White Valley Ski Area is a ski area in Gunma, Japan, on slopes between roughly 622 and 1,003 m. Its mapped area is about 1.2 km across, with 4 marked runs and 2 lifts (about 2.8 km of piste in all).
Over the last twelve winters the ERA5 weather model gives it 368 cm of snowfall a season, 95th of the 397 ski areas we measure in Japan. It swings a lot from year to year: the biggest winter, 2024/25 (483 cm), brought more than twice as much as the leanest, 2015/16 (183 cm). January is usually the snowiest month, with about 124 cm. Weather models read low in the mountains: a Japan Meteorological Agency station 2.5 km away measured 511 cm a winter over the last three seasons, against 395 cm from the model. Snowfall days average −2.6 °C at mid-mountain, and its snow-quality score ranks 122nd of 397 in Japan.
The nearest city of any size is Maebashi, about 46 km away. Below are links to 2 official live cameras.
Snow depth and the seven-day outlook appear here once snow starts to fall. Until then, the long-run record comes first.
Elevation range is estimated by sampling points across the ski area.
How much snow it gets
Measured by us across 3,069 ski areas by one identical method. These are not the resort’s own published figures.
The tick marks the median across every Japanese ski area we measure. All four bars run the same way — longer is better.
The quality score deliberately excludes how much snow falls — it uses temperature, frequency, rain and wind. Snowing a lot and snowing well are different things.
Compared with what is nearby
Within 50 km straight line. Measured the same way, so the ranks compare directly. Ski areas a few kilometres apart share a weather grid cell and can return the same figure.
| Ski area | Distance | Seasonal snowfall | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Area | 3.4 km | 368 cm | 233 |
| Okutone | 4.2 km | 198 cm | 1164 |
| Norn Minakami | 6.6 km | 368 cm | 233 |
| Tambara Ski Park | 10 km | 423 cm | 144 |
| Fujiwara Snow&Spa Resort | 11 km | 291 cm | 514 |
When it falls, and how winters differ
Month by month
Month by month, the most snow falls in January. March brings 52% of January’s snowfall. That is in line with the median for ski areas in Japan (52%). In amount, March brings 64 cm, more than the median of 46 cm.
Winter by winter
Across the 12 winters measured, the average is 368 cm, and 7 of them fell short of it. The leanest was 2015/16 with 183 cm; the biggest was 2024/25 with 483 cm (2.6 times as much). For 63% of the 397 ski areas in Japan, the leanest winter was the same 2015/16: bad winters tend to hit a whole region at once.
Snowfall each winter (December–March total). The dashed line is the average; the numbers mark the leanest and the biggest winter.
Runs and lifts
Counted from the runs and lifts drawn on OpenStreetMap, within the boundary of the ski area. These are not the resort’s own published figures.
Run map
The shape of the mountain
Which way the slopes face
Only 19% of the vertical on the runs descends to the north or east. More of the terrain faces the sun.
By difficulty
Lift types
- Chairlift2
See past trail maps on Skimap.org ↗
Source: OpenSkiMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0). How finely ski areas are drawn varies by region, so treat the counts as indicative. Vertical is the difference between the highest and lowest points of the mapped runs and lifts.
Live Cameras
This ski area does not put a camera on its own slopes. The nearest live view is the road below.
Road conditions decide whether you can get there at all. Check before you leave.
Footage remains the copyright of each operator. JAPANSNOWLINE neither stores nor redistributes it.
Minakami webcams & snow report — all 10 ski areas →
What was actually measured nearby
Total snowfall from December to March recorded at the みなかみ weather station — 2.5 km from this ski area, 288 m below its mid-slope.
| Three-season average | 511 cm |
| 2023/24 | 410 cm |
| 2024/25 | 708 cm |
| 2025/26 | 415 cm |
The figure calculated on this page is 395 cm.
A weather station is not a ski slope. We picked one at a similar elevation, but it stands in a valley or a village. More snow falls on the mountain above it. We have not tried to guess how much more.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency historical records
Hot springs nearby, as analysed
5 hot spring sources with published analyses lie within 5 km of this ski area, nearest first (the hottest is 61.5 °C).
| Source | Distance | Temperature | pH | Type | Analysed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 谷川孤峰の湯 | 1.2 km | 61.5℃ hot | 8.2 mildly alkaline | simple | — |
| 大穴1号泉 | 1.7 km | 41.6℃ warm | 8.4 mildly alkaline | simple | — |
| 湯桧曽貞任の湯 | 2.5 km | 53.5℃ hot | 8.4 mildly alkaline | simple | — |
| 水上不動の湯 | 3 km | 49℃ hot | 8 mildly alkaline | — | — |
| 向山宝珠の湯 | 3.8 km | 25.7℃ lukewarm | 9.4 alkaline | alkaline simple | — |
These are analyses of hot spring sources, not a list of baths you can visit. They date from 1910 to 2005, many from decades ago, so today’s temperature and chemistry may differ. Names are as recorded in Japanese. Temperature and pH bands follow Japan’s standard for analysing hot springs.
Source: processed from the hot spring analysis data in the Geothermal Information Database (GRES-DB), Geological Survey of Japan, AIST
Worth seeing nearby
Places within 20 km of this ski area, for a day off the slopes or an evening. Chosen from those most read about on Wikipedia, favouring places with an English Wikipedia article, and listed nearest first.
| Place | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Doai Station土合駅 | Landmark | 4 km |
| Tanigawadake Ropeway谷川岳ロープウェイ | Nature | 4.5 km |
| Mount Tanigawa谷川岳 | Mountain | 5.5 km |
| Nagurumi Castle名胡桃城 | Historic site | 14.2 km |
| Numata Castle沼田城 | Historic site | 17.7 km |
| Marble Village Lockheart Castle大理石村ロックハート城 | Historic site | 18.5 km |
Based on the Japanese Wikipedia lists of sights in each prefecture, as compiled in travel-log-data (CC BY-SA 4.0). English names from Wikidata (CC0). The content of this section is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map
Where it sits relative to nearby resorts. For a piste map, see the official site.
Official piste map ↗Places to stay nearby
30 properties on Rakuten Travel lie within 3 km of this ski area, listed cheapest first.
| Property | From | Rating | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天神小屋とど松 ＴＥＮＴＯＤＯ | ¥4,000 | — | 0.3 km | ＪＲ 水上駅より車で１０分 |
| 水上温泉 おやど 松葉屋 | ¥6,000 | 4.44 237 reviews | 2.4 km | 上越線 水上駅より徒歩５分／関越自動車道 水上ＩＣより車で１０分 |
| 水上温泉郷 ゆびそ温泉 ホテル湯の陣（伊東園ホテルズ） | ¥6,248 | 3.90 1033 reviews | 2.5 km | ＪＲ 湯桧曽駅から徒歩15分 |
| 水上温泉郷 湯檜曽温泉 天空の湯 なかや旅館 | ¥6,600 | 4.64 511 reviews | 2.4 km | 車：水上ICから約15分 車以外：上越線ゆびそ駅より徒歩5分、又は水上駅よりバス・タクシーで約10分 |
| 湯檜曾（ゆびそ）温泉 清風かおる湯宿 林屋旅館 | ¥7,150 | 4.48 151 reviews | 2.3 km | ＪＲ上越線 湯檜曽駅下車徒歩５分／関越水上ＩＣより１５分／上越新幹線 上毛高原駅よりバス４５分 |
| 福の屋 | ¥7,700 | 3.78 45 reviews | 2.4 km | 湯檜曽駅より徒歩で約5分 |
| 坐山 みなかみ（旧：水上館） | ¥7,700 | 4.07 2393 reviews | 3.1 km | 〇JR水上駅より徒歩15分（無料送迎あり）〇JR上毛高原駅へ無料送迎あり（要予約）〇関越道水上ICより車で7分 |
| ナチュラルハウスピュア２１ | ¥8,500 | 4.67 38 reviews | 1.1 km | 関越道水上ＩＣより7分、ＪＲ水上駅より車で５分。 |
| 水上温泉 ＫＫＲ水上 水明荘（国家公務員共済組合連合会水上保養所） | ¥9,800 | 4.28 60 reviews | 1.6 km | 組合員の方はチェックインの際に組合員証等をご提示ください。 |
| 水素風呂と美食と・・・。谷川温泉やど莞山 ＫＡＮＺＡＮ | ¥10,000 | 4.79 554 reviews | 1.0 km | ☆最寄り駅ＪＲ上越線水上駅⇒無料送迎有☆お車の場合、関越道水上ICより4つの信号を全て左折約１０分 |
| 四季の湯宿 桃山流 | ¥11,000 | — | 2.6 km | 水上駅から徒歩10分 |
| Ｓｈｉｏｙａ Ｇｒａｍｐｉｎｇ Ｓｐａ | ¥13,000 | 4.69 40 reviews | 2.5 km | 水上駅 |
Show the other 18
| Property | From | Rating | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大江戸温泉物語Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 松乃井（旧：水上温泉 源泉湯の宿 松乃井）（２０２６年８月７日開業） | ¥13,300 | 4.15 3745 reviews | 2.1 km | 関越道水上ＩＣより車５分、ＪＲ上越線水上駅より徒歩１５分。 |
| 谷川温泉 水上山荘 | ¥14,850 | 4.72 633 reviews | 1.1 km | 【電車】水上駅よりお車にて10分（送迎可 要事前予約）【お車】水上ＩＣから約10分、291号線「谷川温泉入口」経由 |
| 風木立の川辺 紫明館 | ¥14,900 | 4.43 61 reviews | 2.3 km | ＪＲ 湯桧曽駅から徒歩１分 関越自動車道 水上ICより１５分 |
| 水上温泉 みなかみホテルジュラク | ¥16,500 | 4.68 3958 reviews | 2.7 km | 【お車】水上ＩＣより約10分【電車】水上駅から徒歩10分・無料送迎バス2分。水上駅ご到着時お電話下さい |
| 谷川温泉 金盛館せゝらぎ（せせらぎ） | ¥19,800 | 4.76 320 reviews | 1.1 km | ＪＲ上越線 水上駅／関越道水上ＩＣ→国道２９１号経由県道水上谷川線１０分 |
| 水上温泉郷 谷川温泉 旅館たにがわ | ¥22,150 | 4.52 635 reviews | 1.1 km | ＪＲ水上駅より車で７分（送迎あり）、関越自動車道水上ＩＣより１５分 |
| 谷川温泉 別邸 仙寿庵（せんじゅあん） | ¥53,400 | 4.50 278 reviews | 1.3 km | 新幹線 上毛高原駅→バスで２５分/上越線 水上駅より車で８分／関越自動車道 水上Ｉ.Ｃより１０分 |
| 旅の湯やど セルバン | — | — | 1.0 km | ＪＲ上越線 水上駅より車で７分／関越自動車道 水上ＩＣより１５分 |
| ペットと一緒に泊まれる宿 ペンション薔薇の詩 | — | — | 1.3 km | 関越自動車道水上インターから約４．５キロ１５分、上越線水上駅からタクシーで８分 |
| ペンション シャローム | — | — | 1.4 km | 関越自動車道水上ＩＣより１０分／ＪＲ上越線水上駅より車で５分（送迎有り・要事前連絡） |
| 水上温泉郷 やすらぎの宿 旅館「みやま」 | — | — | 1.4 km | 水上駅から車で５分、徒歩２０分／上毛高原駅から車で２０分 |
| 谷川岳ラズベリーＹＨ | — | — | 1.4 km | ＪＲ 水上駅より徒歩にて３０分、送迎あり（要予約 車で５分） |
| ゆの宿 上越館 | — | — | 1.5 km | ＪＲ水上駅より車で約５分、上越新幹線 上毛高原駅より車で約２０分、関越自動車道水上ＩＣより車で約７分 |
| カフェアンドステイ ステラ | — | — | 1.9 km | 水上駅より徒歩０分 |
| 時の奏 みなかみ | — | — | 2.0 km | JR上越線湯檜曽駅より徒歩約15分、水上駅よりお車で約５分、関越自動車道水上ICよりお車で約12分 |
| ペンション 愛花夢＜群馬県＞ | — | — | 2.0 km | ＪＲ水上駅から５分、関越自動車道水上Ｉ．Ｃから１０分 |
| リバーサイドオアシスみなかみグランピング | — | — | 2.2 km | 関越道 水上ＩＣ→R２９１を宝川温泉方面へ→約３ｋｍ／最寄り駅【水上駅】【湯檜曽駅】 |
| 水上温泉郷 まごころの宿 旅館 永楽荘 | — | — | 2.3 km | ＪＲ 水上駅より車で１０分 |
Contains advertising · Property data by Rakuten Travel (Supported by Rakuten Developers)
Stay nearby
9 places within 12 km of the slopes. Most of them do not take online bookings — open the map for contact details.
Nearest: 1.1 km
Nearest first
- 千寿庵 Hotel 1.3 km
- Tanigawadake Raspberry Youth Hostel Hostel 1.4 km
- Matsunoi Hotel 2.2 km
- ホテル湯の陣 Hotel 2.5 km
- Minakami Hotel Juraku Hotel 2.7 km
- だいこく館 Hotel 3.1 km
Accommodation data: OpenStreetMap
More places to look
Guides covering Gunma
- Everywhere on Earth You Climb for Snow. Japan Is the One Place You Drive Toward the Sea. Across 3,069 ski areas we measure, height and snowfall move together — +0.58 in France, +0.85 in Germany. In Japan the figure is +0.02. The reason is not that elevation stopped working.
- How Close to Rain Does the Snow Fall? Japan, the Alps and North America Compared We measured how close to freezing the snow already falls at 240 randomly drawn resorts in the Alps and North America, and at all 397 in Japan. Japan is not one place: Honshu is among the most exposed, Hokkaido among the least.
- Why Is Hokkaido's Snow Colder? Latitude, Elevation and Rain Across 397 Japanese ski areas, elevation sets the temperature and latitude does almost nothing to it — inside Honshu, going north is worth nothing at all. What latitude buys instead is the absence of rain.
Updated: 8 Oct 2026, 00:52