Season of Summer

Shiga Kogen is changing in Summer!!

The summer flower has bloomed.

It's cool in the summer of ShigaKogen.

SHIGA AYAME

KOMAKUSA

KITA ALPS

KITA ALPS

Scenery Of Spring

Nihon-Kamoshika (Japanese Serow)


Syoujyou-Bakama (Heloniopsis Orientalis)

水芭蕉　Mizu-basyou(Asian Skunk Cabbage)

Wall of snow

There are about 7meter wall of the snow.

The Shiga-Kusatsu route opened.

(It's possible to pass on April 22.)

*ATTENTION*

There is a place where the road is frozen.

Evening sun and vast ocean of clouds

It is vast ocean clouds that it seems to be able to get on the cloud.

It was very beautiful yesterday.

(View from Higashi-tateyama ski area.)

What's this?

Is this a bird's nest??

Maybe, it is after it starts in life.

Clearing Snow(Shiga-Kusatsu route : R292)

Snow is being cleared.

The wall of a famous snow can be done.
It seems to be low because it snow little this year.

TANNE no MORI OKOJO SKI AREA

Beautiful Blue Sky My daugter took a picture.

Spring soon

SNOW-REMOVING WORKThe Shiga-Kusatsu route opens on April 22.

It had been closing during winter.

The vist of spring is near.

Beautiful day!!

Takamagahara ski area.

There are lot of snow. It's possible to enjoy it enough.

Mt.Shigayama & Mt.Kasadake(right side)

There is a snow in the road.(Hoppo Onsen)
Please drive taking care.



It's a view from the Hoppo Onsen to KITA ALPS.

A lot of snows

Enjoy skiing!!

Sunset at Shiga Kogen

Kumanoyu Ski Area

Shiga Kogen, Joshinetsu National Park

Nagano, Japan

March 30, 2009.

From 5 to 6:15 P. M.

End of the day...

Yesterday ended beautifully in Shiga Kogen!

With a clear sky and mild wind, that's the view from Hotaru Onsen Area.

In this picture, you can see Kasadake on the left and some of the Kumanoyu Ski Courses.

Today it's not so shiny and bright as yesterday but it's a nice day to go out and enjoy the snow anyway!

Illustrious visitors...

Shiga Kogen was pretty busy today...

The Imperial Family spent almost a week skiing at Shiga Kogen. They use to come here once a year to enjoy the beautiful landscape and the good snow. And, as always, they were at Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga. Lots of people were waiting in many spots of Shiga Kogen to have a chance to wave to the Imperial Family...


Here you can see Kootaishihi-Masako-sama or Princess Masako (Crown Princess of Japan) in front of Hasuike Hotel, a few minutes ago, when they left Shiga Kogen.

Another Sunny Day!

It's bright and sunny today in Shiga Kogen!
Temperatures in the morning were about -2℃ in Hasuike.
This is Misumaike (Misuma Pond), known as well as Sankaku Pond, a few hours ago.

Beautiful Sunday!

Sunday ended beautifully! With a blue sky and sunny day...

This is Kumanoyu Ski Area about 4:40 P. M.

Kumanoyu is a Ski only area and has 12 courses from beginners through Advanced skiers and also, has night skiing available.

Pizza Time!

If you are skiing at Takamagahara area and want to have a pizza, you can have lunch at Takamagahara Hotel.

This Bacon & Potato Pizza will be fine for everyone visiting Shiga Kogen.

Or, if you want to try some Japanese flavour pizza or you don't eat meat, you can try this Kinoko Pizza... 5 different mushrooms Pizza!

*Just at lunch time. You can have a look in other options here.

Cold Sunday...

It's very cold for a Spring day in Shiga Kogen.

-10℃ at Hasuike Area and it's impossible to define the weather right now...

some spots of light snow here and there, cloudy in some areas and sunny in others... a beautiful day anyway!

As you can see, the snow is back in Shiga Kogen and the trees are all white again! Just like a winter day.

Enjoy!!!!

A Perfect Saturday!!!

This Saturday doesn't remind us that is already Spring in Japan in any possible way!
The trees are all snowy again, we had some snow during the day and temperatures registered were below zero just like an ordinary winter day!
It was cold Saturday, but sunny and beautiful! At the end of the day, I was told that it was -5℃ on the ski course...

This is Yokoteyama Kid's Park and Kumanoyu Ski Area on the background.

Kumanoyu Ski courses and Kasadake

The summit of Yokoteyama hiden in the clouds, viewed from Yokoteyama Sky Lift 2.


An hour later, the summit could be seen perfectly. This is Yokoteyama Sky Lift 1.



This is Mt. Kasadake, viewed from Yokoteyama Sky Lift 2.


The Yokoteyama trees are all white again!
Yokoteyama Sky Lift 2.

This is the view from the top of Yokoteyama Sky Lift 2.

From Yokoteyama Sky Lift 3 the trees are even more snowy!

Shibutoge Area

From the top of Yokoteyama Lift 6 Kasadake is beautiful

This is the Yokoteyama Lift 6

From Yokoteyama Lift 6, you can choose a intermediate course, on the left, or a easier one, on the right.

And that's Yokoteyama main course in the end of the day.

Okojo

Okojo or Ermine, is the most famous inhabitant of Shiga Kogen and the animal symbol of our ski resort. That's why you can find lots of souvenirs with this cute animal.

I found this cookies yesterday at Hasuike Hotel.

I wish I could meet an Okojo walking in the snow once in Shiga Kogen.