Sports
Malnuma Kogen
Katashina
Malnuma is the first to open and the last to close. This ridiculously long season, from early November to mid April means six solid months of riding. Located high up in the mountains in Katashina village, Malnuma is an awesome ski resort with a gondola that will take you right to the top, meaning virtually no line-ups and guaranteed fresh powder all season long. There is a decent free-style park, and a bit of off-piste, as well as great groomed runs for beginners. There are some narrow and icy runs, and the lifts are old and slow, but riding the gondola all day makes it worth it. Be sure to try the ramen at the mid-way ramen house!
Ogna Hotaka Ski Resort
Katashina
Ogna Hotaka consistently gets crazy dumps of snow, and this wide-open hill is good for riders of all abilities. It is not the most challenging of hills, but the runs are much wider than the typical ski resort in Gunma, giving you a lot more freedom to move around and explore the area. There is not much in the way of a park, but a few smalls kickers are scattered around to keep the park junkies happy.
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Kawaba Ski Resort
Kawaba
Kawaba has a good little ski resort. It is not the biggest and grandest of ski hills, but what it lacks in size it makes up with awesome powder! Kawaba is a bit higher up and gets massive dumps of fresh snow. There are great tree runs and off piste for the experts, and well groomed easy runs for the beginners. There is a decent free-style park and a “surf-ride park” for the park junkies. Kawaba city has great facilities, several restaurants to choose from, and Murasaki Sports if you need to do some shopping.
Kusatsu International Ski Resort
Kusatsu
Located in one of our favorite Gunma towns, Kustatsu International Ski Resort is the perfect weekend snow destination. High up in the mountains, this resort gets tones of fresh powder throughout the winter, and with a mega long run you will be exhausted enough at the end of the day to truly enjoy an onsen soak in this famous resort town.
Hours: 8:30am – 9:00pm
Rokku Heated Pool
Maebashi
A large indoor heated pool complex with a 25m pool, stream pool, water slides, and sauna. Entrance fee is ￥300. Open 12:00-20:00 weekdays, 10:00-20:00 weekends/holidays. Closed Mondays. Located 20min. walking, 10min. by car from Maebashi Station.
Hodaigi Ski Resort
Minakami
Located high up in the Minakami mountains, Hodaigi gets crazy good powder dumps. This is the perfect hill for beginners as the runs are wide and long, with efficient lifts to get you back to the top. There are a few more challenging areas for intermediate riders, and some awesome off-piste if you can avoid the watch of the grumpy old lifties. There is a small but decent park with a few kickers and rails. Hodaigi is great for group trips as it is easy to laugh at your friend’s big fall from the main lifts!
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Norn Ski Resort
Minakami
Norn’s convenient location right off the Minakami IC makes it an easy and quick snow destination. It is not the biggest of hills, but it gets decent snow and there are some good runs for people of all abilities. Like Okutone, night skiing is available until 10:00pm on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. There are no line ups and crowds and night, and the courses offer a few decent kickers and rails to keep the park junkies happy all night long.
Hours: 7:00am – 10:00pm (12:00pm on Friday & Saturday)
Okutone Ski Resort
Minakami
High up in Minakami is this popular ski resort that has something for everyone. Okutone gets decent snow, and has runs suitable for beginners to intermediate riders. There is a decent free-style park, as well. Okuntone has great night skiing, until 10:00pm on weekdays, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Night and early-morning skiing courses are limited but there are virtually no line-ups and no crowds on the hill.
Hours: 6:00am – 10:00pm (12:00pm on Friday and Saturday)
Tanbara Ski Resort
Numata
This is a smaller hill that is excellent for beginners. There is a small freestyle park for the park junkies. Located just outside of Numata, Tanbara is one of the closer ski resorts to central Gunma, meaning you do not have to wake up quite as early to get there! The hill is covered in lavendar in the summer, making this a great visit year round.
Hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm
Central Sports Club
Takasaki
This is the nicest gym or sports club in Takasaki, but the price tag matches. There are different prices depending on how much you want to use the club and it's closed every Wednesday. You pay by the month, with no contract so it's easy to start or stop whenevery you like. To have access any day, any time (within opperating hours) it costs just over ￥9000 per month. There is a nice lap pool, aerobics pool and sauna, a cardio area, weight area, spin area and a couple studios for the classes. It's conveniently located right next to Takasaki station and offers free parking with validation up to 3 hours.
Hamagawa (浜川）Pool
Takasaki
Hamagawa pool is an aquatic dream come true! There is an 50m olympic size outdoor pool, 25m outdoor lap pool, dive tank (maybe?) indoor 25m lap pool, and a kids' water park complete with a lazy river.
Himaraya Sports
Takasaki
Himaraya Sports or ヒマラヤ スポーツ carries a large variety of porting equipment, apparel and supplements. They have a great seasonal selection so come snow or camping season this is a great place to peruse.
Joy Fit Sports Club
Takasaki
Joy Fit Sport Club is a small sports club that offers a cardio area with tredmills, elipticals, bikes, weights, streching mats, two large exercise studios, massage chairs, and onsen.
You an sign up for a 1-year membership for ￥５８００ per month. Or, you can sign up for a 6-month membership for ￥６３００ per month.
Sport Depot
Takasaki
Sport Depot is a large sporting goods store that caters to a wide selection of sports. They have everything from equipment, to apparel to nutritional suplements and rehab devices.
They also have a small seasonal section that carries basic/entry-level snow sport equipment and camping implemens.
Takasaki Outdoor Pool
Takasaki
This is a seasonal outdoor pool located south of Takasaki Station.
Palcall Ski Resort
Tsumagoi
Palcall is an awesome little hill way out west in Tsumagoi, with frequent powder dumps and good facilities. There are great groomed runs for beginners and lots of little tree runs and off piste for the more advanced. A gondola will take you right to the top of the mountain, meaning short line-ups and long runs! Be sure to try a big sloppy burger at the top of the gondola!
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
