Sayama Ski Resort / Indoor Snowboarding and Skiing Ground with children’s snow park in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture
Information for winter Skiing in Saitama at Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground. Saitama Prefecture does not have any natural ski slopes, but we have an indoor ski resort in Sayama ski resort and it is just on the border of Tokyo. However, it is not completely indoors – its more like a roofed artificial slope. The resort underwent renovations in 2019 and reopened in Autumn 2020 with new facilities including a kids snow park. Below is the information for the 2022 – 2023 season.
Sayama Indoor skiing ground
Just 40 minutes from Tokyo you can enjoy indoor skiing and snowboarding at the Sayama Ski Resort in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. In 2019 to 2020 they closed for renovations, but the resort reopened in Autumn 2020, albeit later than normal, for the 2020 – 2021 season. Among the changes in the new and improved Sayama Indoor Skiing ground is a snow escalator. Moreover, they now have a kids snow park. However, ever since they reopened the season hasn’t started until mid November. (It used to start in October.)
Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground / Ski Resort in winter
The Sayama Ski Resort, known on Google maps as Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground, is a Prince Snow Resort and part of the Seibu Group. It opens annually toward the end of October around mid November (since the renewal open). It is an artificial snow resort, best suited to beginners and intermediate level skiers and snowboarders.
With kids
There used to be a very popular snow kingdom in Seibuen Amusement Park, which is owned by the same people as Sayama Ski Resort. The snow park hasn’t been on at Seibuen Amusement Park, since it reopened as a retro amusement park in 2021. My feeling is, that they have this snow park at Sayama Ski Grounds instead.
Sayama Snow Park in Tokorozawa
The children’s snow park at Sayama Ski is at the base of the slope. It has artificial snow with lots of snow toys children can use freely. For example, shape makers so they can make snow ducks and / or snow balls etc. There are also sledges children can use on a tiny artificial slope. The highlight for my two youngest children (currently 8 and 10 years old) are the bouncing castles. Particularly the large one off to the side, not in snow. It is a long bouncing castle with an athletic course within it.
In addition, they always had (and will continue to have) ski lessons for children at Sayama Ski Ground. There is also good information in English on this site: https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/saitama/tokorozawa/sayama
Food
Can you buy food at Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground? Yes! There are three kitchen cars (food vans) in the rest area, one of which is beside the smoking area. All are very expensive, but the food is good! One of the kitchen cars sells finger food such as potatoes and sausages on the bone, which, in a fix, could be adequate for children. But with kids, I recommend you bring your own. Thankfully, it is permitted to bring your own food in with you. Drinks too, but there are several vending machines where you can get drinks also. If there is a free water fountain, I missed it!
2022 ~ 2023 Season
The 2022 season is late to start, just like last year. The 2022 – 2023 season at Sayama Indoor Skiing Ground is from Saturday November 19th to March 16th 2023. On account of the pandemic, you have to wear a mask and you may be required to get your temperature checked.
Events
For the opening of the season they have special events, including a special guest in the form of the Seibu Lions mascot! In addition, this year they have several regular events on again for the first time during the pandemic. For example, every day at 11 am there is a treasure hunting event. On weekdays at 2 pm there is a snow ball fight event. Another example is that on weekends snow falls from 1.30 pm. On weekdays there are four events each day. Moreover, on weekends there are at least 7 events each day. They also have additional large scale special events on during the season. For example on November 23rd there is a Seibu “Lions Thanks Festa” event for kids.
Skiing Hours and cost
Season: Saturday November 19th 2022 to March 26th 2023.
Base hours: 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday through Thursday and until 6 am on Fridays and Saturdays. (There are occasionally exceptions, be sure to check the official website to check the hours on the day you hope to go).
| 2021 – 2022 Season | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Snow park | 10 am to 9 pm | 1,000 yen* |
| Children’s ticket | 10 am to 9 pm | 1,000 yen |
| One day pass | 10 am to 9 pm | 4,000 yen |
| Afternoon pass | 2 to 9 pm | 3,000 yen |
| 3 hour pass | (between 10 am and 9 pm) | 2,000 yen |
| Night time | 6 to 9 pm | 2,000 yen |
| All night | 10 pm to 6 am | 3,500 yen |
| Entry only (no skiing) / Spectating | 1,000 yen | |
| Season pass | 35,000 yen |
*The snow park cost is the entrance fee – parents / guardians also have to pay. In the past, every Wednesday was Ladies Day and skiing only cost 2500 yen but that seems to be discontinued. As was the discount they used to offer people with the kanji for snow ‘yuki’ in their name! However, people with a Seibu Prince Club card to get discounts.
Rental equipment starts from 1000 yen for snow trousers to 4500 yen for a full snow wear set (with snowboard / skis). Children don’t have to have proper snow wear to play in the snow park, but they recommend you wear proper snow wear for skiing / snowboarding. In the snow park, there are some wellies you can use without an extra charge. However, they only have small sizes.
Sayama Ski Resort General information
Address: 2167 Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture 359-1153, Japan. The phone number is (04)2922-1384
Access: Sayama Ski Resort is less than a three minute walk from the Leo Liner Yamaguchi Line Seibu Kyūjōmae station. You can see the resort from the train station. By car the ski resort is ten kilometers from the Iruma Interchange of the Ken-o expressway following route 463 on to route 55. Parking is charged – it costs 1800 yen, flat rate, for one day.
Information in English on Snow Japan, which is a comprehensive ski and snow boarding English information site for Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Yes there are several indoor ski resorts in Japan. They use artificial snow. There are three near Tokyo: Snova Shin Yokohama, Snova Mizonokuchi and Sayama Ski Resort.
Saitama does not have any natural ski slopes. The only place you can currently ski indoors is the Sayama Ski Resort by Seibu, in Tokorozawa. Its location makes it the closest place to Tokyo that you can ski, but it is an artificial ski slope.
Looking for other things to do in Saitama in the Winter? Here’s a selection of another nine fun things to do in Saitama in the Winter:
10 Winter Play Spots in Saitama, commutable from Tokyo
In summer the ski resort transforms into an indoor water slider park in summer. I have removed the information for summer for ease of reading. I will re-add it or give it a post of its own in spring.