Yokoteyama-Shibutoge Ski Resort: Featuring The Best Snow and Highest Elevation In Shiga Kogen

Long, Wide Open Beginner Slopes

The No. 1 Slope towards the bottom of the mountain stretches long and features a low incline, making it great for beginners. While the courses themselves aren’t that wide, they feature expansive views and are easy to ski.

Since so many novices come here to practice, there are times when conditions can get a little icy. Also, being at a lower elevation, there have been reports that the quality of the snow here is not necessarily the best. However, snow conditions depend on the temperature and weather that day, so you can always head to a different resort if things don’t look especially good the day you plan to get some practice in.

Fortunately, the Shiga Kogen area offers shared lift tickets, allowing you to head to different ski resorts should you wish to go to another, if conditions are less than ideal.

Lifts Placed To Get You From Base To Top In No Time

As a lift will take you basically non-stop from No. 1 Slope to No. 3 Slope, this makes the lift layout of the resort perfect for getting from base to peak.

Since the lift is quite long, it will take a bit of time to get to the top of the mountain, but all you have to do is get on the lift and you’re practically there.

Also, since most of the slopes are all natural, another great thing to look forward to is the amazing views on display. Of particular note is the sea of frost-covered trees visible from the No. 3 lift, praised for putting riders so close to such a beautiful sight. Make sure to take in the spectacular view of the Shiga Kogen area from one of the parks with the highest elevation.

Peak Area With Steep, Narrow Courses A Plenty

The area around the peak is full of courses aimed at advanced skiers with steep, difficult inclines. With so much variety in terrain and being so narrow, beginner skiers and boarders will probably have a hard time getting all the way down the mountain from the top. At the very least, you’ll need to be confident in your ability to turn and brake if you want to conquer these courses.

Being located at such a high elevation, the quality of the snow on these courses is second to none. With plenty of areas featuring no compacted snow, advanced skiers looking for a challenge are in for quite a treat. The courses running down from the peak all feature breathtaking views.

Even for skiers not confident enough to ski down, simply taking the lift up to check out the view is worth it alone. Beginner skiers can make their way down though, as long as they go slow and be careful not to go out of bounds on detour runs.

Queen Slopes Halfway Down The Mountain Are Prohibited For Snowboarders

Branching off from the No. 1 Lift are the Queen Slopes. This area is available only to skiers on two boards. This is a good choice if the No. 1 Slope popular with novices starts to get crowded. This area is also perfect for families who want to let their children get some practice.

Yokoteyama Peak Hyutte At The Top Of The Mountain Has The Country’s Highest Bakery!

Once you get to the peak, we definitely recommend checking out the Yokoteyama Peak Hyutte. Here you’ll find a bakery boasting the highest elevation in all of Japan. This popular shop has even been featued on TV for being so high up, not to mention its food. Since most of their baked goods usually sell out in the morning, for those who want to get a taste of what’s on offer, you’re going to have to get up to the peak of the mountain as soon as the resort opens in the morning.

You can actually spend the night at Hyutte at the peak! If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous Sea of Clouds. People say that once you see the Sea of Clouds dancing above the Shiga Kogen mountain tops that you’ll never forget it. Plenty of people say that they want to come back and see the clouds one more time. As only a few people can actually stay up on the peak, for those who’d like to see the curious Sea of Clouds, be sure to make reservations in advance.

Getting To The Shibutoge Area From The Peak

Once you’ve gotten all the way up the mountain, you’ll be able to access the back side of the mountain, known as the Shibutoge area. While this is a smaller area with only 2 courses, these slopes are highly varied and feature steep inclines.

While getting there can be kind of difficult, making your way to these steep, forested runs will provide ample challenge for dedicated skiers.

Accommodations Located In Densely Populated Part Of Town Offering Plenty Of Things To Do

One of the best points about the Yokoteyama Ski Resort is that it’s located so close to lodgings. While it depends on where you are, some are as close as a 5 minute walk to the slopes. Having home base be so close makes it easy if you happen to forget something at the hotel or take a spill on the slopes. With excellent access to the ski resort, these hotels make it easy to get the most out of your skiing adventure.

A Ski Resort Offering All Sorts Of Courses For Beginners And Pros

Yokoteyama-Shibutoge Ski Resort is renown for splitting up the areas between beginners and advanced skiers. With beginner-targeted, long, shallow slopes towards the base of the mountain, and the narrow, steep slopes with excellent snow toward the peak, each has their own charm and allows all sorts of different ways to enjoy your time on the mountain. With excellent access to lodgings surrounding the resort, Yokoteyama-Shibutoge Ski Resort is perfect for families looking to take a ski vacation.

Pricing information and schedule may not be up to date and are subject to change without notice. Please check before your trip.