Hodaigi Mountain Ski Resort Voyage Tips and guide

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Hodaigi Mountain Ski Resort ( 水上宝台樹スキー場), often known as just Hodaigi, is a ski area located on the north-western slopes of Mt Hotaka in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. It is one of 8 ski areas across the central region of Minakami Town. The ski area opened in 1979 and was known as Minakami Hodaigi. In November 2021, a new look was unveiled with an updated name. In 2023, on its official website, the ski area also calls itself Hodaigi Mountain Resort in English characters.

Hodaigi has a vertical drop of 1870.1ft (570m), with the base elevation being 2723.1ft (830m), and the top elevation being 4593ft (1399.9m).

Hodaigi has ski and snowboard rentals where skis and snowboards are rentable for 1 day. It also has rentals for other snow wear and equipment such as boots, snow blades, and helmets.

There are multiple ways to get to Hodaigi including public transportation by bus and train, and driving by road.

16.2 miles(26.1km) from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, 7.6 miles (12.2km) from Yubiso Station on the Joetsu line, then 9.3 miles(14.9km) from Minakami Station on the Joetsu line. The ski area is just over 7.5 miles(12km) from Yubiso Station on the Joetsu line.

A free shuttle bus service is available from Jomo Kogen Station and Minakami Station. This bus mostly operates on weekends and holidays. Other normal bus services stop at Takagawa Iriguchi and a ski area shuttle bus is available from there to the base.

There is parking for about 2,400 vehicles close to the base of the ski area. Parking is free on weekdays, and 1,000 yen on weekends, holidays, and over New Year.^[1]