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    Winter sports

    JR Pass for skiing and snowboarding in Japan

    Japan's powder snow is famous, and many of the best ski resorts are reachable on JR trains. A JR Pass covers the shinkansen legs and limited express trains to several ski regions.

    01

    Hokkaido (Niseko, Furano, Rusutsu)

    • Tokyo to Shin Hakodate Hokuto on Hayabusa, then JR Hokuto to Sapporo and Otaru.
    • Niseko is reached on local JR lines from Otaru.
    • Furano via JR Furano line from Asahikawa, fully covered.
    02

    Hakuba and Nagano

    • Tokyo to Nagano on Hokuriku shinkansen, around 1 hour 30 minutes, included.
    • Bus from Nagano station to Hakuba, around 70 minutes.
    • Shiga Kogen by local bus from Nagano.
    03

    Nozawa Onsen and Yuzawa

    • Hokuriku shinkansen to Iiyama for Nozawa Onsen, then a short bus.
    • Joetsu shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa for Gala Yuzawa, ski in ski out from the station.
    04

    Tohoku resorts

    • Yamagata shinkansen to Yamagata for Zao Onsen.
    • Tohoku shinkansen to Morioka for Appi Kogen and Hachimantai.
    05

    Practical tips

    • Use luggage forwarding for skis to save handling.
    • Reserve shinkansen seats early during peak season (December to February).
    • Carry warm layers, station platforms get freezing in the north.

    Frequently asked questions

    Quick answers to common questions.

    Can I bring skis on the shinkansen?

    Yes. Skis count as oversized luggage and travel free if under 250 cm total. Reserve an oversized baggage seat free of charge.

    Is Niseko reachable with the JR Pass?

    Mostly. The pass covers shinkansen to Hokkaido and local JR lines via Otaru. A short bus finishes the trip.

    Is Gala Yuzawa connected to the shinkansen?

    Yes. The resort is built next to Echigo Yuzawa station, one of the easiest ski stops in Japan.

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