Kawaba is a ski area located in Kawaba Village in the northeastern region of Gunma Prefecture. The ski area base is at an elevation of 1,290m on the southwestern slopes of 2,158m Mt Hotaka. A large multi-story car park doubles as the main ski area base building, Kawaba City, and the ski slopes are reached from the top floor. Kawaba is popular for its parks, 'first tracks' tour service, three off-piste areas and snowshoe tours. This region often enjoys favourable snow conditions and a long season. Kawaba has been operating since 1989. The region to the east of Minakami town and to the northeast of Numata city comprises Kawaba village and Katashina village. There are several ski areas around this region's mountains, all of which are accessed off the main Route 120 road from central Numata. The road is also known as the Nihon Romantic Highway. It continues east towards Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, but the prefectural border section is closed during the main winter season.