My name is Jamie and I am a digital nomad who runs my own travel site, Gaijin Crew. I first visited Yuzawa when I moved there for six months to work as a ski instructor at one of the many local resorts.
Despite not being a big city and offering “big city things” like Tokyo does, Yuzawa is still an awesome place to visit in Japan for many reasons.
Why You Should Visit Yuzawa
But, it’s not just a seasonal destination. If snowsports aren’t your thing, Yuzawa is still a place worth visiting in the summer, with a wide range of festivals going on, not to mention the countless adventure activities that are on offer.
Language and Currency
The language spoken in Yuzawa – like the rest of Japan – is Japanese. The Japanese language is notoriously difficult for English speakers to grasp but I would advise at least learning a few basic phrases since the number of people in Japan that can speak English are relatively low.
The currency used here is the Japanese Yen, which can also be quite tricky to wrap your head around at first. 100 yen is roughly equivalent to $1 (US). Get a more exact value here.
Now, with the boring stuff out the way, let’s get into why you’re really here…
How to get to Yuzawa
The most common way to get to Yuzawa is by train. Echigo Yuzawa Station is the transportation hub of the town and is actually a lot more than just a train station (but more on that later).
It takes around 75 minutes to arrive at Echigo Yuzawa from Tokyo, making it very easily accessible if you’re going to be staying in the city. You’ll also be able to ride the bullet train into GALA Yuzawa ski resort, which has a Shinkansen (bullet train) station inside the resort!
If you’re going to be travelling by train on your trip to Japan, I would look into getting a JR Pass as this will save you money if you’re going to be in transit a lot.
The other way of getting to Yuzawa is by car. The Kanetsu Expressway connects Tokyo with Niigata and it takes around two hours to reach Yuzawa. This trip will cost you around 5,000 yen in toll costs and you’ll need winter tyres fitted during the snow season.
Things to do in Yuzawa
Onsens
We’ll get on to skiing in a minute…
The other thing that Yuzawa is known for (apart from the world-famous snowsport) is their traditional Japanese-style hot springs/public baths (onsens).
Onsens provide an awesome and unique experience and they are the perfect way to relax and smooth those aching muscles after a tough day on the slopes. You’ll find onsens everywhere in Yuzawa: in most hotels and apartment buildings, in the bigger ski resorts. Even the train station has an onsen!
Also read: A Guide to Japanese Onsens
Echigo Yuzawa Station
Speaking of the train station… Remember how I said it was more than just a train station? Well, I wasn’t lying. As well as being kitted out with an onsen, the station is also home to numerous shops, stalls and delicious restaurants.
Also, if you’re a keen drinker (or a nervous train rider) there’s an all-you-can-drink sake place, Saki Museum Ponshu-kan, where you can test taste over 100 varieties of Japan’s national drink for just 500 yen!
*Sake is a form of rice wine. It can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Food
The food in Japan is incredible. It’s one of the most varied and versatile cuisines in the world and it really does have something for everyone. It’s a lot more than just sushi and ramen.
And, Yuzawa is home to some incredible, traditional Japanese restaurants.
Warm yourself up during the winter with a nourishing, soothing bowl of udon. Test your taste buds and see if you can stomach sashimi (raw fish). Or, if you’re in the mood for some of the tastiest and crispiest fried chicken on the planet, Yuzawa has you covered there too!
Also read: 24 Delicious Things to Eat in Japan
Cultural Experiences
Shibata Castle, in its namesake town, is the only moated castle in the prefecture. Takada Castle near the city Joetsu, is awesome, and renowned for many things, including its spring sakura festival.
If a temple is more your style, there are several Temples in Minamiuonuma City.
But, if you prefer not to leave Yuzawa, you can try some of the history and culture museums. There are several that cover different historic highlights of the region and the ski resorts. Some interesting choices include the Mount Tanigawa Museum, the Mountain Data Museum, and the Akinomiya Museum.
Winter things to do in Yuzawa
Skiing and Snowboarding
Like I said, Yuzawa is best known as a ski town and trust me, it more than lives up to the expectations. It is known for its deep champagne powder and its long season (often lasting from November – May). It is also one of the largest ski areas in Japan. There are around 20 resorts in the area, ranging in size from one to 30 lifts in each resort.
GALA Yuzawa is the most well-known resort in the area and is the obvious choice if you’re travelling in from Tokyo for the day. You can go from the city to being on the slopes in under two hours, thanks to the bullet train station being located inside the ski resort, itself!
However, if you’re looking for a true skier/boarder’s paradise, head to Kagura. It’s about 20-30 minutes from Echigo Yuzawa Station by bus and – during peak season when all the runs are open – it can provide you with some of the top skiing destinations in the world! If you’re an experienced rider, head up the backcountry lift (when it’s open) to experience bottomless powder and some truly sick lines!
Festivals
If someone told me I could have some of the best skiing in the world and onsens to relax in at the end of each hard day on the slopes, I’d be totally sold there, and wouldn’t need any more convincing. But, there is more going on in the Yuzawa area during the winter.
There are lots of snow festivals on during the season, with amazing street stalls, yummy food and often some sort of fireworks display. If you’re up for a bit of a drive, you could also go to witness the “fire festival” in Nozawa (another ski town). Yes, it’s as crazy as it sounds, it is an awesome display!
Summer Things to do in Yuzawa
As mentioned, Yuzawa isn’t just a single-season destination. There’s still a lot going on in the summer months.
It’s worth noting that summer in Japan is drastically different to the winter. Substitute snow and sub-zero temperatures for scorching summer days that can get into the high-30s (celsius).
Fuji Rock
The biggest event in Yuzawa, during the summer is, undoubtedly, the Fuji Rock Festival, held at Naeba (another ski resort). More than 100,000 people attend this music festival every year. Some of the biggest names in the music world play at it too, with the Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro (and many others) making appearances in recent years.
*Pro tip: If you can’t afford to buy a ticket (like me), hang around at Echigo Yuzawa Station and wait for the festival goers that leave early. Some of them may be willing to give you their ticket (and wrist band) for free!
Street Festivals
Just like in winter, there are a ton of festivals on, in and around Yuzawa during the summer. Most of them focus on the lush flowers in the area, like sakura or peonies. Others build on historic hobbies and practices, like kite flying or fire walking.
Whether you want to experience some Japanese culture, taste test the local street food or even grab a hold of a voice-changing balloon or two, these festivals are awesome! You can get a complete guide to the festivals by season on the Enjoy Niigata page.
Nagaoka Fireworks
Nagaoka is about an hour away from Yuzawa by car and it hosts one of the most incredible fireworks displays in all of Japan! Take your picnic mat and some delicious snacks to enjoy the jaw-dropping display underneath the stars.
Word of warning; traffic can be a nightmare so it can be a good idea to arrive in nagaoka earlier in the day!
Fireflies
There’s a popular spot in Yuzawa where you can witness fireflies at night! Hotaru no Sato, loosely translates as the village of the fireflies. I only discovered this place recently, when my girlfriend and her family took me there.
It’s totally free to enter and is definitely a cool thing to fit into your itinerary. In spring and summer, it may seem as if there are millions of fireflies surrounding you!
Adventure Activities
One of the big draws of Yuzawa during the summer is the range of adventure activities on offer including ziplining and summer skiing. Yes, many of the ski resorts remain open during the summer months so people can ski year round. Except, instead of skiing on snow, you ski on an artificial mat. It may not be as good as the real thing, but it’s still a damn fun day out!
You can also enjoy swimming in the local river. The crystal clear water and the picturesque location makes this very popular and the more well-known spots can become crowded at weekends or on national holidays. That being said, there are few things as refreshing and relaxing as taking a dip in the river, in the middle of a blazing hot, summer Japan day!
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So, hopefully this guide has taught you more about one of the lesser-known gems Japan has to offer. For more things to do in Yuzawa, see the city’s English sightseeing guide.
The big cities are great (I love Tokyo) but sometimes it can be nice to get a break from the frantic urban lifestyle and escape to the country for some skiing or to experience some local festivals and try the local food.
Whatever your travel style, be sure to keep Yuzawa on your radar of potential destinations for your next trip to Japan!
Of course if you had something different in mind in Japan, you might like Miyagi Prefecture.
Also read: How to Visit Japan on a Budget
About the Author:
Jamie is a budget backpacker and digital nomad who runs his own travel blog (Gaijin Crew) which aims to teach others how to travel cheaper and smarter and turn backpacking into a lifestyle. You can find Jamie on the Gaijin Crew Facebook page, and on Google+.
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Japan has been always on top of my list! Thank you for sharing your japan experience with us