Modern skiing took hold in Japan in the early 1900s, and the culture spread quickly through the Shinetsu mountains where deep snow was already a fact of life. In places like Nozawa Onsen, local ski clubs formed early and skiing settled into a style that still defines the region: practical, community-minded, and naturally paired with hot springs, hearty food, and evenings back in town.
Easy Day Trips to Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen, and Togakushi
Nagano City makes a practical base for ski trips because it sits at the crossroads of the region’s rail lines and highways. You can arrive by Hokuriku Shinkansen, check into a hotel near Nagano Station, and have everything you need within easy walking distance: gear shops, casual izakaya, reliable cafés for an early start, and plenty of affordable accommodation choices. It’s ideal if you want to enjoy a day of skiing, then come back to a proper dinner and a good night’s sleep without being limited to “resort town” options.
From the city, you can reach everything from big-mountain valleys to high-elevation resorts. Day-trip buses and trains connect you to major names like Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, while the broader Nagano and neighboring areas open up options like Shiga Kogen and Myoko. The advantage is flexibility: follow the forecast, pick the best conditions, or mix ski days with temple-town wandering and local food, all without constantly changing hotels.
Snow Hub Nagano
Still not sure where to start? Just a 2-minute walk from Nagano Station, Snow Hub Nagano City is a skier/snowboarder support desk that opened in 2025 to make day trips easier. On-site, they offer luggage storage, ski/snowboard rentals, lift ticket purchases, and quick access to ski resort live cameras so you can check conditions before you commit. They also offer English support, free Wi-Fi, local restaurant guidance, and private taxi transfers for ski days that start and end in the city
From there, the most common “hub-style” day trips are private taxi transfers and packaged ski days to resorts like Togakushi (very close to the city) and Hakuba, with the hub handling the practical pieces at the start of the day before you head into the mountains.
Operating Hours:
- Ski/Snowboarding Gear Rentals: 7:00 - 18:00
- Luggage Storage: 8:30 - 18:00
How to get there: See Map
Explore Zenkoji and Samurai Culture
After a day of skiing or snowboarding, make the most of your time in Nagano City with Nagano Experience. Our small-group tours add depth to your trip, with local food, guided walking tours around Zenkoji, and a closer look at the history that shaped this temple town. If you want something truly memorable, you can also join our samurai experience for a hands-on, photo-friendly introduction to warrior culture, guided by a local instructor.
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