. For four adults per room, you will pay around $230 per person, but that includes room, two days lift tickets (normally $90), plus breakfast and dinner. The food is very good, and the buffet is very, very nice. The rest of the week is cheaper. For 4 people sharing a room, 6 nights (not Saturday), and 5 days lifts, no meals costs around $470 per person. So a full week, 7 days lifts, and one breakfast/dinner will cost about $700. (about $100/day including lifts)

There are other accommodation options on the other side of the river, along the road, in a small town, just below Naeba Asagai resort.

JAPANiCAN, the English website of major Japanese travel agency JTB, offers online booking in English for accommodation in Naeba, including the Naeba Prince Hotel. http://www.japanican.com/hotels/List.aspx?so=c&ar=150507

Off Mountain

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Lift Tickets

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Ski School

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Equipment Hire

All of the equipment you will need to hire is located at the Prince Resort complex.

Resort Facilities

Getting Around

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Parking

Extensive parking for around 800 cars.

Activities

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Dining

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Bars & Entertainment

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Shopping

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Children

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Ride Guide

Beginner Areas

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Groomed Runs

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Off Piste

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Out of Bounds

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Cross Country

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Parks & Pipes

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Bumps

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Powder Zones

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Sheltered Runs

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Snowplay

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Other

Weather

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Geography

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History

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Resources

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Maps

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