Shiga Kogen

Fast Facts
  • Country: Japan
  • Region: Nagano/Niigata
  • Nearest City: Nagano
  • Nearest Domestic Airport: Narita Airport
  • Nearest International Airport: Tokyo Narita / Tokyo Haneda – 5.5hrs drive

Resort Overview

Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest ski resort, with 21 interlinked resorts all on one lift ticket.

Covering a huge area, stretching over 80 kilometres, the resort offers a great diversity of natural terrain and is an ideal destination for all levels of skiing and riding ability.

Located in the town of Yamanouchi in the Joshinetsu National Park in the Nagano Prefecture, Shiga Kogen is approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Nagano and 250 kilometres northwest of Tokyo.

The picturesque village is home to a selection of European and Japanese influenced accommodation options, along with traditional restaurants and Japanese onsens.

Resort Overview
  • Ski Season: December - April
  • Overall Height: 2307m
  • Snow fall (Avg Annual Snowfall): 11m
  • Nearest township: Shiga Kogen
  • Accommodation: Shiga Kogen
  • Resort Services:

    Accommodation, Shuttle Bus, Restaurants / Cafes, Bars / Nightclub, Shopping, Supermarket, Doctor / Medical Centre, Bank / ATM (limited), Ski Hire

Activities and Attractions

Shiga Kogen’s impressive terrain includes beginner slopes, long cruisers, challenging moguls and powder bowls, along with a 950m vertical. The resort boasts high quality powder snow and an average of 11 metres of snow each season, along with one of the longest seasons in Japan. The extensive lift network enables skiers and snowboarders to easily move around between all of the connected resorts.

Many other activities can be enjoyed on and off the snow at Shiga Kogen, including night skiing, snowmobiling. The kids will love the dedicated winter kids park.

A must-visit location, not far from Shiga Kogen, is the hugely popular Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park. Here you can witness more than 200 wild long tailed monkeys bathing in the natural hot spring water. Back in town end the day relaxing in one of the natural hot springs.

Resort Services

In the town of Yamanouchi you will find luxury European influenced hotels, along with high quality Japanese Ryokans. Many of the hotels feature their own private hot springs, restaurants, ski equipment rental, concierge services and shops. The town itself is also home to further restaurants, shops and amenities.

Shiga Kogen is accessible via bullet train or shuttle bus from Tokyo’s Narita Airport (via Nagano). Private, luxury transfer services are also available. Once you arrive, a shuttle bus service runs non-stop between all of the resorts.

Activities & Attractions
  • Total Ski Area / Distance: 297ha / 80km
  • Total Ski Lifts: 73
  • Total Ski Runs/Trails: 84
  • Beginner Ski Area: 45%
  • Intermediate Ski Area: 40%
  • Advanced Ski Area: 15%
  • Ski / Snow Activities:

    Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-country skiing, Ski School / Lessons, Terrain Park, Snow Play Area, Night Skiing

  • Leisure Activities:

    Onsen