Naeba Dragondola Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed

苗場ドラゴンドラの紅葉 — Yuzawa, Niigata (Koshinetsu)

The Dragondola at Naeba is Japan's longest gondola — 5,481 meters snaking 25 minutes over ridges, beech forest, and the emerald Futai Reservoir between Naeba and Kagura ski resorts. In autumn it becomes a slow-motion flight over a sea of color, with foliage typically peaking from mid-October to early November. Crucially, it only runs during a limited autumn window (roughly early October to early November, 9am to 3pm) before reopening for ski season, so this is a trip you plan around the operating calendar.

Background

Naeba developed as one of Japan's flagship ski resorts under the Prince Hotels group and is famous as the home of the Fuji Rock Festival. The Dragondola opened in 2001 to link Naeba with the Kagura ski area, instantly becoming the longest gondola line in Japan.

Getting there

Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa in about 75 minutes, then a bus toward Naeba Prince Hotel for roughly 50 minutes. The Dragondola base station is a short shuttle or walk from the hotel. Outside the autumn operating window the gondola simply does not run, so verify dates before booking.

Tips

• The round trip costs about ¥3,500 for adults; last rides are mid-afternoon, so build your day around the 9am-to-3pm operating hours.
• October weekends bring long boarding lines — arrive at opening or after 1pm, and remember the gondola only operates during its limited autumn season.
• Sit facing backward on the way up for the reservoir view, and shoot through the front-corner windows; the descent over Futai Reservoir is the highlight.
• Combine with the Tashiro Ropeway on the Kagura side or an onsen soak in Echigo-Yuzawa before the shinkansen home.