Kusatsu Ski Resort Trail Map: Combining Skiing with Onsen Town

Kusatsu Ski Resort at a Glance: Slopes Beside Japan's Most Famous Onsen Town

Kusatsu Ski Resort (草津温泉スキー場, Kusatsu Onsen Ski-jo) sits adjacent to Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma's most celebrated hot spring town and one of Japan's most visited onsen destinations with over three million annual visitors. Skiing here is not just about the slopes — it is about spending the morning on the mountain and the evening soaking in some of the most acidic (and, according to devotees, most effective) spring water in Japan. That combination is the resort's defining appeal.

The ski area itself is a mid-sized mountain with seven lifts, 6,438 meters of total runs, and a vertical drop of 389 meters — a solid day or two of skiing for beginners and intermediates, with the caveat that the upper mountain has been closed since a 2018 volcanic eruption. For a look at all Gunma's ski options, see our overview of all Gunma ski resorts.

For travelers who already want to visit Kusatsu Onsen town, the ski area is an easy addition. For travelers focused purely on skiing, the limited expert terrain and three-hour journey from Tokyo require some thought before committing.

Trail Map: Courses, Lifts, and What the Mountain Looks Like

Beginner and Family Runs (50% of the Mountain)

Half of Kusatsu's groomed terrain is rated beginner, making it one of the more beginner-friendly ski areas in Gunma. The lower mountain offers wide, gently graded runs serviced by multiple lifts, and the resort layout is straightforward enough that first-timers rarely get disoriented. Ski and snowboard school lessons are available on-site for those learning the basics.

The mountain spans maximum elevation 1,628m to minimum 1,239m — a vertical drop of 389m. Total lift-served run length is 6,438 meters across seven lifts. The course breakdown, according to Sknowed's 2025 resort data, is 50% beginner, 26% intermediate, 3% advanced, and 21% ungraded terrain.

Intermediate Terrain and Night Skiing

Intermediate skiers will find approximately 26% of the mountain to their liking — a mix of red-rated runs on the middle slopes with enough variety for a full day of comfortable skiing without repeating the same run more than twice. Experienced intermediates may find the available vertical limiting after two days, particularly with the upper mountain inaccessible.

Night skiing (ナイター, naita) operates on select evenings — Sundays and specific dates between late December 2025 and late March 2026. On nighter evenings, the lifts run from 16:30 to 20:00, giving you the unusual option of skiing under lights and then sliding directly into onsen-town après-ski.

Combining Skiing with Kusatsu Onsen Town

The ski area base is 1.6 kilometers from Kusatsu Onsen town center — close enough to reach in five minutes by free shuttle bus. The shuttle runs throughout the day, making a ski-morning, onsen-afternoon itinerary practical without a car.

Kusatsu Onsen's waters are exceptionally acidic at pH 2.1 — among the most acidic natural hot springs in Japan, with a composition that many visitors find beneficial for skin conditions. The town's centerpiece is the Yubatake (湯畑), a field of wooden channels through which the hot spring water flows and cools before distribution. It is the visual heart of the town and a striking sight in winter snow.

For a same-day ski-and-soak visit: plan to arrive at the ski area by 8:30 opening, ski until early afternoon, take the shuttle into town by 13:30-14:00, and catch the daily yumomi (湯もみ) performance at 14:00 — a traditional demonstration where local performers cool the hot spring water using large wooden paddles. Public bathhouses (public onsen baths) open from around mid-afternoon; ryokan guests can typically use their inn's private baths from check-in.

If you are staying overnight, book your ryokan in Kusatsu Onsen town well in advance — the town is extremely popular and fills on weekends from January through February.

Season, Conditions, and the Volcanic Closure Explained

The 2025-26 season opens around December 18, 2025 and is projected to close around April 5, 2026. Snowfall in the Kusatsu area is generally reliable in the core months of January and February, benefiting from cold continental air masses from the Sea of Japan side.

The upper mountain has been partially closed since January 2018, when Mt. Shirane (白根山, Shiraneszan) — the active stratovolcano adjacent to the resort within Shirane National Forest (白根国定公園) — experienced a phreatic eruption that damaged facilities and raised safety concerns. The middle and lower mountain continue to operate normally, but expert runs accessing the summit area remain off-limits. No reopening timeline for the upper sections has been publicly confirmed.

For skiers who prioritize expert terrain and maximum vertical, Tanigawadake Tenjindaira in northern Gunma offers ropeway-accessed alpine skiing and backcountry access without a volcanic closure limitation. Tambara Ski Park is an alternative with a longer season and family-focused facilities. Kawaba Ski Resort attracts riders seeking powder conditions with efficient Tokyo access.

For Kusatsu, the best strategy is to visit for the onsen-ski combination and treat the terrain as a bonus — not as the primary draw.

Getting to Kusatsu: Access from Tokyo by Train and Car

By Train (JR Agatsuma Line to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi)

From Tokyo, the train route runs: Tokyo Station → Takasaki Station via Hokuriku or Joetsu Shinkansen (approx. 50 minutes), then transfer to the JR Agatsuma Line (吾妻線) to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station (長野原草津口駅), approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. Total rail time is roughly 2 hours 30 minutes.

From Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, buses run approximately every 30 minutes to Kusatsu Onsen town and the ski resort — a 25-minute journey. Confirm bus timetables at the station or on the Gunma Bus website, as schedules vary by day and season.

By Car from Tokyo

Driving from central Tokyo takes approximately three hours via the Kan-Etsu Expressway (関越道) to Shibukawa-Ikaho IC, then connecting to Route 353 and Route 145 toward Kusatsu. An alternative routing uses the Agatsuma Expressway to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi IC.

The ski resort provides 1,260 free parking spaces — significantly more capacity than many comparable Gunma ski areas. Weekend mornings in peak January-February can see the lot fill early, so aim to arrive before 9:00. A free shuttle runs between the resort car park and Kusatsu Onsen town center for those driving their own vehicles.

Lift Tickets, Hours, and Practical Tips

According to NAVITIME's 2025 resort data, lift ticket prices are as follows:

Category	1-day lift ticket
Adult	¥6,000 (~$40)
Senior / High school student	¥5,200 (~$35)
Elementary school student	¥2,000 (~$13)
Age 3 and under	Free

Prices shown are from 2025 data (Sunday rate). Verify current rates at the official resort website before travel — prices may differ by day of week and season.

Operating hours:

• Weekdays: 8:30-16:30
• Weekends and public holidays: 8:30-17:00
• Night skiing: 16:30-20:00 on select Sundays and designated dates
• Season end: approximately April 5, 2026

Practical tips:

• Ski rental is available on-site — useful if combining with an onsen ryokan stay and traveling without bulky gear
• No advance reservation required for lift tickets; purchase at the resort on arrival
• Weekend lift queues during January peak season can build by mid-morning — earlier starts pay off
• The free shuttle to Kusatsu Onsen town runs throughout the day; check the schedule at the resort information desk on arrival
• The town's public outdoor foot bath (ashiyu) near the Yubatake is free and a good first stop after skiing if you are not using a ryokan bath

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you combine skiing at Kusatsu with the onsen town?

The ski area base is 1.6 kilometers from Kusatsu Onsen town center — about five minutes by free shuttle bus. A practical same-day plan: ski from 8:30 until early afternoon, take the shuttle into town around 13:30-14:00 to catch the 14:00 yumomi performance, then use a public bathhouse or your ryokan's private bath from mid-afternoon. The free shuttle makes this straightforward without a car.

Is Kusatsu Ski Resort worth visiting for intermediate skiers?

For a day or two of skiing combined with a Kusatsu Onsen town stay, yes. The mountain offers 26% intermediate terrain with 7 lifts and 6,438 meters of total runs. The upper volcanic area remains closed, which limits challenge for strong intermediates. The resort's real value is the ski-plus-onsen-town combination — if exceptional terrain is your priority, consider Tanigawadake Tenjindaira instead.

How do you get to Kusatsu Ski Resort from Tokyo?

By train: Tokyo to Takasaki by Shinkansen (50 min), then JR Agatsuma Line to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station (1h 40min), then bus 25 minutes — approximately 3 hours total. By car: Kan-Etsu Expressway toward Shibukawa-Ikaho IC, then Route 353/145 to Kusatsu — approximately 3 hours from central Tokyo. Free parking (1,260 spaces) is available at the resort.

Are the slopes at Kusatsu crowded on weekends?

Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's most visited hot spring destinations year-round, and the ski area reflects that popularity. Weekend crowds peak in January and mid-February. Weekday visits offer significantly shorter lift queues. If you are visiting on a weekend, aim to arrive before 9:00 to beat the busiest periods.

Why are the upper slopes at Kusatsu Ski Resort closed?

Mt. Shirane, the active stratovolcano adjacent to the resort within Shirane National Forest, experienced a phreatic eruption in January 2018 that damaged lift infrastructure and prompted permanent closure of the uppermost runs as a safety precaution. The middle and lower mountain — covering the beginner and intermediate courses — remain fully operational. No reopening timeline has been publicly announced.