Spring comes along. Not yet. We can still enjoy skiing at Echigo-Yuzawa in Niigata prefecture located an hour-and-a half bullet train ride away from Tokyo. It’s like I’m in the another world when getting off the train from Tokyo.
One of its greatest attraction is accessible location, so many people enjoy one-day ski on weekend. There are 16 ski resorts in Echigo-Yuzawa area.
We went to Iwappara ski resort which marks its 80th anniversary. Here is suitable for beginners because there are many wide and gentle slopes. Even if you don’t have your ski and suit, you can rent them at 5,000yen in total for a day.(Gloves, cap and snow goggle are excluded.)
I enjoyed to ski almost all courses except for rough courses for advanced-level skiers. Actually, I’m not good at sports. When I was a child, my parents used to take me to ski resorts every winter. Thanks to my parents, skiing is a few sports I can do like other people.
Another attraction of Echigo-Yuzawa must be Sake, alcohol beverage made from rice. Niigata prefecture is one of the most famous rice-producing area.
We stopped at Ponshu-kan located in Echigo-Yuzawa station before leaving here. There is a Sake tasting gallery, offering 96 kinds of local Sake. Buy five coins at 500yen and taste five kinds of Sake you choose. 
It was great fun! In addtion, there are many shops, restaurants and hot-spring like a market. I’ve never seen such an interesting station!
Iwappara ski resort
Ticket: One-day pass (8:00-17:00)3,900yen,
One-day pass with nighter (8:00-20:30)4,500yen for adult
There are several kinds of tickets.
See http://www.iwa-ppara.com/index.html for details.