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Shiga Kogen Ski Resort attracted attention from both within Japan and overseas after being the venue for the Nagano Olympics in 1998. Of the 18 Shiga Kogen ski resorts, this article will thoroughly explain the appeal of Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, located at Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort.
First, let us introduce the appeal of Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel.
Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort is characterized by its course design that makes the most of the terrain, with almost all of the courses running through the forest. During the season, lift tickets for elementary school students and younger are free, making it the perfect ski resort for families.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel is directly connected to the slopes of Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort, and you can ski in and ski out from any of the East, South, or West buildings. Moving around with heavy ski equipment can be even more difficult when you have children with you.
In this regard, Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel is directly connected to the ski slopes, making it extremely convenient.
You can enjoy beautiful snowy scenery from the large windows of each restaurant at Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel.
In the East Wing, you can enjoy a spectacular view of snow and conifers from all guest rooms. The snowy scenery seen from the windows of warm rooms is especially appealing.
If you want to enjoy a beautiful view from your room after an active day of skiing or snowboarding, we recommend the East Building.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel has six restaurants where you can enjoy a wide variety of meals. Another great thing about this hotel is that you can choose the one that suits your mood that day.
The cuisine is made with an abundance of ingredients from Nagano Prefecture, and there are many healthy options on the menu. The West Wing, South Wing, and East Wing each offer their own distinctive buffet-style cuisine. Even guests staying multiple nights or for an extended period of time will never run out of food to enjoy.
You can also use the hotel's shuttle bus, which connects the West, South, and East buildings, so you can travel safely even on bad weather days.
Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort offers a wide range of services for families, including the Family Snow Park in front of the West Building, where you can enjoy six different types of gear, and free lift tickets for elementary school students and younger.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel also offers services for those with children. The buffet-style meals in the West, South, and East buildings are available free of charge for preschool children. In addition, depending on the room, baby cribs may be available.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel has rental shops in each of its West, South, and East buildings, and guests can receive a 10% discount on rental fees.
[Rental Shop]
The rental shop boasts a wide selection of products, and features a "Brand Viking" system that allows you to change brands or even switch from skis to snowboards after renting. This is a great service for those who want to try snowboarding for the first time this winter.
You can return the item at any location in the West, South, or East Building, so you can easily return to your accommodation.
Rental methods include advance reservations online or same-day rental. After applying on the day, you will be taught how to set up your skis and snowboards as well as how to put on your skis and snowboard boots, so even beginners can feel at ease.
Let us introduce you to two exquisite experiences that are unique to Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel.
Fast Track is a service that allows you to ski on the first slopes in the morning before the regular courses open. Guests staying at Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel can experience this by purchasing a ticket at the front desk by the night before.
It is held on the New Year's holiday and on weekends and holidays, and costs 2,000 yen. The courses are the A1 Giant Slalom Course and the A4 Olympic Course. For more information, please check the official website .
You can enjoy "First Track," where you can create your own unique tracks at the unskied Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort.
There is also a special plan that combines the fast track with a special dinner and a stay in a suite. If you are interested, please contact the hotel.
The "Enjoy Your Time at Mt. Yakebitai Plan," accompanied by a private butler and photographer, will be available in January 2024. Guests will stay in a suite and enjoy the chef's signature course menu in a special private room for dinner.
After closing time, head to the ski resort's special seating area on a snow groomer and toast with a blissful drink in the snow while watching the sunset over the Northern Alps. The next day, you can put on snowshoes and stroll through the frost-covered forest. How about a luxurious experience where you can enjoy powder snow and magnificent scenery?
For details about the special plans, please visit the official website .
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel has three buildings: the West Building, the South Building, and the East Building, so some people may be wondering which one to stay at.
Choose a resort based on what's important to you, whether you want to mainly enjoy skiing and snowboarding, or if you want to relax after skiing.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel has three buildings, the West Building, the South Building, and the East Building, in that order of grade. We will also introduce reviews of each building.
The West Wing has a more compact layout than the others and is the most affordable.
Another great feature is that guests staying in the West Wing can enjoy the covered open-air bath (large bath). You can enjoy the snowy scenery while bathing in the large bath at sub-zero temperatures. If you wash your hair, it will freeze, so you can enjoy a new sensation of bathing while feeling nature on your skin.
Why not relax in the large bath and soothe your tired body after a day of skiing?
[Large bath]
West Wing 1F
Period: Friday, December 20, 2024 - Saturday, March 15, 2025
Business hours: 6:00-9:00/14:00-23:00
*To reduce congestion, this facility is only available to guests staying in the West Wing. (From the official website )
Rooms: Reasonably priced. There are two types of rooms: twin rooms and four-bedroom rooms. These rooms are recommended for families and groups.
Restaurant: (Restaurant West Site) A casual restaurant serving Japanese and Western buffets using local ingredients.
Customer reviews: "Quick access to the kids' slopes," "Small rooms but reasonably priced," etc.
The South Building is directly connected to the No. 2 Gondola Base Station, so access to the ski resort is excellent. It is especially recommended for those who want to enjoy skiing and snowboarding all day long.
Guest Rooms: There are two types of rooms: Twin Room B, which faces the slopes and can accommodate up to three people including a sofa bed, and the casual-style Twin Room C. They have a compact and functional layout.
Restaurant: (Dining Room) Overlooking the birch forest. Buffet with a theme of health and longevity
Customer reviews: "It's directly connected to the gondola, so you can get changed and head straight to the summit," "It's a shame there isn't a large public bath," etc.
The spacious rooms in the East Wing are spacious enough for families with children to stay comfortably, and the restaurant in the building has high ceilings and a luxurious atmosphere, allowing you to spend a luxurious time.
Rooms: There are four types of rooms: Comfort Twin with a large bed, Twin Room A, Junior Suite, and Suite Room. All rooms have a view of the slopes and snowy scenery. Recommended for couples and those who want to feel a little more luxurious.
Restaurant: (Main Dining Room) A restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. High-quality Japanese and Western buffet.
Customer reviews: "The spacious rooms have a luxurious feel" "The first gondola is close by and convenient"
How to access by public transport is as follows:
From Nagano Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, take the bus bound for Shiga Kogen from bus stop "JR Nagano Station East Exit No. 23"
From Nagano Electric Railway "Yudanaka Station", take the bus bound for Okushiga at the "Yudanaka Station" bus stop
Both routes take about 1 to 1 hour and 40 minutes from the time you board the bus, so be sure to plan your trip with plenty of time.
If you are heading from the airport, we recommend using the "Snow Liner" which goes directly from the airport to Shiga Kogen Ski Resort.
Unlike trains, you can get to the ski resort without having to transfer, so you can travel without getting lost. It is also a recommended means of transportation for those who arrive in Japan by international flight, so you can use it with peace of mind. For more information, please visit the Snow Liner official website .
There are many famous tourist spots around Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel. Why not visit and make some memories other than skiing? Here we will introduce some recommended spots around Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel.
Jigokudani Monkey Park is a famous tourist spot known for the sight of Japanese macaques bathing in hot springs.
Located in the valley of the Yokoyu River, Jigokudani Monkey Park is surrounded by steep cliffs and is characterized by a constantly emitting fumarole, which is why it is also called "Hell Valley."
The monkeys bathing in the hot springs of Jigokudani were featured on the cover of the American magazine "LIFE" in 1970. After that, during the Nagano Olympics, athletes and officials from the games visited the area, attracting attention from around the world, and it has now become a popular spot visited by many tourists from both within Japan and overseas.
Even today, these monkeys are the only ones in the world that bathe in hot springs, attracting the interest of researchers and photographers.
Why not visit Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the monkeys soaking comfortably in the hot springs?
The Yudanaka Onsenkyo hot spring resort, which consists of five districts, Yudanaka, Shin-Yudanaka, Hoshikawa, Honami, and Ashiro, is a hidden gem. Old inns and wooden buildings line the streets, and the whole town gives you a sense of the past.
There are also many shops and izakayas with a nostalgic atmosphere, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time to Japan of the past.
Also, the hot spring water is straight from the source, so why not visit Yudanaka Onsen to warm up your cold body?
Zenkoji Temple is located in a beautiful place surrounded by the nature of Shinshu, and is a sacred temple where Japanese history and culture live on. The principal image, the Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai, is said to be the oldest Buddhist statue in Japan.
The solemn atmosphere and historical architecture continue to fascinate visitors to this day. This is a temple with a mystical atmosphere and a traditional feel, so be sure to visit.
Matsumoto Castle is a beautiful castle known as a national treasure of Japan, and is one of only two in the country with a five-story, six-story castle tower.
One of them is Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, but Matsumoto Castle is said to be the oldest surviving five-story, six-story castle tower in Japan.
It features a stately black exterior and a picturesque view of the Alps, as well as an attractive main castle garden.
Inside the castle, you can see the maze-like castle tower and armory, giving you a sense of the history of Japan at that time.
It is a little far from Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, so it takes some time to get there, but it is a recommended tourist spot. It is well worth the trip to see the precious cultural assets that still retain the strong atmosphere of the Warring States period.
Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort offers the ultimate skiing experience, including first tracks into powder snow.
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel is a highly convenient hotel for skiers and snowboarders, with direct access to the slopes. If you are visiting Shiga Kogen this winter, why not give it a try?
For those heading to Shiga Kogen Ski Resort from the airport, we recommend the express bus "Snow Liner"!
The Snow Liner has bus stops at all three buildings of Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel: West, East, and South, so if you're interested, be sure to consider it.
We operate direct buses from Haneda/Narita Airport to each ski resort. https://spur.jamjamliner.jp/
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