Good amount of ski slopes and good snow across the whole mountain range/resorts, but very crowded still and some lifts are very slow. Also very annoying that most of the ski slopes aren't connected even though the map makes it seem that way. Yokoteyma had an amazing view though, best I've ever seen. However, snowboard/ski wise, not enough variety in the runs across the resorts to get 5/5.
Fantastic ski area. 3 major ski areas are interconnected, central Shiga kogen ski area, Yakebitaiyama area and Okushhiga. If you do not know the way back, go to the base and catch a free bus back. Excellent natural snow conditions. Varied runs from each ski area. There is lunch available for purchase in almost every resort.
The most important information had learned was that the free shuttle between the stops was slow and infrequent. I would recommend avoiding taking them if possible. That means, avoid skiing down a different trail than where you had started and ended up far away. Check your map before going down the trail.
The resort is HUGE! There are so many different "resorts" in a single area, and there are even more resorts in other areas. But you could just stay in one area and that's enough.
We began at the Yamanoeki Bus Stop, where the Alpina Sports Ski Rental Office and coin lockers were located. You can also park your car next to the building. We caught the bus the first day and drove the next. Right next to the building is a gondola that takes you to the skiing area.
We spent most of our time on gondola/lifts 15, 16, 34, and 33, and that was more than enough to fill the whole day. There's a cafe stand and a dining room on top of the mountain if you need some food. The dining room is good for a quick bite.
We saw monkeys here running around and jumping on top of hotel awnings, and even on top of people's cars. The hotel workers obviously despised the monkeys. They would throw snow and even point the snow blowers at them to try to scare them away. They tried to tell me why, but the language barrier prevented me from fully understanding. However, it's clear that they are considered a nuisance.
Shiga Kogen is a great place for novice skiers. There are many long, green trails perfect for practicing and having fun. We stuck to the green trails the entire time, and we never got bored. It’s also really accessible from Tokyo, and both the lift ticket and ski rental prices were really great. The only downside is that we went in March when there wasn’t much powder left. We plan to go back in January next time for a more powdery experience.
