群馬
Gunma
Underrated powder, onsen heaven
Gunma is Honshu’s sleeper hit — a storm-kissed pocket of the Joetsu ranges where lake-effect blasts stack the goods and steaming onsen towns keep your legs alive for day two. Think varied terrain, reliable refills, and a mellow vibe that feels local in the best way.
Up in Minakami, Tanigawadake Tenjindaira serves up rowdy alpine pitches and classic Honshu storm days, while nearby Hodaigi and Norn keep it cruisy. East in Katashina, Oze Iwakura, Marunuma Kogen, Kawaba, and Tambara spread out across ridgelines with long fall-line groomers, tree stashes, and sneaky sidecountry. Swing south to Kusatsu and Manza for high-elevation snow and iconic sulfur springs — the kind of onsen soak you’ll remember all season.
The snow here is quality-first: cold enough for chalky pow up high, with lower-elevation trees that ski beautifully on storm days. Culture is baked in — noodle shops tucked by the river in Minakami, sleepy onsen streets in Katashina, and that easy, unhurried rhythm that makes “just one more run” turn into three.
All Gunma Reviews
Fujiwara
Hot springs, soft storms, easy-flow carving
8.2
Hodaigi
Minakami’s snow-sure workhorse with real pitch and new trees
8.3
Katashina Kogen
Friendly fall-line, storm-day sanctuary
8.1
Kawaba
Steep ribbons, quiet stashes, Tokyo’s pow plug-in
8.4
Kusatsu Onsen
Steam, snow, and silky groomers on a volcanic rim
8.0
Manza Onsen
Milky hot springs, high-altitude corduroy, and calm winter vibes
8.1
Marunuma Kogen
High-altitude cord & long-season stoke
8.2
Minakami Kogen
Hotel-front corduroy, sneaky storm days
8.1
Mt. T
Sky-God Powder Mecca
8.9
Norn Minakami
Tokyo’s late-night carve spot with shockingly fun pitch
8.0
Ogna
Quiet steeps, dry storms, Gunma under-the-radar
8.2
Okutone
Kanto’s night-riding workhorse with a surprising top-to-bottom
8.0
Oze Iwakura
Bowl lines, dry storms, big-for-Kanto energy
8.4
Oze Tokura
Park vibes, easy miles, storm-day smiles
8.1
Palcall Tsumagoi
High-plateau corduroy with a side of sunrise stoke
8.1
Tambara Ski Park
Soft edges, big smiles, zero faff
8.1
Tune your trip
Use the categories below to zero-in on exactly what you want — from storm-day trees to long, leg-burning groomers, and everything in between.
Top Resorts by Snowfall
Joetsu storm juice, reliably refreshed.
Uncrowded Resorts
Quiet chairs, first tracks last longer.
Top Resorts by Ability
Terrain matched to your crew’s comfort zone.
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Intermediate
IntermediateIntermediate
Advanced
Advanced
AdvancedTree Skiing
Beech glades with true fall-line flow.
Big Mountain Vertical
Top-to-bottom runs that cook the quads.
Family Friendly
Gentle greens, easy rentals, hot cocoa within reach.
Night Skiing
Local-hill glow and sneaky evening resets.
Best Value Resorts
Maximum turns per yen.
Powder Hunter’s Choice
Storm magnet, low traffic, terrain with teeth.
Getting There
- Minakami — Tenjin access, river town eats, easy highway hops between hills.
- Katashina — Central to Oze Iwakura, Marunuma, Kawaba, Tambara; quiet villages and quick transfers.
- Kusatsu / Manza — High-elevation snow plus A-grade onsen; smaller ski areas, big unwind.
Insider tip — Rent an AWD with snow tires. Storms shift valley to valley, and wheels = pow freedom.
When to Go
- From Tokyo — Joetsu Shinkansen to Jōmō-Kōgen, bus or taxi to Minakami resorts.
- Driving — Kan-Etsu Expressway to Minakami / Numata exits for Tenjin, Hodaigi, Kawaba, Tambara, Oze Iwakura.
- Kusatsu / Manza — JR to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, then resort buses.
- Winter notes — Some mountain passes close mid-Nov to late-Apr; carry chains and check road advisories.
- Airport gateways — Tokyo Haneda or Narita — both pair well with train + short bus hops.
Money & Logistics
- Tickets — Generally cheaper than Hokkaido headliners; mid-week deals are common.
- Transport — ETC tolls add up; budget for highways and parking (often free at smaller hills).
- Cash vs card — Bring cash for rural eateries and small lodges; ATMs in convenience stores.
- Rentals & lessons — Available at all major areas; English support varies.
- Onsen tax — A small nightly fee at many ryokan — totally worth it.
Language & Etiquette
- Onsen 101 — Wash before soaking, no swimsuits, towels stay out of the water.
- Queues & merging — Polite, orderly lines — no “pow-panic” push.
- Off-piste respect — Heed ropes and closures; backcountry = beacon, shovel, probe, partner.
- Waste & smoking — Pack out trash; smoke only in designated spots.
- A little Japanese — A “こんにちは” and “ありがとうございます” go a long way.
Nearby Adventures
- Yuzawa (Niigata) — Quick hop for a change-up on a high-pressure day.
- Kusatsu & Manza onsen circuits — Iconic, milky hot springs at altitude.
- Snowshoe & winter walks — River valleys in Minakami are gorgeous after a dump.
- Local eats — Gunma wheat noodles, mountain veg, cozy izakaya near station hubs.
- Summer stoke — If you’re back off-season, Minakami flips to rafting, canyoning, bungee.