Yokoteyama – Japan’s Highest Ski Resort | SHIGA KOGEN – NAGANO
While the highest elevation of Niseko is ~1,300m above sea level, Yokoteyama skiable area starts at 1,700m and goes all the way up to 2,307m. This makes Yokoteyama the highest ski-resort in the “Japanese Alps” as well as in the entire country.
Here is a quick 1-minute video of us going from the top of the mountain to the bottom (you can see the top of the mountain in the end of this video too).
Where is YOKOTEYAMA?
Yokoteyama isn’t anywhere near Niseko. It is in fact on a totally different island.
Situated near Nagano, Yokoteyama is a part of a Japan’s largest ski resort Shiga Kogen ski domain which comprises of 18 interlinked resorts (58 ski lifts!). Having the lowest skiable area at ~1,300m above sea level, Shiga Kogen is a part of the Japanese Alps on the Honshu Island (main island of Japan) and is only about 1 hour drive from Nagano train station.
What is great about Yokoteyama?
Well, the answer is obvious—it’s high elevation. Shiga Kogen in general has very high elevation for Japan and the quality as well as the amount of snow is incredible. The view from the top of Yokoteyama is STUNNING, and apparently, on a good clear day, Mount Fuji can be seen.
If you want to know more about Yokoteyama, check out our full article “INTRODUCING YOKOTEYAMA – Japan’s Highest Ski Resort”
WHERE DID WE STAY?
SHIGA PALACE HOTEL at Mount Yokoteyama
We were in the area for 4 nights, and due to the bad weather we couldn’t actually went out on the mountains until our 3rd and 4th night. A good friend recommended we to stay at Shiga Palace Hotel on our last 2 nights as it is right by the bottom of Mount Yokoteyama (almost a ski-in ski-out).
Shiga Palace Hotel is an old-western-style-built hotel which is rather well-maintained, considering how long ago the building was built (in 1970!). What’s awesome about Shiga Palace is the fact that they are the ONLY place in Yokoteyama Ski Resort that has a convenient store!
RYOKAN BIYU NO YADO in Yudanaka
On our first two night, we based in Yudanaka Onsen town (a part of Yamanouchi, Nagano) which is a very popular place for skiiers and snowboarders to stay. There are frequent local buses which go straight up to Shiga Kogen ski resort and the journey only takes 30 mins.
To learn more about Ryokan Biyu No Yado, view our #LOLSTAY post “Biyu No Yado – Luxury Japanese Ryokan in Yudanaka | NAGANO – JAPAN“
We’d like to mention that Yudanaka is very close to the JIGUKODANI SNOW MONKEY PARK! This is a MUST visit, whether you will like it or not (yep, we are dictators like that). Even when we went it was raining (no snow!) it was STILL one of the highlights of our entire trip, and we want to go back again.
View our full post on Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park here: http://www.lifeoutloudofficial.com/experience/jigokudani-snow-monkey-park-yudanaka-nagano-japan/
#LOLTIPS
- Do visit the snow monkeys in Yudanaka nearby for a day—you will NOT regret it!
- Have brunch or lunch at the Crumpet Cafe on the top of Mount Yokoteyama! Not only they have the best view but also the best crumpets in the area!
RECOMMENDED LINKS
- Full article “INTRODUCING YOKOTEYAMA – Japan’s Highest Ski Resort“
- #LOLGO experience post on Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
- #LOLDO experience post on Snowboarding / Skiing
- Full article on “Skiing/Snowboarding in Tomamu Ski Resort“
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