Whenever I hear Kusatsu, I don’t necessarily think of skiing but more on the onsen. There are way more popular skiing areas around so it didn’t cross my mind that there might be one in Kusatsu too. With all the amazing mountains around like Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane, it does make sense if you can also ski there during winter. So that’s what we did.
Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is one of the early ski resorts to open in Japan, under a different name, Kusatsu Kokusai or Kusatsu International Ski Resort. I’m not sure which of the ski lifts are considered classics but it has been recently renovated to match with the changing times. Efforts to make skiing more accessible to not only ski enthusiasts and to non-skiers. So I brought friends along to enjoy the onsen culture as well as introducing them to the lovely sport.
With first time skiers tagging along, it’s important to have a nice wide open space at the bottom. There are children’s play area and a lot of beginner slopes. I felt the place was made with families, friends and children in mind. Even the ski rental shop had everything including renting out helmets and goggles. If you do not ski or snowboard, they also have a snowshoe only course called the Koridani Trail which is around 2 km long. It’s really nice to have many options for non-skiers.
As there are more and more visitors who come to ski resorts and want to experience snow for the first time, I am very happy ski resorts such as Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort are working hard to make the place accessible to many kinds of guests. They even upgraded their gondola so non-skiers can also ride up to the top and enjoy the view. There is a dining area that serves sushi and minor activities such as their zipline and a large swing to entertain those who can’t ski down.
When I took the ski lift all the way up to Aoba-yama, I was pleasantly surprised as I was greeted by the strong onsen smell. Normally a beautiful trail in summer, now fully covered in snow and it was one of the best sights I’ve seen. Most of the ski slopes in the resort are beginner friendly and it’s definitely a wonderful place to ski with friends who are just getting into the sport.
And the best part about this is the central area of Kusatsu Onsen is just 1 km away.