7 Excellent Ski Resorts Near Kyoto and Nagoya

Easy Access From Kyoto and Nagoya

Shiga Prefecture is rich in nature, and due to the heavy snowfall, there are many ski resorts in its northern area. With easy access from Kyoto and Nagoya, they have become very popular.

Some resorts are located close to the expressway interchanges, and others can be reached by trains, so do take a look at this article.

Ski Resorts near Kyoto and Nagoya

Famous Ski Resorts
1. Gransnow Okuibuki
2. Biwako Valley
3. Hakodateyama Ski Resort
4. Yogo Kogen Resort Yap
Budget-Friendly Ski Resorts
5. Kutsuki Snow Park
6. Akagoyama Ski Resort
7. Makino Kogen Family Ski Resort

Four Famous Ski Resorts

The following are the four famous resorts, regarded as standards.

All four facilities have an area for children, so they are also fit for family groups.

1. Gransnow Okuibuki

This facility, located at Maibara City in Shiga, is one of the largest resorts in the Kansai Region. The condition of the slopes are maintained by 37 snow cannons and ice crusher systems. It is near the highway interchange, and the traffic tends to be light, so the resort can be accessed easily.

In Kids Park, children can ride sleighs and play in the snow. There is a slight incline, perfect for beginner skiers. A moving walkway allows the children to climb up the hill.

If there are more than three children in a group, the fare for the ski lift becomes 1,000 yen/child, which should help the family budget.

Lift tickets can be returned, in exchange for onsen (hot spring) bathing tickets or souvenirs. The 2024-25 season is scheduled from November 22nd, 2024, a month earlier than usual, to April 13th, 2025.

Gransnow Okuibuki
Address: Shiga, Maibara, Kouzuhara, Okuibuki
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Official Site: https://www.okuibuki.co.jp/

2. Biwako Valley Ski Resort

Although the facility is known as Biwako Valley, the official name is Biwako Valley Ski Resort. As they host schools for skiers and snowboarders, it is fit for beginners.

Visitors can also try skating on snow, a winter acitivity called snowfeet.

Children can make a snowman or ride sleighs at Snow Land, which can be accessed without a ski lift. The 2024-25 season is scheduled from December 28th, 2024, to March 23rd, 2025.

Biwako Valley Ski Resort
Address: Shiga, Ohtsu, Kido 1547-1
Business Hours: 8:30 - 17:00
Official Site: https://www.biwako-valley.com/en/

3. Hakodateyama Ski Resort

Picture courtesy of Hakodateyama Ski Resort

Located 680 meters above sea level, Lake Biwa can be viewed from Hakodateyama Ski Resort. While the wide ski slope is well-known, various types of gradients are available, for skiers of every level.

The resort boasts a cross country skiing course, certified by Ski Association of Japan, along with a snowshoe trekking route.

Family groups can enjoy snow rafting, being pulled by a snowmobile, or other acitivities in the Play Zone.

At Lamp, a cafe specializing in parfaits served inside a lantern, visitors can relax and take photographs in an elegant atmosphere.

Business hours varies by the month, or the day of the week, so be sure to check in advance. The longest hours will be from 8:00 to 17:00.

Hakodateyama Ski Resort
Address: Shiga, Takashima, Imazu, Hiokimae
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00 (The time varies by the month, or the day of the week)
Official Site: https://www.hakodateyama.com/winter/#

4. Yogo Kogen Resort Yap

Photo by Pixta

From Osaka or Naogoya, it takes 2 hours maximum to reach Yogo Kogen Resort Yap. A free shuttle bus, which requires reservation, is scheduled to start from JR Kinomoto Station, on January 18th, 2025.

The resort will be open until 23:00 on Saturdays, perfect for those who want to ski late into the night. Season tickets can also be used for late night skiing.

Children can ride sleighs at Kids Garden, and they can use the snow belt with their skis on. There are natural hot springs, eateries, and cottages nearby, enabling the visitors to enjoy their stay in Yogo.

Yogo Kogen Resort Yap
Address: Shiga, Nagahama, Yogo, Nakano Kawachi 373
Business Hours:
Weekdays 8:30 - 16:30
Saturdays 8:00 - 16:30/18:00 - 23:00
Sundays and National Holidays 8:30 - 16:30
Official Site: http://yogo45.co.jp/

Three Budget-Friendly Resorts

There are numerous ski resorts in Shiga offering lift fares that are affordable. Those who wish to casually enjoy winter activities should try the following three facilities.

5. Kutsuki Snow Park

Photo by Pixta
On weekdays, the lift fare is 3,500 yen for an adult. Lake Biwa and Chikubu Island can be viewed from the hilltop at the No. 1 lift.

The slopes are located next to the parking lot at this resort. With two courses and a slope for children, it is fit for family groups, beginner and intermediate skiers.

Visitors can enjoy a open-air bath and the snowscape at Onsen Tenku, a natural hot spring in Omoide no Mori, a nearby facility. It is a 10 minute drive to an area where bungalows and cottages are located, so it might be fun to spend the night after skiing.

Kutsuki Snow Park
Address: Shiga, Takashima, Kutsuki Miyamae-bo 180-1
Business Hours:
Weekdays 9:00 - 16:45
Weekends and National Holidays 8:00 - 16:45
Official Site: https://kutsuki-snowpark.com/

6. Akagoyama Ski Resort

Photo by Akagoyama Ski Resort

There are no lifts at Akagoyama Ski Resort, so the visitors only have to pay the entrance fee, which is 550 yen (junior high students and up), 440 yen (elementary school students), and 330 yen (3 to 5 years old), respectively. The resort is a 10 minute drive away from Kinomoto Intechange, and the parking is free.

A single course is situated at a gentle slope, perfect for beginners. Children can ride sleighs or play in the snow without any worries, so the resort is popular to family groups. While the grounds are rather small, there is a free rest area. Cottages where skiers can stay for the night are located by the slope.

The resort will be closed if there is not enough snow to cover the ground, so be sure to check in advance.

Akagoyama Ski Resort
Address: Shiga, Nagahama, Yogo, Nakanogo 260
Business Hours: 9:30 - 16:00
Official Site: https://woodypal.jp/facility/%e8%b5%a4%e5%ad%90%e5%b1%b1%e3%82%b9%e3%82%ad%e3%83%bc%e5%a0%b4-%e3%82%b9%e3%83%8e%e3%83%bc%e3%83%91%e3%83%ab/

7. Makino Kogen Family Ski Resort

Makino Kogen Family Ski Resort is a long-standing facility, established at the beginning of the Showa Period (1926 - 89). The lifts have been removed, and is now the perfect spot for families with children skiing for the first time.

The fare is 1,000 yen for both adults and children. It is an all-day ticket, with access to Sunkid, a moving walkway. There are no snow cannons, and the resort is open from early January to late late February.

At Makino, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery while snowshoe trekking. They can also bathe after skiing at Onsen Sarasa, a natural hot spring facility.

Makino Kogen Family Ski Resort
Address: Shiga, Takashima, Makino, Makino 931
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Official Site: http://makinokougen.co.jp/publics/index/221/

Fit for Family Groups

Most ski resorts in Shiga have a chidren's play zone, making them ideal as a destination for family groups.

As the prefecture can be reached easily from the Kansai Region, tourists will be able to enjoy winter activities, even if the vacation may be a short one.

A day in snow will make a nice family memory. Do check the resorts in Shiga for a visit in the weekends.

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Main image courtesy of Gransnow Okuibuki
Written by Cakutama Editorial Team