These are seasonal plans, not live slope or lift status. Snow and weather can change the dates and the terrain available.
Check the season and update time on the linked page. Snow and lift reports from a previous season may remain online.
01 / TRAVEL NOTES
Choose among five ski areas
A skier on Okushiga Kogen’s winter slopes.Image creditokushigakogenresort.com · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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01 / OKUSHIGA
Okushiga Kogen
Gentle practice slopes, a longer downhill and dinner at the hotel: build a day around Okushiga.
Courses
Not verified
Longest run
Not verified
Figures refer to Okushiga alone. Counting names in the course table does not establish an official total; the longest run remains unconfirmed. The 2,200m downhill is one named course. · Checked 2026-10-12
Terrain & skiing
Slope 1 is 900m, averaging 6° with a maximum of 8°. The forest course is 1,200m with a maximum of 17°; the 2,200m downhill suits intermediate and advanced skiers. Check the map and operating lifts before crossing to Yakebitaiyama, including the difficulty of the return.
Beginners & families
SISS offers English group lessons meeting on the second floor of the Okushiga Center House: children aged 12 or under and adults aged 13 or over, with up to 6 per group. Private lessons allow up to 4 with a meeting point agreed in advance. Sugiyama advertises Japanese-only lessons; book the correct provider.
Arrival base
Match the Okushiga Kogen Hotel bus stop to the hotel reception and Center House. Check that the bus goes to Okushiga; Hasuike is not your final arrival. If skiing across to Yakebitaiyama, check the last return lift first.
Stay, bath & dinner
Okushiga Kogen Hotel and its Gendai restaurant make a natural pairing. Confirm the dinner venue and reservation, and arrange your return if visiting from another area. The hotel bath uses mountain water, not natural hot springs.
Snow-covered runs and a gondola at Yakebitaiyama.Image creditwww.princehotels.co.jp · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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02 / YAKEBITAI
Yakebitaiyama
Ski through conifers and return to a hotel wing near your gondola. Choose the building as carefully as the room.
Courses
20
Longest run
2,430 m
20 courses, a 2,430m longest run and 17,186m of combined course length refer only to Yakebitaiyama. The combined length is not a single descent or a total for Shiga Kogen. · Checked 2026-10-12
Terrain & skiing
The longest run is 2,430m; Giant Slalom is a separate 2,230m course and Panorama is 1,460m. Routes down from the gondolas differ in difficulty. Choose from the routes actually open that day.
Beginners & families
The family park outside the West Wing has a 70m snow escalator, with dates and conditions separate from the ski area. Sugiyama offers Japanese private lessons for 1–9 people; SISS offers English private lessons for up to 4. Confirm language and meeting point before booking.
Arrival base
Choose East, South or West Wing, then match its bus stop and lift entrance. South Wing connects directly to Gondola 2. The wings have different entrances; check rental pickup and the open route to the slopes.
Stay, bath & dinner
Compare Prince Hotel by wing. Planned starts are South 2026-12-04, West 12-18 and East 12-19. These are distinct from Yakebitaiyama’s planned 2026-12-04–2027-05-05 season. Check accommodation and dining end dates in their own booking information.
Winter slopes and lifts at Ichinose Family.Image creditshigakogen.co.jp · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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03 / ICHINOSE
Ichinose Family
The long Tengu course and a nearby hotel district are useful reasons to choose Ichinose Family. Check what the name includes.
Courses
4
Longest run
3,200 m
The operator’s 4 courses and 4 lifts cover Ichinose Family alone, excluding Diamond, Yamanokami and Tanne-no-Mori. The 3,200m figure is the named Tengu course. · Checked 2026-10-12
Terrain & skiing
Tengu is 3,200m, averaging 10° and reaching 13°. The main front slope is labelled beginner but reaches 26°, so it is not equivalent to a first-lesson practice slope. Check linking trails and the return from the upper slopes on the map.
Beginners & families
Choose an Ichinose school by language, age and meeting point. Edelweiss has a 2026–27 children’s programme with different age and experience rules. For English private tuition, ask SISS whether an Ichinose meeting point is available before reserving.
Arrival base
Match the Ichinose bus stop to your booked hotel. Family, Diamond, Yamanokami and Tanne-no-Mori have distinct entrances and terrain; a shared ticket does not make every transfer a gentle slope.
Stay, bath & dinner
Choose an actual Ichinose property if you want to stay in its hotel district. Our three featured hotels are in Yakebitaiyama, Okushiga and Kumanoyu, rather than slope-side Ichinose hotels. Check dinner and the return bus together.
Snowy slopes, trees and a lift at Kumanoyu.Image creditwww.shigakogen.gr.jp · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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04 / KUMANOYU
Kumanoyu
Slopes that converge near the base, followed by a bath: plan around Kumanoyu and Hotaru Onsen.
Courses
Not verified
Longest run
Not verified
Kumanoyu alone; total course count and longest run remain unconfirmed. Tourism information lists 4 lifts, while the lift association counts the second lift’s A/B lines separately as 5. Do not combine the two counting methods. · Checked 2026-10-12
Terrain & skiing
Courses fan out above a shared lower area. Regional official information describes 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced terrain. These proportions do not guarantee which slopes open or suit your ability. Tickets also covering Yokoteyama and Shibutoge do not establish one continuous ski route.
Beginners & families
Ask the Kumanoyu school about ski or snowboard tuition, ages, language and meeting point. The snow-play area and practice courses are distinct. The third-floor Center House rest area is another option, subject to current opening and access conditions.
Arrival base
Check the Kumanoyu or Hotaru Onsen (Suzurikawa) stop against your hotel and lift entrance. Read the destination on buses from Nagano or Yudanaka; an Okushiga-bound service does not necessarily take you here. Plan a separate transfer for Yokoteyama.
Stay, bath & dinner
Kumanoyu Hotel pairs the slopes with hot springs and dinner. Its published dinner window is 18:00–19:30; late service is not guaranteed. Roof works announced through mid-November 2026 are a temporary notice, not permanent winter closure.
A skier in deep snow and woodland at Yokoteyama.Image credityokoteyama2307.com · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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05 / YOKOTE-SHIBUTOGE
Yokoteyama & Shibutoge
High-altitude views and bread at the summit hut. Plan the round-trip lifts before deciding on lunch.
Courses
Not verified
Longest run
Not verified
This profile combines two areas, Yokoteyama and Shibutoge. Description headings do not establish a course total, and the longest run remains unconfirmed. Yokoteyama Slope 1 is a named 1,400m course. · Checked 2026-10-12
Terrain & skiing
Yokoteyama Slope 1 is 1,400m, averaging 8° with a maximum of 10°. Shibutoge’s 1,000m course information includes intermediate and advanced terrain. Do not assume the whole area suits a family simply because of the views; choose a safe descent before ascending.
Beginners & families
Confirm the local school’s language, age rules and meeting point. Non-skiers should ask the operator about winter sightseeing and downhill lift rides. The summer Skylator is not a confirmed winter transport option.
Arrival base
Check winter buses towards Hotaru Onsen (Suzurikawa). Route 292 through Shibutoge closes in winter; do not plan to drive over from Kusatsu. An old 2025–26 free-shuttle announcement is not a confirmed service for the coming season.
Stay, bath & dinner
Check the summit hut’s opening against the last return lift. Bread may sell out, and neither food availability nor clear views are guaranteed. Kumanoyu Hotel is a separate base requiring a planned round trip, rather than a hotel at the same entrance.
An area of 18 ski resorts linked by a shared pass, connecting runs and local buses. The figures below distinguish the wider area from representative Yakebitaiyama runs.
Published figures describe the scope noted below. Check today’s open terrain and lift status with the resort.
20 courses, a 2,430m longest run and 17,186m of combined course length refer only to Yakebitaiyama. The combined length is not a single descent or a total for Shiga Kogen.
Courses — Yakebitaiyama
20
Yakebitaiyama · 2,430 m
2.43 km
Shiga Kogen: run lengths
Yakebitaiyama · 2,430 m
2,430 m · 20 courses, a 2,430m longest run and 17,186m of combined course length refer only to Yakebitaiyama. The combined length is not a single descent or a total for Shiga Kogen.
Yakebitaiyama: Giant Slalom
2,230 m · Intermediate individual run
Yakebitaiyama: Panorama
1,460 m · Intermediate individual run
Nagano Station, east exit → Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki, Hasuike
Approx. 70 min · Express bus
2025–26 official winter reference. Time to Hasuike only: Yakebitaiyama and Okushiga need a further transfer. Check your stop and travel-date timetable.
Yakebitaiyama and Okushiga: stay close to your skiing
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel’s wings differ in location and room types. Okushiga Kogen Hotel is an option for days focused on Okushiga. Start a multi-night stay near your hotel; on days further afield, check connecting runs and return lifts first.
Central areas: include connections in the itinerary
For Ichinose, Takamagahara or Higashitateyama, the return route matters as much as the runs you want to ski. Pick a lunch stop and check the difficulty of connecting terrain for beginners. Leave room to stay near your hotel when weather changes.
Kumanoyu and Yokoteyama: a day for skiing and bathing
At Kumanoyu Hotel, plan skiing, hot springs and hotel meals together. For lunch at Yokoteyama Summit Hutte, check lift operation and the return route first. The summit venue is not a roadside restaurant you can drive straight to.
An East Building suite at Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, one room category.Image credit公式サイト掲載写真 · Rights not verifiedSource ↗
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Yakebitaiyama
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel
Choose the building first, then plan your Yakebitaiyama mornings.
Base
Yakebitaiyama
Slope access
South Building connects to the gondola; East and West have separate routes.
Rooms
Room examples are East Wing twin 29m² and suite 58m², South Wing Twin B 24m² or C 18m², and West Wing Twin D 19.2m² or three/four-bed room 21.7m². Match the building, category and occupancy in the booking screen; a photographed room is not the standard room in every wing.
Baths & facilities
The West Wing bath is for West Wing guests only. It is a roofed outdoor bath without an indoor bath and is not a natural hot spring. The facility page still shows a 2025–26 period; confirm current hours and whether guests from another wing may use it before booking.
Winter transport
Choose East, South or West Wing, then match its bus stop and lift entrance. South Wing connects directly to Gondola 2. The wings have different entrances; check rental pickup and the open route to the slopes.
Planned 2026–27 starts are South Wing 2026-12-04, West Wing 2026-12-18 and East Wing 2026-12-19. Accommodation end dates remain unconfirmed. The hotel shuttle PDF is from 2025–26 and does not establish this season’s service, eligibility or reservation deadline.
A Deluxe Twin at Okushiga Kogen Hotel, one room category.Image creditokushigakogenhotel.com · Rights unverifiedSource ↗
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Okushiga
Okushiga Kogen Hotel
Ski Okushiga and save the evening for dinner and the fireplace.
Base
Okushiga
Slope access
Check connecting lifts and return buses for other Shiga Kogen areas.
Rooms
The operator lists Deluxe Twin 32m² for 1–2 guests and Deluxe Triple 43m² for 2–4. Pet rooms are separate categories. Compare the category in each photograph against the actual room being booked.
Baths & facilities
The communal bath uses filtered mountain water, not natural hot springs. Current day-use information lists 12:00–23:00 and ¥600 including a borrowed bath towel. Day admission and the reservation-only sauna have separate conditions; reconfirm for your visit.
Winter transport
Match the Okushiga Kogen Hotel bus stop to the hotel reception and Center House. Check that the bus goes to Okushiga; Hasuike is not your final arrival. If skiing across to Yakebitaiyama, check the last return lift first.
The public bus stop at Okushiga Kogen Hotel is not proof of a hotel transfer. A private station shuttle and this winter’s accommodation start/end dates remain unconfirmed. Dinner conditions depend on Gendai, Kunenbo or Shirakaba; Kunenbo is winter-only.
A wooden communal bath with green hot-spring water at Kumanoyu Hotel, not a room bathroom.Image credit公式サイト掲載写真 · Rights not verifiedSource ↗
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Kumanoyu
Kumanoyu Hotel
Ski Kumanoyu, then leave the evening for its green hot-spring water.
Base
Kumanoyu
Slope access
Plan separate return transport for Yakebitaiyama or Okushiga ski days.
Rooms
A ten-tatami Japanese room is listed for 1–5 guests with bath and toilet. Compare Western and mixed rooms by bedding and occupancy. The official FAQ’s approximately 5-minute walk to the ski area is a guide; allow extra time for snow and carrying equipment.
Baths & facilities
The natural hot-spring indoor and outdoor baths alternate between men and women daily. Day-use reception is weekdays 12:30–15:30 and weekends/holidays 12:30–15:00. Admission may be refused on busy days; call before setting out. Overnight-guest bathing has different conditions.
Winter transport
Check the Kumanoyu or Hotaru Onsen (Suzurikawa) stop against your hotel and lift entrance. Read the destination on buses from Nagano or Yudanaka; an Okushiga-bound service does not necessarily take you here. Plan a separate transfer for Yokoteyama.
Dinner is 18:00–19:30. The official FAQ says arrival after 19:30 on a dinner plan means no dinner and no refund. It also declines meal changes for allergies, religion or dislikes. Discuss any necessary arrangements before booking rather than assuming they can be provided.
Shibu Onsen and Jigokudani are outside the plateau. Plan this as a separate move after descending the mountain.
Exterior of Shibu Onsen’s ninth public bath, Oyu. Photographed in 2024.Image creditTotti · CC BY-SA 4.0Source ↗
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01 / ONSEN
Shibu Onsen No. 9: Oyu
Visit Oyu, Shibu Onsen’s ninth public bath. Day visitors need a bathing ticket and an arranged door unlock; the nine-bath tour is reserved for guests staying in the town.
A skier on fresh snow in Shiga Kogen, Nagano.Image credit公式サイト掲載写真 · Rights not verifiedSource ↗
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01 / AREA
Shiga Kogen: Where to ski and stay
The long slopes of Yakebitaiyama, the tranquil hotels of Okushiga, the hot springs of Kumanoyu. At Shiga Kogen, which is large, choosing your lodgings from the ski area will shorten your morning journey and give you more time on the snow.
Two public routes are the express bus from Nagano Station’s east exit, or Nagano Dentetsu rail to Yudanaka followed by a local bus. Hasuike’s Mountain Station is a hub, not every hotel’s front door. Search the actual destination and avoid adding an unnecessary transfer. Confirmed 2026–27 winter times, final connections and booking deadlines remain unverified. The winter page still covers 2025-12-06–2026-04-06; the current green-season guide ends 2026-12-04. Neither is the full coming-winter timetable.
A skier on fresh snow in Shiga Kogen, Nagano.Image credit公式サイト掲載写真 · Rights not verifiedSource ↗
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01 / GUIDE
Getting to Shiga Kogen
Take the bus from Nagano or connect at Yudanaka. Choose the stop for your hotel and ski area, then plan the winter journey.
