Shiga Kogen

Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort has mostly remained staunchly Japanese and conservative and is a good all-rounder as a ski holiday destination.  It is made up of 18 different ski areas that are largely interlinked via the slopes and a comprehensive lift system that can be accessed off the one lift pass.

With approximately 600 hectares of terrain, and 80+ kilometres of trails, Shiga Kogen is cited to be the largest ski area in Honshu and possibly Japan.  The Shiga Kogen piste terrain is varied and ranges from beginners’ slopes to moguls. It is nirvana for intermediates, strong intermediates, and low end advanced riders. As with most Japanese ski resorts, there’s nothing particularly steep at most of the Shiga Kogen ski areas.

Powderhounds.com have bestowed the Shiga Kogen Ski Resort with a best skiing in Japan award for the best intermediate terrain.

Some of the Shiga ski areas have some great off-piste skiing and competition for fresh lines is significantly less than other high profile Nagano ski resorts.  But note, discretion is required at several of the Shiga Kogen ski areas because off-piste skiing is sort of tolerated but officially banned. 

The other part of Shiga Kogen worth checking out is Yakebitaiyama – one of the larger ski areas within  Shiga offering some of the steeper pitches around and topping out at 2,228 m.

Nozawa Onsen Japan

Nozawa Onsen is a hot spring and ski resort village near Nagano. Whilst we are there for the skiing Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is also a charming village that offers an interesting and traditional Japanese experience. The village is famous for the abundance of hot springs. Steam rises amongst the bustling narrow cobblestone streets and the traditional ryokan, inns and shops. The Nozawa Onsen village is a highlight and lots of the buildings have traditional Japanese architecture and the skiing the added bonus. There is enough variety in the terrain to keep us occupied for a couple of days which I am sure won’t be long enough. 

The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan for international travellers due to its diversity of terrain, abundance of snow, its family friendliness, and because English speaking guests are well catered for. 

Nozawa is a stand-alone ski resort that is reasonably large by Japanese ski resort standards, with 19 lifts (including 2 gondolas), 300 hectares of terrain, 50km of slopes, and an impressive vertical drop of 1,085 metres (565-1,650m). Piste runs are equitably distributed for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders, although Nozawa Onsen is best suited to beginner and advanced skiers and boarders.

Madarao and Tangram

Madarao is connected to the neighbouring Tangram Resort which can be accessed via one of the 10 lifts on the one lift pass. 2 resorts for the price of 1. Mt. Madarao stands 1382 meters tall and has 30 separate courses. There are spectacular views from this ski resort looking out to Myoko Kogen on one side and Nozawa Onsen the other and the Sea of Japan thrown in for good measure.  

 The ski area features a unique bowl-shape. Since Madarao mountain resort was host to Japan’s first Freestyle Skiing Competition, there are many unique courses to choose from. Madarao offers a variety of terrain for all abilities, however its major attraction is their off-piste skiing, heavy gladed tree runs and a large selection of runs left ungroomed. Madarao has a moderately sized village and with more foreigners beginning to visit the area, the amount of restaurants and bars is increasing.
There are groomed courses, ungroomed courses, the Tree Run courses, Free Ride Park, Kid’s Park, and wave courses. Madarao mountain resort can be enjoyed by everyone from first timers to advanced skiers!

60% of the courses are ungroomed, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to enjoy a fluffy, deep powder when you ski.
There are snow schools for English speaker guests.

Get the opportunity to backcountry ride with the local Madarao guides. You can score bottomless turns all within an easy hike out of the resort boundaries.