不得志的日本画家岛村（池部良 饰）在全国各地游历，途中经过一个名为雪国的地方。在当地的温泉旅馆，他邂逅了19岁的三味线女艺人驹子（岸惠子 饰）。驹子美丽清纯，俏皮可爱。岛村感于这个女孩的纯洁，虽心有爱慕，却始终不愿玷污这块美玉。在离开雪国返回东京的前夕，这两个互相欣赏却身份悬殊的人终于摆脱束缚，结合在一起。次年，思念驹子的岛村回到雪国，此时的驹子为了报答三味线老师的养育之恩，而甘愿成为艺妓赚钱为老师的儿子行男治病。一同照顾行男的少女叶子（八千草薰 饰）爱慕行男，她嫉恨驹子在未婚夫行男和恩客岛村之间的摇摆不定。当然，这也令岛村心中骤起波澜。两人第二次的相会便在尴尬的气氛中结束，他们的爱情终将何去何从……

　　本片根据日本作家川端康成同名中篇小说改编。

It's a man's world. Shimamura, an artist, comes to this snowbound town to rejuvenate himself. He connects with Komako, a geisha he met on a previous trip, and it seems like love. She's the foster daughter of a local family, almost engaged to the family's son Yukio, now dying of consumption. He's tended by his sister Yuko who's angry at Komako for abandoning her brother. Shimamura returns to Tokyo but promises he will be back soon. In anticipation of his return, Komako breaks with her patron and her family loses their home. Complications arise when Shimamura doesn't come back as promised. Then Komako discovers that he and Yuko knew each other in Tokyo. Can Komako escape destiny?

Праздный путешественник, дилетант-критик по имени Симамура, приезжает на север Японии, в Снежную страну, чтобы вновь встретиться со своей любовницей — гейшей Комако. Но в поезде он замечает другую девушку — Ёко, которая в видении Кавабата олицетворяет нереальный мир, мир зеркального отражения.