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Hirayu Onsen ski area: lift passes, hours and access

Last checked: October 2026

Sea of cloud filling the Hida valley seen from Mount Anpo, snow-capped peaks on the horizon

When the lifts run

Season and opening hours

Open daily in season1

The ski resort sits in the Okuhida hot spring area of Takayama, in northern Gifu Prefecture3. Its season depends on snow, so check before you travel.

Lift season
  • Lifts running
  • Depends on snow
  • No skiing
Lifts running
January to February
Depends on snow
March, December
No skiing
April to November

The operating period may change depending on snow conditions1. The ski area’s own site says the 2025–2026 season ended early, on 22 March4, because of a lack of snow.

Morning half-day tickets cover 8:00 to 12:00 and afternoon tickets 12:00 to 16:205.

What you pay

Lift pass prices and extras

The ski area’s own site lists the adult 1-Day Pass at ¥3,9005 (about US$25) on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for the new season (checked October 2026). The table has the rest.

¥3,300 weekday pass1

Lift passes and extras

TicketAdultChild
1-Day Pass, weekday
¥3,300
¥2,200 junior
1-Day Pass, Sat, Sun, holidays
¥3,900
¥2,200 junior
Half-day, weekday
¥2,200
–
Half-day, Sat, Sun, holidays
¥2,800
–
10-ride ticket
¥2,700
–
Single ride
¥300
–
Ski or snowboard set rental
¥3,500
–
Jacket and trousers rental
¥3,000
–

Okuhida Onsengo (official); hirayunomori.com (operator)

Day and half-day lift passes also get you into the Hirayu no Mori baths on the day of use1. Without a pass, day entry is ¥7006 (about US$4) for adults.

Hirayu no Mori is about an 8-minute walk or 2-minute drive4 from the slopes. It opens 10:00–21:00, with last entry at 20:306, which suits the onsen after a full day of skiing that the Okuhida tourism body suggests.

On the slopes

Runs, lessons and who it suits

The resort is small: three courses and two lifts1, with plentiful natural snow. That makes it easy to read.

3 courses, 2 lifts1

  • Advanced: the Giant Course is 1.5 km long, with a maximum gradient of 38 degrees4.
  • Intermediate: the Yunohira forest run is about 2,000 m long4, mixing gentle and medium slopes.
  • Beginners and families: the wide, groomed Family Slope is popular with beginners and families1.

A flat, uncrowded beginner practice area sits alongside, and a sledding area sits right next to the Ski Center4.

Ski school lessons are listed at ¥6,000 (about US$38) for kids (90 minutes), ¥4,000 (about US$26) for elementary-school children (120 minutes) and ¥4,500 (about US$29) for others (120 minutes4).

If you need age ranges for the junior pass or accessibility details, ask the Ski Center.

Hirayu Falls in winter, the water dropping past icicles onto snow-covered boulders
Hirayu Falls in winter, the water dropping past icicles onto snow-covered boulders

Getting there

How to get to Hirayu Onsen ski area from Takayama

Most people drive. The ski area’s own site gives about 50 minutes from the Takayama IC on the Chubu Jukan Expressway via Route 1584.

About 50 minutes by car4

  • By car from the Tokyo side: about 60 minutes from the Matsumoto IC via Route 158 and the Abo Tunnel4.
  • By bus: Nohi Bus runs the Shinhotaka line from Takayama to Hirayu Onsen. The 6:00 bus runs only from 19 July to 24 August7, so check the winter timetable. Children aged 6 to 12 pay half fare7.
  • On foot: Hirayu has a ski resort within walking distance of the town centre8.
  • Address: 768-1 Hirayu, Okuhida Onsenkyo, Takayama, Gifu 506-14331.

Nearby: falls, ropeway and baths

Hirayu Otaki Falls drops 64 m, and every February11 the Ice Festival lights up the frozen fall. In winter you can park at the Ankiya restaurant, about a 30-minute walk11 away.

Hirayu Falls almost fully frozen in midwinter, sun breaking over the cliff top
Hirayu Falls almost fully frozen in midwinter, sun breaking over the cliff top

The Shinhotaka Ropeway in the same valley runs 9:00am to 3:30pm from 1 December to 31 March12. If you prefer not to drive, a guided Shinhotaka Ropeway and Kamikochi tour leaves from Takayama Station.

For the village itself, see Hirayu Onsen and its ryokan and the wider Okuhida Onsen hot spring area. For another bath stop after sightseeing, there’s Shirakawa-go no Yu.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Authors and licences: image credits

Checked against 12 sources · last checked October 2026
  1. Okuhida Onsengo (official) · checked October 2026
  2. European Central Bank (official) · checked October 2026
  3. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  4. hirayunomori.com (operator) · checked October 2026
  5. hirayunomori.com (operator) · checked October 2026
  6. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  7. nouhibus.co.jp (operator) · checked October 2026
  8. japan.travel (official) · checked October 2026
  9. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  10. hida.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  11. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
  12. okuhida.or.jp (official) · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 24 October 2026
  • First written