Good snow is closer to Tokyo than most people expect. The Joetsu Shinkansen runs north to Echigo-Yuzawa, and Yuzawa Onsen Lodge stands a one-minute walk from the Hatsukaishi #2 lift at the Ishiuchi Maruyama ski resort. Two lodges sit side by side, each rented whole, so a group of friends or three families can share one snow weekend instead of scattering across hotel rooms.
From Tokyo to the snow
Echigo-Yuzawa is a stop on the Joetsu Shinkansen. From the station, take a rental car or a taxi the rest of the way.
A few things that make the last stretch easier:
- A rental car is recommended, and winter tyres are essential.
- In car navigation and map apps, search for the neighbouring "Azami-tei" rather than the lodge name.
- In a taxi, just say "Azami-tei" — it is the well-known place next door.
One minute to the lift
The reason to look at Ishiuchi Maruyama accommodation at all is the walk. Boots on at the door, and the Hatsukaishi #2 lift is a minute away — no shuttle timetable, no loading skis into a car, no queue for the gondola at the base. If someone in the group wants a long lunch or an early finish, they can walk back alone and let everyone else keep riding.
From the top of the mountain a gondola links across to GALA Yuzawa, so you can ride several lifts without coming down. Lift and gondola operation depends on the season and the weather, so check the latest information before you go.
There are a few restaurants on either side of the lift, and many more mountain restaurants once you ride up.
Highly recommended, especially for those who like easy access to the ski slopes.
— Lionel, January 2026
Two lodges, one group
House A sleeps up to 12 and House B up to 14 — up to 26 across both, booked as two separate whole houses. Each lodge has three bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, a full kitchen and a bathroom with a bathtub. The tatami rooms have futons; the western rooms have beds, which is a useful split when you have grandparents and teenagers on the same trip.
What each house has:
- Full kitchen: induction stove, microwave, toaster oven, rice cooker, wine cooler
- Bathtub, shower, hair dryer, toiletries
- Washer-dryer, iron and a drying rack — useful after a day in deep snow
- TV, a speaker and board games for the evening
- Air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi and a desk
- A baby crib in House B
- Self check-in
Both lodges are two storeys with stairs and no elevator, worth knowing if anyone in the group finds stairs difficult.
Practical notes before you book
- Check-in is from 16:00 and checkout is by 10:00. There is no front desk — you let yourselves in.
- In winter there is no parking beside the house. Use the lift parking (Hatsukaishi #2 lot or Hattori Rental), a one to two minute walk; send us the receipt and we refund the parking fee.
- No smoking indoors. Please keep things quiet after 21:00 out of consideration for the neighbours.
- No glass, cans, PET bottles or metal in the outside bin — leave recyclables indoors and staff will take care of them.
- Want to bring a pet? Please ask us before booking.
Staff do help when the weather turns:
Very satisfied with this stay. All communication with the host and the help they provided were excellent. When the snow was too deep for a taxi on check-out day, the host came to pick up and drop off our three families at Yuzawa Station. Thank you very much!
— Ya Li, February 2025
Booking this Yuzawa ski lodge
See photos, the full amenity list and the house rules on the stay page: Yuzawa Onsen Lodge. Choose House A and House B separately on the booking page — book both for a group of up to 26.
Book on iconhotel.jp and the room rate is 10% lower than on booking sites, applied automatically. The booking page shows the full total — room, cleaning fee and tax — before you pay; payment is the full amount by card at booking.
These are whole houses, so free cancellation runs until 23:59 JST 14 days before check-in. After that, no refund.
By Japanese law, every guest registers with a photo ID before arrival. Japan residents use a photo ID, everyone else a passport, uploaded through the registration form we send. About three days before arrival you will get the guidebook with the location, Wi-Fi and house rules; how to get in is sent separately.
Questions about the snow, the parking or the two houses? Message Icon Hotel Reception on LINE or use the contact form. Replies are written by hand and may be slower between 04:00 and 10:00 JST.
