Shiga Kogen

From WikiSki

Overview 

Shiga Kogen is a vast complex of 22 mostly interlinked ski areas, with 120+ lifts. It's located east of Nagano city(in Nagano Prefecture), about the same distance that Hakuba is located west of Nagano city. There are also a few other resorts scattered nearer to Nagano city. Shiga Kogen is also on the western side of the range of mountains, while Naeba/Kagura & the resorts around Yuzawa(in Niigata Prefecture) are located on the eastern side. To the north is Nozawa Onsen.

Unlike quite a few resorts around Nagano Prefecture, you have to drive up to the resort area on windy roads, similar to the roads up to the Victorian resorts of Falls Creek, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham. As a consequence, the base elevations are high (lowest 1350m), while the highest lifted point is 2307m. This means that while some of the resorts in Nagano & Niigata Prefectures may be getting rain in the lower half, even the base of Shiga Kogen will be getting snow. Because of it's altitude, snow quality is very good.

The interlinking of the resorts is really divided into two areas, one in the southeast, and one in the northeast. The southeast area consists of the following:

Yokoteyama - This is the highest at Shiga. The bottom is rather flat, while the top has a couple of good advanced and intermediate(red) slopes. The snow quality is excellent, and you can see a few "snow ghosts" up the top. Not so many off piste options, as the trees are close together.

Shibutoge - This is located right at the top of Yokoteyama, with just one lift, a couple of reds and a green run. Not many people up there so a little off piste can be found.

Kumanoyu - This is quite a nice area. The bottom is mostly green, but the top is black and red. There are some excellent tree runs off to the north side. This is a skier only area!!

Kasadake - Just next to Kumanoyu, one lift only.

Maeyama - Right next to the car park at the bottom of Yokoteyama, with only one lift.

Kidoike - A tiny one lift place off the road up to Yokoteyama.

The mix in this area is mostly skiers. You need to catch the shuttle bus or drive there, as it's NOT linked to the rest of the area. The biggest advantage of the area, it that it's so laid back and uncrowded. The (tiny)car park is often full, so you can just park across the road, with the back of the car poking into one of the runs!!!!

The other area in the northeast contains the other resorts, all of which are interlinked. The lifts start at the lowest point in the central area between the southeast & northeast areas, at Maruike. Starting from near Maruike, travelling form one resort to the next:

Sunvalley - Three lifts.

Maruike - Just three lifts, but some reasonable black and reds. Just about the lowest lifted point.

Hasuike - 2 lifts, plus a funny little rope tow across to link up with Giant. A couple of reds, blacks & greens.

Giant - two lifts, but a good black right down the middle.

Nishidateyama - Two lifts. Some reasonable red runs plus black at the top, and 1998 Olympic course. Links to the other resorts, together with:

Hoppo Bunadaira - two lifts with green and red, but mostly a link area.

Higashidateyama – One (very) small gondola, but long!!! So small, that snowboards or longer twin-tip skis need to poke out of the door!!! Quite a long red and black run down. All of the above areas seems to be almost totally devoid of snowboarders. In many cases, the links between each area involve some skating/walking/pushing, but I would say that out of 50 skiers, there was only about one or two snowboarders on the gondola, so probably less than 5% snowboarders. 1998 Olympic course.

Terakoya – Located at the top of Higashidateyama, this is not frequented by boarders. It is high and cold, but it has quite a few off piste options. Three lifts. The linking back down towards the Maruike area is not very clear, but the green trail does offer some tree runs.

Takamagahara Mamouth – Four lifts. Some reasonable red and black on the top half, green at the bottom. There are many more people here, as the main accommodation area is located at the bottom. Consequently, there seem to be quite a few bumps form in the afternoon.

Tanne Mori Okojo – Three lifts, same as above, but shorter.

Ichinose Family – Three lifts, similar again to above. This is often very crowded on a weekend, and all of these had a more "normal" ratio of snowboarders, or closer to 50%.

Ichinose Diamond – Three lifts. Located across the valley, less crowed than the above. The aspect seems to get more clear weather. Reds and greens.

Ichinose Yamanokami – One lift, right next to Ichinose Diamond, but provides access to Yakebitaiyama. Red & green.

Yakebitaiyama – Eight lifts, including two gondolas. Probably the largest single area, and has the Prince Hotel complex at its base. Not as crowded as the areas above, but still a lot of congestion in some areas, towards the west. Crowds thin out over on the eastern part. Mainly reds and black, except for near the bottom. More off piste options in the trees.

Okushigakogen – ski only area. Three lifts, including one gondola. Hardly anybody around. Mostly red and black with a little green. More off piste options in the trees.

If you want to get all the way across from Okushigakogen to Sunvalley, it will take around 100 minutes!!! (longer on a snowboard) Unless you’re staying in one place, such as Yakatebitaiyama or the Ichinose area, Shiga Kogen is not the ideal place for a snowboard. There is quite a lot of skating/pushing/walking between areas, mainly at the top!! That said, it is still a place where snowboarders can have a great time, provided you do not expect to travel across the the entire area in one day. Be aware that Okushigakogen & Kumanoyu are skier only areas! Mid week is uncrowded, with such a vast area, people can spread out!!!

Contents 1 Location 2 Pros 3 Cons 4 Contacts 5 Planning 5.1 Getting There 5.2 Accommodation 5.2.1 On Mountain 5.2.2 Off Mountain 5.3 Lift Tickets 5.4 Ski School 5.5 Equipment Hire 6 Resort Facilities 6.1 Getting Around 6.2 Parking 6.3 Activities 6.4 Dining 6.5 Bars & Entertainment 6.6 Shopping 6.7 Children 7 Ride Guide 7.1 Beginner Areas 7.2 Groomed Runs 7.3 Off Piste 7.4 Out of Bounds 7.5 Cross Country 7.6 Parks & Pipes 7.7 Bumps 7.8 Powder Zones 7.9 Sheltered Runs 7.10 Snowplay 8 Other 8.1 Weather 8.2 Geography 8.3 History 9 Resources 9.1 Maps

Location

The Shiga Kogen area is located about 40km east of Nagano City, in Nagano Prefecture

Pros

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Cons

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Contacts

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Planning

Getting There

From Tokyo, catch the Nagano Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Nagano City, then bus to Shiga Kogen. There is no "Shiga Kogen" town, so you need to specify where your hotel is.

Accommodation

JAPANiCAN Major Japanese travel agent with over 25 accommodation options in Shiga both on and off mountain, starting at ¥4,580 per night. http://www.japanican.com/hotels/List.aspx?so=c&ar=200501

On Mountain

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Off Mountain

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Lift Tickets

Lift Tickets are interchangeable between all 22 resorts.

Ski School

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Equipment Hire

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Resort Facilities

Getting Around

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Parking

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Activities

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Dining

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Bars & Entertainment

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Shopping

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Children

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Ride Guide

Beginner Areas

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Groomed Runs

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Off Piste

There don't appear to be a lot of ropes at any of the areas at Shiga Kogen, except in places that are genuinely hazardous. So there can be opportunity for off piste in the right places. The best off piste options are on the less frequented small areas, with only one or two lifts.

Out of Bounds

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Cross Country

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Parks & Pipes

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Bumps

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Powder Zones

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Sheltered Runs

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Snowplay

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Other

Weather

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Geography

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History

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Resources

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• ski.com.au

Maps

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