Shiga Kogen and Hakuba — Enjoying Winter at Japan's Largest Ski Resort

Nagano Prefecture's mountain backbone supports Japan's most extensive ski terrain, with two areas of world-class scale: Shiga Kogen, the vast interconnected plateau resort that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics Nordic and biathlon events, and Hakuba Valley, a cluster of adjoining resorts in the Northern Alps that served Olympic downhill and slalom competitions and attracts international visitors for its deep powder and dramatic mountain setting.

Highlights

Shiga Kogen encompasses 19 ski areas connected by lifts and gondolas across a sprawling high plateau — Japan's largest single skiable area, with over 80 courses ranging from gentle beginner slopes to demanding expert terrain. The plateau's elevation ensures reliable snow from December through April, and the absence of coastal humidity produces the light, dry powder characteristic of Japan's finest resorts. The hot spring town of Yudanaka at the plateau's base provides traditional inn accommodation and onsen facilities.

Hakuba Valley's eight resorts — including Happo-one, Cortina, and Goryu — sit directly beneath the Northern Alps ridgeline, giving the area an alpine grandeur that rivals Swiss or Austrian resorts. Hakuba Cortina in particular is renowned for receiving extraordinary snowfall (often the deepest in Japan) and for its glade skiing through natural forest. Hakuba's international community of ski instructors and resort workers has created an unusually cosmopolitan après-ski scene.

Getting There & Tips

Shiga Kogen: bus from Nagano Station (80 minutes). Hakuba: direct buses from Nagano and Tokyo (approximately 3.5 hours from Tokyo). Both areas have accommodation at all price levels.

Best Time to Visit

December to April for skiing. Hakuba in August hosts trail running events with spectacular alpine scenery. Late March offers the best combination of good snow and longer daylight.