Skiing in Honshu: Tokyo, Naeba and Shiga Kogen, and why we built a group trip around it

Japan has a way of getting under your skin. You go once and you spend the next year telling anyone who will listen about the food, the snow, the trains that run on time, and the particular kind of calm that comes from being somewhere that just works. We know this because we have seen it happen to our clients, and if we are being honest, to ourselves too.

So when the idea of a Honshu ski group came up – Tokyo as the arrival city, Naeba for the first stretch of skiing, then across to Shiga Kogen for the second – we did not just put it together on paper and hope for the best. We went divide and conquer. Jaimee and Laura took Tokyo and Shiga Kogen, while Amy headed straight to Naeba. Two teams, three destinations, a lot of ramen, and enough first-hand intel between them to build something we are genuinely proud of.

Here is what they found.

Getting there: Air New Zealand all the way

The journey starts well before you hit the slopes. Jaimee and Laura flew Air New Zealand in economy, and the verdict was overwhelmingly positive. Check-in and bag drop at Auckland was quick and painless – no queuing around the terminal, no kerfuffle. The aircraft itself was comfortable with a generous amount of space for economy class, the entertainment worked as it should, the meals were good, and the crew were the kind of warm and attentive that makes a long-haul flight feel a lot shorter than it is.

Landing into Tokyo Narita, customs and immigration moved quickly and the whole process from landing to baggage claim took around 20 to 30 minutes. A refreshingly smooth arrival into one of the world’s busiest cities.

Tokyo: one night in Shinjuku

The group lands and heads straight to Shinjuku, and it does not ease you in gently. Tokyo’s most electric district hits you all at once – towering neon signs stacked ten stories high, rivers of people moving in every direction, the smell of yakitori drifting from narrow alleys, and a pace that feels kinetic even by Tokyo standards. It is one of those places that is almost impossible to describe to someone who hasn’t stood in the middle of it.

One night is just enough to get a taste – and a taste is exactly what it is designed to be. Dinner options in Shinjuku and nearby Shibuya are exceptional and genuinely accessible. A bowl of proper ramen will set you back ten to fifteen dollars, while those who want to step things up can find outstanding wagyu and barbecue restaurants nearby. The city rewards wandering, and the train network makes getting around a breeze.

One practical note worth knowing: a lot of cafes in Tokyo open later than you might expect. The local solution is Family Mart or 7-Eleven, both of which are genuinely excellent for a quick breakfast or snack – far better than the convenience store equivalents back home.

Naeba: where the skiing begins

From Tokyo the group transfers to Naeba, and the shift in atmosphere is immediate. The city noise falls away and in its place you get mountain air, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the kind of quiet that only exists when you are properly surrounded by peaks.

Amy’s base for six days, Naeba sits at the foot of Mount Naeba in Niigata Prefecture, a region famous across Japan for the quality and volume of its snowfall – light, dry powder that skiers and boarders travel a long way for.

The resort is anchored by the Naeba Prince Hotel, which sits right at the base of the mountain with views that make it hard to leave the window in the morning. The hotel has everything you need under one roof – a cosy bar, a range of dining options from pizza by the slice through to fine dining, and a food court at the far end of the building for when you want something quick after a day on the slopes. Twenty restaurants in total, which sounds excessive until day three when you realise how useful variety actually is.

A small village sits about a ten-minute walk from the hotel for those who want to stretch their legs and explore a little beyond the resort bubble.

The skiing itself suits every level – beginners through to advanced, skiers and boarders alike. The one thing worth flagging is that accessing the Dragondola, which connects Naeba with the neighbouring Kagura resort, involves a bit of traversing in places. Nothing difficult, just worth knowing before you set off. The Dragondola itself is one of the longest gondolas in the world and the views it offers are worth every second of the ride.

Days 3 through 8 are spent here. Six days of skiing, optional group dinners in the evenings, and the kind of après-ski energy that builds naturally when a good group finds its rhythm.

Shiga Kogen: Japan’s largest ski area

On Day 9, the group transfers to Shiga Kogen, and the scale of what awaits takes a moment to properly land. Eighteen interconnected resorts spread across a vast highland plateau in Nagano Prefecture, the same mountains that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. The terrain is enormous and the variety is genuinely staggering.

Jaimee and Laura were quick to single out Yakebitaiyama as a particular highlight. The blue runs there are fantastic with wide, well-groomed, and reminiscent of what you would find in North America in the best possible way. Easy access to each gondola and the Ichinose area makes navigation straightforward once you get your bearings, which the free Nagaden Bus helps with considerably. The Prince Hotels also run their own free shuttle in the evenings, which is a handy touch after a long day on the mountain.

The resort spreads across several distinct areas, each with its own character. Yakebitaiyama and the Okushiga area are quieter and more peaceful, while Ichinose has more life around it, with a few more eateries and shops, a busier atmosphere. Both have their appeal depending on what kind of day you are after.

On the food side, the Shiga Prince East main dining hall is the standout, formal dining with a buffet breakfast offering both Japanese and Western options, and a dinner service with buffet starters and dessert alongside two or three main dish choices. For something more relaxed mid-mountain, Bar and Restaurant Rocky at Hotel Ichinose is great for lunch. There is also a burger bar in the gondola building at the East, an izakaya in the gondola building at the South, and a ramen bar and Chinese restaurant next to the West, so you are never far from something good.

Days 10 through 14 are based at Shiga Kogen. Five days to work through the terrain, explore the different areas, and find your favourite runs. On Day 15, the group makes its way back to Tokyo for departure.

What the group tour looks like

We have taken everything Jaimee, Laura and Amy brought back, the resort knowledge, the transfer logistics, the dining intel, the accommodation insights, and built it into a small group tour designed to be genuinely flexible. Our hosts will shape the itinerary around the group, and with lift passes included at both resorts, every day on the mountain is yours to spend exactly as you please.

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo, overnight in Shinjuku Day 2: Transfer to Naeba Days 3–8: Based at Naeba, skiing Naeba and Kagura Day 9: Transfer to Shiga Kogen Days 10–14: Based at Shiga Kogen, exploring 18 interconnected resorts Day 15: Return to Tokyo, depart

Ski when you want to. Take a day off the slopes when you don’t. Every day on this tour is your ski holiday, your way.

So is it worth it?

Jaimee, Laura and Amy came back with full notes, excellent photos, and a very clear answer: yes. The resorts are brilliant, the logistics work, the food is outstanding, and the whole experience has that particular quality that Japan seems to deliver consistently, things are done thoughtfully, and it shows.

We went and did the research so that when you arrive, everything is already figured out. All you need to do is show up, clip in, and enjoy it.

If this sounds like your kind of trip, get in touch. We would love to have you along.