Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort
Operated the Prince Hotel group, Karuizawa Ski Resort is perhaps the most readily accessible resort from Tokyo – only a short distance from Karuizawa Station, a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Easy to get to from the capital, Karuizawa is a small resort that relies on snow-making equipment and as such is best-suited to families with young children, absolute beginners or those just wanting to enjoy the snow and winter atmosphere with easy access to everything else the resort town has to offer. Basically, if you are a keen skier or snowboarder or looking for Japan’s legendary powder dumps then Karuizawa definitely is not for you. But if you just want to enjoy snow activities within easy reach of Tokyo (and don’t mind that much of that snow is fake) in combination with Karuizawa’s array of high-quality hotels, restaurants and shopping, then it just might be the right resort for you.
— Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort: The Stats & Facts
— Getting to the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort
— Karuizawa Snowboard/Ski Package
— Book with Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
Highlights
When considering a trip to Karuizawa it’s important to set your expectations. This is a small and often crowded resort that relies of snow-making equipment to operate and charges more than most other resorts. So why is it popular? That’s easy to answer. Karuizawa is super easy to get to thanks to the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo Station. The journey from the capital to Karuizawa Station is quick and easy, from where it’s less than a 5 minute drive onto the resort. A large number of snow-making machines guarantee a cover of ‘snow’ while the large Prince Hotels and Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza offer visitors lots of things to do away from the ski runs. The resort and hotels are well-setup for families including those with young children while the surrounding areas offers some of Nagano’s best dining and accommodation. This is one resort where the true highlights have little to do with the resort itself but instead lie in all the trimmings you can enjoy in addition to a little time playing in the (largely fake) snow.
Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort: The Stats & Facts
Operating Dates & Times
Karuizawa Ski Resort advertises one of Nagano’s longest seasons, operating from November until April. It does so by relying on snow-making equipment. The resort itself is subject to unreliable snow and rarely receives the powder dumps that other Nagano resorts are famous for. Lifts operate daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Night-skiing is not currently available.
Ski Runs
Karuizawa is a very small resort – around 30 hectares in size – offering 10 or 16 ski runs (depending how you count them) serviced by 9 chairlifts. Sitting between 940 to 1115 metres above sea level, the resort offers a disappointing 215 metres of vertical and steepest pitch of 31°. The official breakdown lists trails as: Beginner 50% / Intermediate 30% / Advanced 20%. The longest run is only 1.2KM. Based on those stats it should be clear, this is a resort targeted squarely at beginners and families with children.
Tickets & Passes
Day passes for Karuizawa cost: Adults (18+): JPY7500/ Children and HS Students (6-17): JPY7000 / Seniors (55+): JPY7000. Half-day / 4 hour tickets are also available but at only a slightly reduced rate.
Rental & Ski School
It’s easy to arrange ski and snowboard rental while at Karuizawa. Both Karuizawa Ski Center and Karuizawa Prince Hotel East have outlets inside offering ski and snowboards, clothing and accessories. Ski and snowboard lessons are also available for both adults and children but should you wish to have a lesson in English, you will likely need to book a private lesson.
Kids & Families
Karuizawa is well-setup for families and children. There are multiple dedicated children’s activity areas including the ‘Day Trip (Higaeri) Snow Park’ and ‘East Park’ both costing JPY1800 to enter, along with the ‘West Chibbiko Land’ area for the exclusive use of Prince Hotel guests. Entry is JPY1000. ‘Mori no Kids Room’ is a childcare facility located in Karuizawa Prince Hotel East. Advanced booking is required with a rate of JPY3600 per hour. Children’s ski and snowboard lessons are also available with a range of other activities also on offer across the resort.
Accommodation & Resort Info
Visitors heading to Karuizawa are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation. As one of Japan’s oldest and most famous mountain resort towns, Karuizawa boasts some of Nagano’s best accommodation including the large Prince Hotels providing easy access to the resort. Many if not most guests heading to Karuizawa Ski Resort choose to stay at one of the Prince Hotels and package everything including ski / snowboard rental as part of their accommodation package but it’s worth noting that there is huge range of options in the area around the resort including high-end hotels and traditional ‘ryokan’ (guesthouses).
KARUIZAWA PRINCE HOTEL
The Karuizawa Prince offers shuttles from the Station, as well as within the resort premises so that you can make the most of your time and not worry about logistics! Guests can enjoy the convenience of ski-in and ski-out access in the winter, while the warmer months offer opportunities for tennis, cycling, and exploring the extensive grounds. Hotel guests have access to free shuttles within the resort grounds, the onsen (hot springs) onsite for relaxation, as well as multiple dining options ranging from traditional Japanese cuisine to international fare, ensuring a delightful culinary experience. The resort’s prime location also makes it an ideal base for exploring nearby attractions and famous sightseeing spots in the Nagano area like Kusatsu Onsen, Matsumoto, and the Snow Monkey Park.
Historic & Grand
Resort Complex
| Karuizawa Prince Hotel | |
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| Area | KARUIZAWA & KUSATSU |
| Type | Hotel |
| Feature | Bar/LoungeConcierge ServicesDinner & Breakfast IncludedEnglish-SpeakingFamily RoomsFitness Centre / Swimming PoolFree WifiOnsen / Hot SpringOutdoor OnsenPrivate BathroomRestaurantShuttle ServiceSki / Snowboard RentalWestern Rooms |
| Price | JPY20,000 ~ / pp |
KARUIZAWA PRINCE SHOPPING PLAZA
The ski resort is adjacent to the sprawling Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and only 5-minutes drive from Karuizawa Station. On the opposite side of the station the Old Ginza area of Karuizawa is the traditional village of the resort town. Accommodation is spread throughout with an excellent range of restaurants, cafes, bars and shopping all within easy reach. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Karuizawa Area’ hotel page.
Getting to the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort
Karuizawa is one of the easiest ski resorts to reach from Tokyo. To do so, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station – a journey of between 65 to 75 minutes / JPY5490. Once at Karuizawa, Prince Hotel resort shuttle buses or a taxi will take you onto the resort in under 5 minutes. For more information about how to reach the resort from Tokyo and other staring points, see our ‘How to Get to Karuizawa’ page.
Karuizawa Snowboard/Ski Package
Based in Nagano, Snow Monkey Resorts is proud to partner with hotels in and around Karuizawa. Our packages come standard with the following inclusions:
— Accommodation (inc. breakfasts) at your choice of hotel
— All-mountain ski passes (for your preferred resort/s & no. of days)
In addition, the following can be arranged to fit your needs:
— Dinner/s at your accommodation
— Ski and/or snowboard rental
— Ski and/or snowboard lessons
— Private transfer to/from your accommodation
— Day tours inc. to the Jigokudani Monkey Park & other attractions/activities
Want to get a quote for your winter getaway in Karuizawa? Click here and find out more.
Book with Us! Nagano’s No.1 Tour & Charter Operator
Locally-based and operating all year round, Snow Monkey Resorts is Nagano’s No.1 tour and charter operator. We have the local knowledge of where and when to go, to help you discover and enjoy the region’s many ski resorts and other fantastic destinations and activities.
or guests wanting to access the resorts in the comfort of their own transport, we can arrange a private tour or charter customised to fit your needs, starting and ending at any destination including from/to Nagano Station and any resort in the region. Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of that experience and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Japan.
Got a question about visiting Karuizawa this winter? Click on the INQUIRY button below or contact us and let’s get planning together!
