One of the most popular ski resorts in Japan, Naeba is located in the heart of the nation’s “snow country” in Niigata prefecture. To get here from Tokyo, visitors can simply hop on a shinkansen (bullet train) to Echigo-Yuzawa before either taking a bus to Naeba or shuttling directly to Naeba Prince Hotel at the base of the ski slopes.

As you might expect, this easy access means you will probably have to deal with some crowds during peak season and holidays. But we have good news — Naeba is home to some of the best ski lifts in the country, including the 5,481-meter-long Dragondola lift, to accommodate the many Tokyoites who come up for the weekend and a healthy amount of international travelers. Those lifts service plenty of beginner-friendly and intermediate groomers, plus a small percentage of expert runs, but anyone on the hunt for powder should head to Naeba’s second resort, Kagura. (The two are connected via the Dragondola, though you’ll need to purchase a specific joint ticket to ski both resorts.)

Naeba’s off-slope amenities will also impress, since the ski area was built from the ground up as an international destination. The Naeba Prince Hotel serves as the main hub for the resort and contains more than a dozen individual restaurants that allow visitors to grab a delicious meal without even leaving the ski area. Like most resorts in Japan, Naeba doesn’t offer much in regards to nightlife or a bar scene. But visitors traveling with kids will love Family Snowland, the on-site child care, and free lift tickets for younger riders. For guests of all ages, there’s the onsen (hot spring baths), mouthwatering food, and high-quality snow to enjoy.