SHIGA KOGEN’S BIGGEST

Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort is the largest of the interconnected resorts in the Shiga Kogen area, and was the stage of the first ever Olympic snowboarding race at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. This very race track is now its Olympic Course – a 650-metre speed run with a 30° incline, among an even spread of great courses for all levels.

The Panorama Course, a 2.5-kilometre ride with magnificent views of the Japanese Alps, is a highlight for intermediate riders, while at the Yakebitaiyama Family Snow Park, kids and grown-ups alike enjoy a wide variety of terrain and activities. English lessons and backcountry guiding trips are also available from the resort, and nearby attractions include the famous snow monkeys of Jigokudani Monkey Park, and Togakushi Kids’ Ninja Village.

Three Shiga Kogen Prince Hotels lie at the foot of Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort, and during the season, happy hour is on from three to five at the bar in the East Building. With local craft brews included in the range of beers on tap, it’s a great place to wind down after-ski.

princehotels.com/en/ski/shigakogen
Yakebitaiyama, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun
2+81-269-34-3111
Days 8:30-16:00, Nights (Sat only) 18:00-20:00
Travelling times to Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort Tokyo: 4 hrs (car), Osaka: 5 hrs 30 min (car)