Naeba ski resort has various shopping opportunities, with approximately 12 shops located within the Prince Hotel precinct. The nearby town of Naeba (Mikuni) also has a few shops, but you’re not likely to break the piggy bank in this funny little town.
Naeba Ski Shops
The Prince Hotel has a handful of ski and snowboard shops, a couple with some very tasteful gear. The Phenix shop is very nicely presented and has a range of classy snow clothing and accessories. The Goldwin Sports Select Shop mainly sells Goldwin outerwear (not my cuppa tea but it may be yours?), whilst the Snowboard shop, Triple Up, and the Black Diamond shop are jam packed with snow clothing. A Burton shop downstairs in the World Cup Lodge (ie part of the Prince Hotel) has lots of accessories and the biggest range of goggles you may ever see.
Whilst the Prince Hotel shops provide a range of accessories, outerwear and inner layer clothing, there is very little hardwear for sale. You might want to head to a great shop over at Kagura near the Mitsumata ropeway. The Powder Station has snowboard rental, a range of retail skis including powder skis, Orage outerwear and lots of backcountry accessories.
The ski and snowboard shops in the town of Naeba have mainly rental gear, and the quality of the equipment is from the dark ages. One of the convenience stores sells really old second hand goods, so if you’ve got a 80s day coming up at your local ski hill, you might be able to pick up a pair of classic skinny skis or a one piece fluoro powder suit!!
Souvenir Shopping
Inside the Prince Hotel are a few souvenir shops that sell pretty typical Japanese kitsch souvenirs, as well as a gift shop that specialises in sake. The Japanese also seem to love food gifts, so of course there are lots of food stuffs and gift confectionary for sale.
The Mark Shop Forty specialises in Naeba specific souvenirs and a huge range of t-shirts.
General Shopping
The Prince Hotel has a couple of convenience stores that sell snacks and beverages. There is also a pharmacy that has a reasonably comprehensive range of medications and other chemist goods. It is pretty expensive though, even if you just want to buy something simple like aspirin.
The town of Naeba has four shops that sell basic food, alcohol and souvenirs.
Echigo-Yuzawa Shopping
OMG! If you’ve got some spare time when you’re going through the Echigo-Yuzawa train station, stop for a shop. Unlike a lot of souvenir shops in Japan, they actually have a large range of tasteful Japanese souvenirs and gorgeous decorations, the complete antitheses of Hello Kitty paraphernalia.
The train station has a market place where you can buy and taste Japanese snacks galore and then wash them down with some sake. Lots of different stalls sell sake, which naturally you have to try before you buy (!!), or there is a specific sake tasting area where you pay for the privilege.
