Shiga Kogen National Park has 18 ski resorts which has various levels. Actually some resorts are quite small, it might be easy to understand categorized 5 areas where has with different characteristics.
Yakebitai
I would like to recommend here as BEST SKI RESORT.
Well organized simple long slopes with two gondolas and fast lifts. Some areas are steep including Winter Olympic course(Giant Slalom). There are three station bases in the West, South(Gondra-2) and East(Gondra-1), each has car parking, bus stop, skipass, rental and restaurants. Very easy simple to hit snow!
Managed by Prince Hotel that serves various restaurants such as Ramen, Curry, Don, Chinese and snack cafes.
It connects to Okushiga and Ichinose area.
Okushiga
End point of bus from town, compact skiresort has 1 gondola and best ski lesson with many languages. Many foreign instructors work here and provide you private or group lesson. Rental facility is also perfect.
Large comfy space lounge and restaurants, easy access from car parking and snow park opens.
Yokoteyama & Shibu
Well known the highest ski resort in Japan, 2307m surrounded by snow monster trees.
If it’s sunny day, must hit top of Yokoteyama which has wonderful panoramic view! You can see Mt. Fuji as well!
Badly here has only SLOW pair-lifts and tiny or flat, it means many students come as school holiday…
After take a photo, I recommned you to stay Shibu area where is backside of Yokoteyama. It’s quite small but untouched best powder snow area.
Kumanoyu
Single compact ski resort connects to Yokoteyama. It totally faces North a bit hard and icy. However here is the longest open ski resort in Shiga Kogen, from November to May(usually). Some slopes keeps terrain for free riding such as tree-run.
A bus heads to two directions Okushiga or Yokoteyama via Yamano-eki. Yokoteyama and Kumanoyu area is away from Yamano-eki which doesn’t connect by slope.
Center area
It should be called “main resort”, but actually it runs for school kids mainly. You can see the view hundreds same wears kids line all the time this area… (I don’t recommnend here to my guests who stay a few nights.)
13 ski resorts are combined and linked like a maze with about 50 lifts. There’re many bus stops on each point, BAD access from car parking. Not enough rental service anyway.
Try to start from Okushiga crossing Yakebitai and all around center area and reach Hasuike where is located on bottom. Take a bus to town only 20 mins!
Ichinose family area
Wide open slope 3km main and two more other fun routes. Many hotel’s restaurants around Ichinose(we have to take off and walk a bit)
Terakoya
Hidden powder spot has three short slopes where connected from Ichinose or Higashi-tateyama. Great panoramic view from top.
Higashi-tateyama
Longest downhill in center area with new gondra. It may be bumpy icy on top, lovely tree-run inside. I oftern see monkeys lol
Common Shiga Kogen ski pass is available to get all lifts and free shuttle bus inside Shiga Kogen. These five areas are different company manage and sell own ski resort pass which is cheaper. If you try skiing/snowboarding first time or the day is bad weather, the limited resort pass will be better!
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