Discover Kijimadaira Ski Resort (Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama), a hidden gem in northern Nagano perfect for beginners and families. Features wide gentle slopes, high-quality groomed runs, an epic 800m sledding course, uncrowded conditions, and excellent access—just 15 minutes from Iiyama Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) and 20 minutes from Toyoda-Iiyama IC. This comprehensive guide covers courses, facilities, nearby dining, hot springs, and everything you need to know based on real experiences.
Basic Information: Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama (Kijimadaira Ski Resort)
Overview
- Official Name: Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama (formerly Kijimadaira Ski Resort)
- Location: 3876-2 Kamikijima, Kijimadaira Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
- Elevation: Base 960m / Summit 1,450m (490m vertical drop)
- Number of Runs: 11 courses
- Longest Run: 2,800m
- Lifts: 4
Operating Hours & Season
- Season: Late December to late March (varies by year)
- Hours: Weekdays 8:30-16:00 / Weekends & Holidays 8:00-16:30
Lift Ticket Prices (2025-2026 Season)
- Adult 1-Day Pass: ¥5,700 (weekends/holidays) / ¥4,900 (weekdays)
- Child 1-Day Pass: ¥2,500 (all days)
- Senior 1-Day Pass: ¥5,200 (weekends/holidays) / ¥4,500 (weekdays)
- Half-day and multi-ride tickets available
Access
- By Train: 15 minutes by car from Iiyama Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) / Free shuttle bus available
- By Car: 20 minutes from Toyoda-Iiyama IC (Joshinetsu Expressway)
- Parking: 1,500 spaces (free), 0-minute walk to slopes
Official Website & Contact
- Official Site: https://kijimadaira-ski.com/
- Phone: 0269-82-3434
Related Article: 2025-2026 Season Pass Arrival Report (Japanese)
Why Kijimadaira is Perfect for Beginners & Families
1. Wide, Safe Course Design
Kijimadaira’s greatest strength is its exceptionally wide slopes. Beginners can ski with minimal worry about collisions, making it ideal even for families with young children taking their first turns.
Recommended Courses for Beginners:
- Perfect Course: Wide and gentle slopes, ideal for first-time skiers
- Family Course: Lower mountain wide run popular with families, includes sledding area
- Sky Course: 1,200m long with maximum width of 250m for peace of mind, amazing views!
Advanced skiers can enjoy the Pioneer Course (max 46° slope) and terrain features on Woodland Course, ensuring fun for all skill levels.
2. High-Quality Groomed Runs
Romance no Kamisama features excellent grooming quality, with first-tracks in the morning being particularly enjoyable. Edges grip perfectly, making it ideal for carving practice.
Actual skier experience: “Got first tracks on perfectly groomed corduroy with nobody else around. Blue skies, crystal-clear visibility, snow with perfect edge grip—it was absolutely incredible!”
Related Article: December 30, 2024: Season-Ending Experience Report (Japanese)
3. Epic Powder Snow Days
As a heavy snowfall area in northern Nagano, Kijimadaira offers incredible powder snow on big storm days!
Real Experience:
- On February 8-9, 2025, record snowfall left untouched white slopes all to ourselves
- Despite poor visibility and strong winds, powder riding was absolutely exhilarating
Related Articles:
- February 8, 2025: Heavy Snow Powder Experience (Japanese)
- February 9, 2025: Record Snowfall Report (Japanese)
4. Great Spring Skiing Too
Even in late March, snow quality remains stable for enjoyable spring skiing. Less crowded than peak season, perfect for skiing at your own pace.
Related Articles:
- March 1: Spring Skiing Experience (Japanese)
- March 29-30: Season’s Last Weekend Stay Report (Japanese)
Family Favorite: Epic 800m Sledding Course!
Kijimadaira’s star attraction is a genuine 800-meter sledding course!
Sledding Course Features
- 800m Long: Over 8 times longer than typical resort sled areas (50-100m)
- Safe Design: Wide course exclusively for sledding ensures safety
- Free Rentals: Sleds and snow tubes available free of charge
Kids and Adults Love It: “The kids were so excited they went down again and again! Even adults found it thrilling!”
Related Article: 800m Sledding Course Detailed Experience (Japanese)
Sled Competitions: On the season’s final day, a “Sled Competition” is held with fun prizes!
Related Article: Sled Competition Report: Season Finale (Japanese)
Excellent Dining & Facilities
Free Restaurant Day (Customer Appreciation Event)
On January 26, 2025, under new management by SBC Resort Kijimadaira, a Free Restaurant Day customer appreciation event was held! These events are held regularly, so be sure to check for upcoming dates.
Menu Offerings:
- Margherita Pizza
- Various Ramen
- French Fries
- Berry Cheesecake
- Beverages
The restaurant interior has been renovated with stylish pink walls, gold arches, modern spherical lighting, and a refined atmosphere.
Related Article: Free Restaurant Day Experience (Japanese)
Kids Space “KIDSWEET”
Indoor kids’ play area with diaper changing stations and nursing rooms—family-friendly facilities throughout. Outdoor attractions include bouncy domes, sledding areas, and large snow crystal play structures.
Bihada-no-Yu Day-Use Hot Spring
The on-site hotel features a day-use hot spring (Bihada-no-Yu / “Beautiful Skin Hot Spring”) where you can soak right after skiing.
Recommended Nearby Dining & Hot Springs
Maguse Onsen (Hot Spring) ※Closed November 2025
15 minutes by car from Kijimadaira, this hidden hot spring beyond a snow corridor was a local gem.
Features:
- Snow corridor over 2 meters high
- Overwhelming snowfall and spectacular snow-viewing outdoor bath
- Free-flowing natural hot spring water
Related Article: Maguse Onsen: Overwhelming Snowscape Report (Japanese)
Iiyama Area Gourmet Spots
Soba (Buckwheat Noodles):
- Sobakoan Saesa: Delicate hand-made soba with excellent tempura Saesa Lunch Experience (Japanese)
- Nishinochaya: Stone-ground authentic soba Nishinochaya Soba Report (Japanese) / English
Izakaya & Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ):
- Kuidaore Satomi: Yakiniku & izakaya, perfect after Nozawa Onsen skiing Kuidaore Satomi Dinner Experience (Japanese) / English
Unagi (Eel):
- Honda: Fluffy steamed eel rice bowl Honda Unagi Report (Japanese)
Italian:
- Doyobi wa Italian (Saturday is Italian): Popular local spot, perfect post-skiing dinner Doyobi wa Italian Experience (Japanese)
Sake:
- Waremoko (Iiyama Station): For local sake enthusiasts Waremoko Sake Experience (Japanese)
Combine with Nearby Ski Resorts
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort (30 min drive)
One of Japan’s largest ski resorts. Great to combine with Kijimadaira!
Related Article: 2025 Nozawa Onsen Season Opening Experience (Japanese)
Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Resort (40 min drive)
Japan’s highest elevation ski resort at 2,307m, featuring the scenic Yokoteyama Summit Hutte bakery.
Related Article: Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Extra Skiing Report (Japanese)
Important Notes
⚠️ Compact Resort Compared to mega-resorts, course variety is limited. However, it’s more than sufficient for beginners to intermediates, especially families with children—no lift lines!
⚠️ Weather-Related Visibility Heavy snow days can reduce visibility. Check weather forecasts before visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Is it suitable for beginners? A. Absolutely! Wide, gentle slopes make it highly recommended for beginners.
Q2. Are there kids’ facilities? A. Yes! The 800m sledding course, KIDSWEET kids’ space, nursing rooms, and diaper changing stations make it very family-friendly.
Q3. Are rentals available? A. Yes. Ski, snowboard, and wear rentals available—come empty-handed!
Q4. Is it crowded? A. Compared to large resorts, it’s relatively uncrowded. Especially peaceful on weekdays.
Q5. Is parking convenient? A. Extremely convenient—0-minute walk from parking to slopes!
Q6. Are there nearby hot springs? A. Yes, there’s a day-use hot spring facility on-site.
Who Should Visit Kijimadaira (Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama)?
✅ Beginners & first-time skiers ✅ Families (the 800m sledding course is incredible!) ✅ Those seeking uncrowded slopes ✅ Skiers wanting high-quality groomed runs for carving practice ✅ Powder snow enthusiasts in northern Nagano ✅ Those who want to combine skiing with dining and hot springs
Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama (formerly Kijimadaira Ski Resort) is a hidden gem: beginner and family-friendly, excellent snow quality, uncrowded, with great nearby dining and hot springs.
Visit once and you’ll definitely want to return!
Related Articles (Japanese)
- 2025-2026 Season Pass Arrival Report
- 800m Sledding Course Experience
- 2024 Season Ending: First-Tracks Groomed Run Experience
- Maguse Onsen: Overwhelming Snowscape Report
- Saesa Soba Lunch Experience
Japanese Version: 木島平スキー場完全ガイド(日本語)