Karuizawa Prince opens 31 Oct 2026, an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen, with an outlet mall by the station. Lift tickets, terrain and a day plan.
Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort is about an hour from central Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and roughly a 10-minute walk from Karuizawa Station. The Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza outlet sits between the station and the slopes, so one person can ski while another shops. For 2026-27 the resort plans to open on 31 October 2026 and run to 31 March 2027, with adult day tickets from ¥8,000 (Have a Good Holiday).
| Area | Planned dates |
|---|---|
| East area (ski centre) | 31 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 |
| West area | 19 Dec 2026 to 22 Mar 2027 (tentative) |
| Lift hours | 8:00 to 17:00 (8:30 to 16:30 until 18 Dec) |
Source: Prince Hotels, resort announcement.
Opening at the end of October is only possible with machine-made snow, so the first weeks run on a few groomed courses. Karuizawa is one of the earliest resorts in Japan to open each season; see our early-season skiing guide for others and the 2026-27 opening dates list.
| Ticket (2026-27) | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult 1-day (junior high and older) | from ¥8,000 |
| Adult afternoon (from 12:00) | from ¥7,000 |
| Children up to elementary school | free (Kids Free Program) |
| Sightseeing lift round trip, adult | ¥3,000 |
| Snowman Park snow play | from ¥2,500, sled included |
Prices "from" vary by date. Compare with other resorts in our lift ticket price guide.
The resort is small and gentle: 8 lifts, 14 courses, a base at 940 m and a top at 1,155 m, for 215 m of vertical. About 58% of the terrain is beginner, 21% intermediate and 21% advanced, and the longest run is 1,519 m. The runs are wide and groomed. It suits beginners, families and anyone who wants a few hours on snow. Powder skiers will do better elsewhere. A free beginner area (Debut Park) is open to lift-ticket holders from late December, rental helmets are free with a rental set, and two of the ski schools offer Chinese-language lessons. Resort details are on our Karuizawa resort page.
The outlet is a large open-air mall next to Karuizawa Station, with fashion, outdoor and sports brands, a food court and restaurants. Shops are generally open 10:00 to 19:00, with seasonal changes, and coin lockers cost ¥400 to ¥700 a day (Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza). The food court is the cheapest place to eat near the slopes; the resort has food trucks at the ski centre from 10:00 to 16:00.
For other options within reach of Tokyo, see ski day trips from Tokyo. If you are still deciding what kind of resort suits your group, our resort vibe check compares the main types.
Yes. More than half the courses are beginner level and the slopes are wide and groomed.
Lift tickets are free for children up to elementary school age under the resort's Kids Free Program.
Some, but less than the Japan Sea side. The resort relies on snowmaking, especially early in the season.