Planning a ski or snowboard lesson at Ishiuchi Maruyama with Snow Country Instructors? Here’s a practical guide to getting there, finding our meeting point, and making the most of your day. While it’s technically in the Minamiuonuma city area, it’s only a short 5-10 minute drive...
Planning a ski or snowboard lesson at Kagura with Snow Country Instructors? Here’s a practical guide to getting there, finding our meeting point, and knowing what to expect on the mountain. About Kagura and Who It Suits Kagura has three connected areas: Mitsumata, Kagura, and Tashiro. It’s...
If you’ve been looking into a Japan ski trip for this winter, you’ve probably seen the words El Niño thrown around quite a bit already. And yeah, it’s worth paying attention to. The current outlook for winter 2026/27 is pointing towards a warmer than normal winter...
Update - October 2, 2026 We’ve updated the 2026/27 opening dates with newly announced dates for Kagura, GALA Yuzawa, Yuzawa Kogen, Yuzawa Nakazato, Yuzawa Park and Muica. It might only be September, but the season in Japan is beginning to shift! Ski resorts around Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma are...
How long should your first ski or snowboard lesson be? Well, it is a bit like asking, “How long is a piece of string?” There is no perfect answer for everyone. Your ideal lesson length depends on several factors, including your goals, fitness, age, group...
Every skier or snowboarder can remember their first chairlift ride. When you’re on the mountain, just ask someone and trust me, they’ll tell you about it. Some people might tell you how unprepared they were, and how scary it was. Others might tell you just...
Planning a ski holiday in Japan this winter? Our official 2026/27 private ski and snowboard lesson prices are now live, making now the perfect time to start planning your trip to Yuzawa. At Snow Country Instructors, we offer private ski and snowboard lessons across Yuzawa's most...
We're excited to announce that our 2026/27 private ski and snowboard lesson prices for Kagura Ski Resort, NASPA Ski Garden and Naeba Ski Resort are now live and bookings are officially open. As many of our lesson prices depend on individual resort operating costs, we're still...
Introduction One thing that draws many people to Yuzawa as a ski or snowboard destination is the lower crowds and the fact that Yuzawa remains relatively undiscovered compared to many of Japan’s more famous ski areas. Yuzawa still holds its identity as a local ski town...
Our beautiful home base of Yuzawa is easily accessible by Shinkansen from Tokyo in about an hour and a half, making it one of the simplest places to come to enjoy the snow. Perfect for weekend getaways or even day trips if you are short...