Mt. Norikura Snow Resort
Mt.乗鞍スノーリゾート36°07′ N 137°37′ E500 m vertical20 runs13.4 kmSeasonal
Mt. Norikura suits quiet-seeking riders and ski tourers who want milky hot springs at the foot of a high volcano, and it is a long way from the Shinkansen.
Photo Ski Mania · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain and others, credited in the gallery
- Beginner6.4 km
- Intermediate4.6 km
- Advanced2.4 km
OpenStreetMap maps 0 named runs and 8 lifts at Mt. Norikura Snow, and the guide measures each one against the elevation model.
Open the 3D map ↓Fly the mountain in 3D立体地図
Ride every run at Mt. Norikura Snowコース
Named runs from the trail map
Technicalテクニカルコース
The ungroomed bump slope under the Norikura base lift, best the morning after snow.
Good for moguls, powder mornings
Skylabスカイラブコース
A fairly flat, slightly narrow intermediate run.
Good for easy cruising
Downhillダウンヒルコース
A wide flat slope for high-speed long turns.
Good for long fast turns
Out of five
How it rides
- Powder
- 4 out of 5
- Trees
- 2 out of 5
- Steeps
- 3 out of 5
- Park
- 1 out of 5
- Beginners
- 4 out of 5
- Quiet
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 4 out of 5
- Après
- 2 out of 5
- Family
- 4 out of 5
- Sidecountry
- 4 out of 5
Know the zones before you goエリア
Kamoshikaかもしかゲレンデ
zoneAdvanced
The steepest slope on the mountain and the start of the longest descent.
Good for powder, sidecountry
Kokusetsu国設ゲレンデ
zoneIntermediate
The national ski area slopes with cruisers for every level.
Good for cruising
Beyond the ropes · Open inside the boundary
Mt. Norikura describes its Kamoshika slope as the place for powder and sidecountry, and it hands backcountry users the Japan Association for Skiing Safety leaflet. Beyond the boundary you travel as an independent mountaineer.
- Research the route and weigh your party's skills against it before you leave the ski area
- Check the weather, the snow and the avalanche bulletin first
- Carry an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe, with spare warm clothes, a phone, food, first aid, a headlamp and a map
- Submit a climbing plan to the local mountain police and share it with your party and family
- Mt. Norikura lies in Chubu Sangaku National Park; respect its rules
8 lifts on the map
Know the liftsリフト
Season 2026/27
Buy the right ticket
- Adult day
- ¥6,200, about CAD 56 or USD 39 (October 2026 rates)
- Early and late season
- ¥3,700, about CAD 33 or USD 23 (October 2026 rates)
- 2 days
- ¥12,200, about CAD 110 or USD 77 (October 2026 rates)
- 3 days
- ¥18,000, about CAD 162 or USD 114 (October 2026 rates)
Mt. Norikura prices each day on its 2026/27 calendar at one of four levels: ¥6,200 at peak, ¥5,800 in high season (most January and February weekends), ¥4,700 on regular days and ¥3,700 off-peak. Riders aged 18 and under ride free, and seniors from 55 pay ¥3,700 on regular and off-peak days. Nagano residents, some neighbouring cities and university students pay ¥4,700 in high season and ¥3,700 on regular days with photo ID. A four-hour ticket costs ¥5,000 at peak and a single ride ¥800. Early-bird season passes are on sale.
Get thereアクセス
From Tokyo Station
- Drive
- About 60 minutes from Matsumoto IC on the Nagano Expressway
- Train
- From Tokyo, travel to Matsumoto, then take the Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line to Shin-Shimashima and the bus to Norikura Kogen, about 60 minutes.
The nearest station is Shin-Shimashima, 60 minutes from the first lift. Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line; minutes are the bus time.
The resort runs a free shuttle bus.
Mt. Norikura Snow Resort sits at the foot of Mt. Norikura in Chubu Sangaku National Park. It takes an hour to drive there from Matsumoto IC. Its 20 runs climb from 1,500 m to 2,000 m, and the Norikura Kogen onsen village at the bottom has milky white water.
The Kamoshika slope is the powder and sidecountry side of the area, and the national ski area cruisers suit everyone else. The resort's own leaflet treats anyone past the boundary as an independent mountaineer, so carry full avalanche gear and file a climbing plan.
Mt. Norikura is an active volcano. Check the Japan Meteorological Agency's warnings before you tour above the lifts.
Worth knowing
- Take the Matsumoto Electric Railway to Shin-Shimashima and the bus from there, about 60 minutes.
- The resort runs a free shuttle bus; check its page for the route.
- Riders aged 18 and under ride free in 2026/27. High-school and university students need photo ID at the ticket window, and primary-school children get a free bath at Yukemurikan if they ask there.
Quick answers about Mt. Norikura Snow Resortよくある質問
How big is Mt. Norikura Snow?
Mt. Norikura Snow has 20 runs and 8 lifts over 500 m of vertical, from 1,500 m at the base to 2,000 m at the top. OpenStreetMap maps 13.4 km of piste there.
How steep is Mt. Norikura Snow?
The steepest mapped pitch at Mt. Norikura Snow is about 27.8° over 60 m. We measure it from OpenStreetMap's run lines and the elevation model. Its advanced and expert runs add up to 2.4 km of the mapped total.
Can you ride off-piste at Mt. Norikura Snow?
Mt. Norikura describes its Kamoshika slope as the place for powder and sidecountry, and it hands backcountry users the Japan Association for Skiing Safety leaflet. Beyond the boundary you travel as an independent mountaineer.
How much is a lift ticket at Mt. Norikura Snow?
An adult day ticket at Mt. Norikura Snow costs ¥6,200, about CAD 56 or USD 39 (October 2026 rates) in the 2026/27 main season and ¥3,700, about CAD 33 or USD 23 (October 2026 rates) early or late in the season.
How do you get to Mt. Norikura Snow from Tokyo Station?
Mt. Norikura Snow is about 60 minutes from Matsumoto IC on the Nagano Expressway by car from Tokyo Station.
When is the season at Mt. Norikura Snow?
Mt. Norikura Snow usually opens 12 December 2026 (first day on the 2026/27 price calendar) and closes 4 April 2027 (last day on the 2026/27 price calendar). The deepest, most reliable snow comes 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and 9 to 11 January 2027 (peak prices).
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