Locals in Japan

Hi there! We’re a Japanese local family raising two children in Tokyo. Among all ski resorts, NASPA Ski Garden is our most recommended destination—a place our family loves returning to and one we confidently suggest to both Japanese and international families.

If you’re planning to visit Japan and Tokyo during winter and want a place where children can play in snow while mom and dad enjoy skiing, NASPA should be at the top of your list.

In this page, we’ll share everything wonderful about NASPA Ski Garden (and we’re just passionate fans, not affiliated with NASPA—haha!). We’ll also include some balanced perspective by mentioning a few downsides.

What is NASPA Ski Garden?

NASPA Ski Garden is a family-friendly resort in Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata, with direct hotel access to the slopes. Just 70 mins from Tokyo by Shinkansen! Famous for its powder snow and perfect for families with a dedicated kids’ area for snow play and ski lessons.⛄

Important: NASPA Ski Resort is scheduled to open for the 2024-2025 Winter Season on December 20, 2024!⛷️

Top 4 Reasons to Visit NASPA Ski Garden

1. Outstanding Access from Tokyo

What we love the most is how easily accessible it is from Tokyo.

🚅 Only 70 min Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station.
🚌 After that, only 5 min bus direcly to hotel.

Amazing, isn’t it?

For kids who get carsick or easily bored during trips (like our kids), NASPA is the perfect destination for families.

🗼 Book Your Shinkansen Ticket Here: Best Deals on Shinkansen Ticket🗼

2. Perfect Slopes for Children

Since NASPA Ski Garden and its hotel are super family-friendly, there are tons of fun activities for kids:

• Kids’ Area for sledding and snow play
• Ski lessons (English available!)
• Ski gear rental, of course
• Snow buggy rides

3. Convenient On-site Hotel

One of the best things about NASPA is that the ski resort and hotel are integrated into one facility. The hotel is right in front of the slopes. Here’s what makes it so wonderful:

• Beyond skiing, it has pools, hot springs (onsen), a gym, and a spa.
• Just a 5 min away from the station on their free shuttle bus
• 7 restaurants and cafes to choose from
• FYI, “New Otani” is one of Tokyo’s top three traditional luxury hotel groups, and this NASPA New Otani offers high-quality hospitality at reasonable prices(!) with excellent facilities. Yes, it’s affordable and yet great hotel.

4. Excellent Food

The food at hotel is what we love too.

Echigo-Yuzawa, where the hotel is located, is known for its rice farming, so you can enjoy exceptional white rice and Japanese sake here and at Echigo Yuzawa station.

As for the hotel dinner, the menu is fantastic – from crab and roast beef to sushi and New Otani’s famous strawberry shortcake. And of course, there’s a well-stocked kids’ corner too!

Downsides, if any!

While we love NASPA enough to write this whole article, here are a few downsides to keep in mind:

• Ski Only!! Snowboarding isn’t allowed here. (Safer for kids?)
• It’s popular so rooms get booked up quickly. Better hurry with reservations especially for December through February.
• Since it’s so family friendly, it’s wise to avoid for couples or adult-only groups.

For families, it’s comfortable place- there’s even a convenience store in the hotel and you can buy souvenirs too.😊

How To Book here?

You can book NASPA New Otani through Booking.com or Agoda. Better book soon before it sells out!👍If you ski, you can buy lift tickets at the reception.⛷️

NASPA New Otani

📍Area: Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata
⭐Review Score: 8.3 (Very Good)
🧒Kids Stay Free: Age 0-6 (Meals cost from Age 4)

Access to NASPA Ski Resort

NASPA Ski Resort is super accessible from Tokyo – just an hour from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station. Take the Joetsu Shinkansen and hop off at Echigo Yuzawa Station! ✨ You can book your Shinkansen tickets on Klook!

Additional Tips for Families Who Have Decided to Visit

Once you’ve booked your NASPA stay, make sure to check out this section! I’ve packed it with tons of family-friendly tips and insider knowledge that we discovered during our family vacation at NASPA.😊

Train Journey Tips

1. The free shuttle bus stop is at the station’s West Exit. The red-marked spot in the above photo is the bus stop – just wait there. The bus comes every 30 min and NO PRIOR RESERVATION NEEDED.
2. If you’re boarding at Tokyo Station (the starting point), we recommend trying the non-reserved cars as they’re slightly cheaper. However, if you’re getting on at Ueno Station, definitely book reserved seats. Non-reserved seats are often occupied at Tokyo station.

3. The Echigo-Yuzawa Station is a fun destination itself, with souvenir shops, sake tasting corners, and food stalls. We’d suggest allowing at least 30 extra minutes here (our family usually spends an hour exploring!).

Resort and Hotel Tips

1. Private Bath: One tip I definetely can recommend for families who stay at this hotel is this private bath. While the regular onsen is separated by gender, private baths let the whole family enjoy together! It must be wonderful time for your family.

Friendly heads-up: Private Bath is super popular and book up so fast. Call 025-780-6111 (hotel’s number) to reserve right after booking your hotel stay. If you wait until check-in day, they’ll probably all be taken!😂

Luggage and Planning

You can send your luggage to the hotel ahead of time! Perfect for family vacations – saves you from juggling kids and bags on the Shinkansen. Just make sure to ship it 1-2 days before your check-in date.

Make Your Winter Family Memories in NASPA!

We hope our NASPA Ski Garden experience helps with your family’s winter vacation plans! NASPA stands out as a family-friendly ski resort in Echigo-Yuzawa, where you can enjoy quality snow just an hour from Tokyo. Even if you’re visiting Japan briefly, it’s perfect for a quick 1-night trip.😊

BTW, as locals in Japan, we’ve got more family-friendly hotel recommendations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and other Japanese cities – check them out! 🏨

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