Fujiten Snow Resort at the base of Japan’s most famous mountain is just over an hour’s drive from many U.S. bases in metro Tokyo. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
If skiing or snowboarding is your thing, Fujiten Snow Resort at the base of Japan’s most famous mountain is just over an hour’s drive from U.S. bases in metro Tokyo.
Fujiten, at the first station of Mount Fuji in Narusawa village, has multiple slopes perfect for beginners and experts alike. And the view of the renowned mountain is picture-perfect.
Fujiten Snow Resort near Mount Fuji has seven separate ski runs, a lodge, cafe, equipment rentals and a children’s area. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The resort has seven separate ski runs, a lodge, cafe, equipment rentals and a children’s area. Three ski lifts are available: a family lift, a quad lift and a romantic lift.
Skiers simply purchase a pass, scan it at the lift gate and away they go. For someone not too fond of heights, the ride up the slope isn’t so bad; soothing music plays on the public address system along the way. An employee is waiting at the top to assist skiers and boarders off their chairs.
Fujiten Snow Resort, at the first station of Mount Fuji in Narusawa village, has multiple slopes perfect for beginners and experts alike. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The two longest ski runs, suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers, are 1,300 meters long, or just over 1,400 yards. A 500-meter family slope is perfect for beginners.
The resort also features steeper, advanced courses and a terrain park with several large jumps, rails and boxes for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The slalom course takes skiers and snowboarders 1,330 meters downhill through a forest. As a beginning snowboarder, I really enjoyed this course; snow was very soft, so falling while practicing was no issue.
Fujiten Snow Resort, at the first station of Mount Fuji in Narusawa village, has multiple slopes perfect for beginners and experts alike. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The Fuji Mountain View Lift, which costs 1,500 yen, or about $10.15, is available for those who aren’t skiing or snowboarding. From the observation deck at the summit, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi.
At Chibikko Ai Land, families can play away from the boarders and skiers. At the nursery, babysitters will care for children while their parents hit the slopes; reservations are required and can be made online.
When you get hungry, Restaurant Cologne serves ramen dishes and Restaurant Mominoki offers curry, pasta, steak and chicken dishes. Unfortunately, neither has vegetarian options.
Crepes and Fast Foods at Fujiten Snow Resort serves a popular cheese bread shaped like a 10 yen coin for 500 yen. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
There are also food stands. Crepes and Fast Foods serves sugar-and-strawberry on a stick for 200 yen and a popular cheese bread shaped like a 10 yen coin for 500 yen.
Parking at the resort is free on weekdays and 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays.
Coin lockers and changing rooms are available. Rental equipment is available too, but you may find it less expensive at your base recreational services.
Fujiten Snow Resort at the base of Japan’s most famous mountain is just over an hour’s drive from many U.S. bases in metro Tokyo. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: About two hours or less by car from most U.S. bases near Tokyo. 401-0320 Yamanashi, Minamitsuru District, Narusawa, 8545-1
Times: The reports is typically open from mid-December to early April. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends.
Costs: Prices vary. See www.fujiten.net for a breakdown. Children 3 and under are free; adult day pass, $27, weekends and holidays, $37.11, children ages 4 to elementary students, $16.87 per day and $27 on weekends and holidays. Four-hour passes on weekdays, $20.25 and weekends, $27.
Food: Many options available onsite.
Information: www.fujiten.net
