Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort

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Okushiga Kogen Ski Area
Okushiga Kogen Ski Area
Okushiga is the best Shiga Kogen ski area
Okushiga is the best Shiga Kogen ski area
Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort
Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort
Off-piste skiing is allowed at Okushiga Kogen
Off-piste skiing is allowed at Okushiga Kogen
The convenience of being able to ski in to the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The convenience of being able to ski in to the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
There are a couple of cafeterias at the gondola base
There are a couple of cafeterias at the gondola base
The onsen at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The onsen at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The bar and cafe at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The bar and cafe at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
Okushiga Kogen Ski School
Okushiga Kogen Ski School
Wide open groomers with limited crowds
Wide open groomers with limited crowds
The apres bar at Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The apres bar at Okushiga Kogen Hotel
Okushiga Kogen is rather family friendly
Okushiga Kogen is rather family friendly
One of the restaurants at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
One of the restaurants at the Okushiga Kogen Hotel
The Centre House: sports bar, ski school and kids room
The Centre House: sports bar, ski school and kids room
Gorgeous groomers
Gorgeous groomers
First course at the Italian restaurant at the Grand Phenix Hotel
First course at the Italian restaurant at the Grand Phenix Hotel
The shop at the Grand Phenix Hotel
The shop at the Grand Phenix Hotel
The gondola is rather small but effective
The gondola is rather small but effective

Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Okushiga Kogen

Okushiga Kogen4/55
Okushiga Kogen4 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
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Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort

The Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort is the best Shiga Kogen ski area! For many years snowboarding was banned at Okushiga Kogen. Under new ownership, Okushiga Kogen now not only permits snowboarding, but the ski area has become the most progressive of the Shiga Kogen ski areas (although that’s not too hard considering that much of Shiga Kogen is painfully stuck in the dark ages!). Whilst off-piste skiing is frowned upon elsewhere at Shiga Kogen, the Okushiga Kogen ski area not only allows it but they also encourage it and have undertaken a glading program for designated tree zones which will expand into the future.

Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort also offers plenty of other pluses for international travellers including a western style hotel with multi-lingual staff, an international ski school with group ski and snowboard lessons in English, and backcountry tours.

Pros and Cons of Okushiga Kogen

Pros

  • Like many of the Shiga ski areas, Okushiga Kogen is blessed with lots of snowfall and high elevation, and also a favourable aspect, so the snow quality is typically better than most other Nagano ski resorts.
  • The ski area has the convenience of two lovely ski-in ski-out hotels.
  • The steep groomer is a lot of fun!
  • Off-piste riding is permitted and includes some gladed areas. The off-piste has small sections of gnarly steeps, which is somewhat of a rarity for Japan.
  • Other than holiday weekends, the ski area is completely uncrowded.
  • This is one of only a handful of ski resorts in Japan that offer group ski and snowboard lessons in English, and it’s the only area at Shiga Kogen.
  • The Okushiga Kogen Hotel caters well for English speaking guests.

Cons

  • The nightlife is rather subdued, although it’s a fraction more lively than the rest of Shiga Kogen. The area is somewhat isolated, and it’s hard to get to other places in the evenings unless you have your own wheels.
  • The top flat/uphill connection between Yakebitiyama and Okushiga Kogen becomes rather tiresome, so you may not want to do it too often each day.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

  • The off-piste terrain requires a bit of nous to navigate (or a guide) so the average punter isn’t going to head in there (without having to walk out of a gully) and steal your freshies.

Okushiga Kogen Ski and Snowboard Terrain

In its own right, the Okushiga Kogen ski area is reasonably large compared to some of the little Shiga Kogen ski areas. Okushiga Kogen has 6 lifts, 530 metres of vertical, and only 10 courses (ie piste), but the size of the off-piste terrain and also the sidecountry is substantial. And as one of the Shiga Kogen ski areas, Okushiga Kogen is interconnected with 14 other ski zones, and another 4 Shiga Kogen areas are accessible by bus, so there’s definitely no shortage of ski and snowboard terrain. Better still, all the Shiga ski areas are on a shared lift ticket.

The 6 lifts at Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort consist of 2 high speed double chairs (one of which rises from the hotels base), a gondola (that rises from the day base area – it’s rather squeezy!), and 3 other pair lifts. Thankfully the beginners’ chair has a safety bar (you can’t take this for granted in Japan!). One of the slow pair lifts services the terrain park, which has a good range of jumps and hits.

The trail stats are 20% beginner, 60% intermediate, and 20% advanced. Beginners have a fabulously wide run above the ski-in ski-out hotels, whilst the other green runs require a short pitch down an intermediate run to get there. Intermediates have some decent slopes including the steep-ish “course no. 2 Expert” which is groomed. There are only 2 short trails that are aptly rated for advanced riders, so experienced riders will get bored very quickly with the on-piste action.

For powder hounds, the strength of Okushiga Kogen lies in the off-piste and sidecountry areas that run off a few of the Okushiga Kogen lifts and from the inter-connection with Yakebitiyama. The resort has thinned the trees in places (and will do more glading work in the future), whilst in other spots the tree skiing can be rather narrow. For steep pitches, there are lines that funnel down towards the terrain park and one area is littered with cliffs. Off-piste riding at Okushiga Kogen is really only ideal for those with good route finding experience, or those on a guided tour.

Okushiga Kogen Snow

Shiga Kogen overall is renowned for its excellent snow quality due to the high elevation, and as one of the higher Shiga ski areas at 2,009 metres of top elevation, Okushiga Kogen is no exception. Some of the slopes have an easterly aspect, whilst the runs down to the hotels are north-east facing and some of the sidecountry is north facing, so the aspect contributes to great snow quality. Okushiga Kogen also scores well in the quantity stakes with an average of 12 metres of pow per season.

The Okushiga Kogen season generally runs from early December to early May.

Where is Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort?

Okushiga Kogen is 57km northeast of Nagano City and the most northern of the Shiga Kogen ski areas. Okushigakogen is connected via the slopes with Yakebitiyama ski area, which is reasonably large and also has modern facilities. The Sun Valley ski area (the closest Shiga ski area to Nagano) is 14km to the southwest by road, or you can just ski or snowboard there.

OkushigaKogen is 26km northeast of the town of Yudanaka and 24km from the adjacent town of Shibu Onsen.

See the Shiga Kogen travel page for information on options for getting to Shiga Kogen. To get between the different Shiga Kogen ski areas during the day, it’s possible to use the lifts and slopes or the free shuttle bus service.

Okushiga Kogen Hotels

The ski area is fortunate to have two deluxe hotels that have the convenience of a ski-in ski-out location.

The chic Okushiga Kogen Hotel caters incredibly well to international guests with multi-lingual staff. Hotel rooms offer western beds and range from single rooms to suites for up to 4 guests. All rooms are non-smoking. The Okushiga Kogen Hotel has a delightful après ski bar that serves drinks, lunch and appetizers, and you can lounge around the central open fire. The hotel has fine dining restaurants with French or Japanese cuisine, and packages can also include meals at the nearby izakaya. The hotel also has an onsen, and ski and snowboard rentals. See more information on Okushiga Kogen Hotel packages here.

The nearby Hotel Grand Phenix offers ski in access and it is less than a minute walk to the lift (so it’s pretty much ski-in ski-out). This grand hotel is modern yet it features traditional and striking European décor. Most of the hotel rooms are western style (for 1 to 4 guests) and there are also twin Japanese tatami rooms available. In addition to a Chinese/Japanese restaurant, the hotel has an Italian restaurant that serves the most exquisite multi-course gourmet meals (open for lunch and dinner). A beautiful lounge bar overlooking snowy trees is a nice spot for après ski drinks or a night cap. Other hotel facilities include a large indoor swimming pool, onsen, saunas, ski rentals (not snowboards), and a Phenix ski shop.

OkushigaKogen Accommodation Listings

Ski Resort Facilities

Most of the facilities and services at Okushiga Kogen are housed within the two hotels, and also the Center House which has a sports bar, kids indoor play room, and the Shiga International Ski School.

[AdListings collection="Japan" category="Okushiga Kogen" subcategory="Ski School"] There are also two large daytime cafeterias near the gondola base of Okushiga Kogen.

Activities

The Shiga International Ski School offers a range of backcountry ski and snowboard trips. These include guiding in the sidecountry of Okushiga Kogen, and skinning trips to Ryuoo Ski Park (which is just over the crest from Okushiga Kogen) and Nozawa Onsen.

Other Okushiga Kogen activities include horse drawn sleigh rides and snowshoeing. See the Shiga Kogen activities page for more ideas on things to do in the area.
Tours That May Include Okushigakogen

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

The Legendary Roadie
HOSTED & GUIDED ROAD TRIP
11 Days | 10 Nights | 8 Days Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Experience Japan powder like no other on this legendary road trip where you will visit up to 8 resorts in 3 prefectures; Nagano, Gunma & Niigata! Join a tour as a solo traveler, couple or small group. Max 6 spots per tour so get in quickly!
Price p/p From price based on twin-share, standard package at Lodge Aibiya.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,101
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Okushiga Kogen here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Nagano Beginner Packages
BEGINNER HOSTED INSTRUCTION PACKAGES
3, 4, 5 or 6 Nights
Ability: Beginner
This package is ideal for beginners (families, groups, couples and solos) who are looking to experience the great Japanese snow and culture, and have some support to learn to ski or snowboard. Packages include ski/snowboard rentals and lessons, and the opportunity to visit the snow monkeys. Share
Price p/p From price based on 3-night twin/double-share package staying at Lodge Aibiya with a shared bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 881
View Details
 5% of prices for tours between 5th March and 29th April 2023
Nagano Powder Chaser
HOSTED & GUIDED SKI & CULTURE PACKAGES
3, 4, 5 & 6 Nights | 2, 3, 4 & 5 Days Skiing/Boarding
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
Don't let a lack of time, budget or resort knowledge hold you back from a ski/snowboard trip in Nagano this winter. Experience many of Nagano's best ski areas with guides who have an intimate knowledge; based in the culturally rich town of Yudanaka. Tours can be CUSTOMISED for 3 nights or more. Share
Price p/p From price based on 3-night stay at Lodge Aibiya (2 days skiing/boarding) in a twin share room with shared bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 881
View Details
 5% off price for tours booked between 1st March and 15th April 2023
Nagano Ski/Board Progression
SKI / SNOWBOARD GUIDED INSTRUCTION
10 Days | 9 Nights | 8 Skiing | Up to 8 Ski Areas
Ability: Intermediate to Strong Intermediate
Learn to ski and ride deep powder with more confidence or improve your on-piste technique whilst checking out some of Nagano's fabulous ski areas away from the masses of foreigners. In addition to the skiing and snowboarding, experience an area rich in culture and history. Share
Price p/p From price based on twin-share room with shared bathroom.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,731
View Details
 Take 10% off prices for tour bookings between 10th March and 6th April 2023
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Okushiga Kogen here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Lessons & Resort Tours
SHIGA KOGEN RESORT TOURS & LESSONS
From 1 to 5 hours
Ability: Beginner to Strong Intermediate
Learn to ski or snowboard on the beginner slopes of Shiga Kogen or improve your ability whilst exploring the massive 19 ski areas of Shiga Kogen. Options are available for people to travel from other nearby ski areas such as Nozawa Onsen.
Price p/p *based on per person in a private group for a 1 hour lesson.
base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed rates might vary to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 74
View Details
 
Guided Powder Tours
SHIGA KOGEN & SURROUNDING RESORTS
Single & Multi-Day Tours
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Explore the massive ski area of Shiga Kogen or another nearby ski area including Nozawa Onsen, Madarao & Kijimadaira. Ride Shiga offer backcountry, sidecountry & touring options. Get away from the crowds & find your secret powder stash.
Price p/p *based on per person in a private group of 3 for a full day tour.
base/invoice currency is Japanese Yen
Displayed rates might vary to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 116
View Details
 
See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit Okushiga Kogen here
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