Season of Autumn

The best seasons of ShigaKogen.

Most beautiful of the view.

This is 'SHIBUTOGE'

2300m above sea level near the scene.

Red and green is very beautiful.

OPENING FESTIVAL

The 42th ShigaKogen Ski Area Opening Festival in Takamagahara Mommoth Ski area.

(DEC 6th, 2009)






It croweded very much though it took the lift.





[DAIJYA]
It is a DRAGON that appears in the legend of ShigaKogen.

Surrounding of my house

IT IS FULL-BLOWN.

"YANAGIRAN"

It's called the FLOWER OF THE FIRE in CANADA.

"KUGAISO"

"NIKKO KISUGE"

The Mt.Higashidate plant garden in the HOPPO ONSEN AREA

is a best time.

It's in blossom a lot.

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.

Still winter in Shiga Kogen

The winter is still with us in Shiga Kogen. During the night, we registered -6℃ and 12 cm of fresh snow in Hasuike.

More snow is expected during the day and it's cloud at the moment.

Warm up and have fun!!!

Another Perfect Day!

The day starts with fresh snow in Shiga Kogen, the sun is bright and it's not so cold outside. Couldn't be more perfect! Enjoy!

Fresh snow...

This picture was taken from the same place and day as the picture posted before, at the end of the day. Hopefully, we will have more snow during the week!

This is Hasuike Ropeway Station, 4:30 P. M.

Good news!!!

As we expected, the day started with some snow today in Shiga Kogen.

It was just a light snow about 9 in the morning at Hasuike but it's becoming better right now! Looks like it will be a cloudy/snowy day today... and becoming colder than the previously days. So, if you are planning to go out on the slopes, be prepared wearing warm clothes.

Shiga Kogen at Sunset

Yesterday the sky was so beautiful that we decided to watch the sunset. Maeyama seems to be a good choice, because the Maeyama C course it's not so difficult to snowshoe hike. The course it's just about 750 m. and we reached the top of the mountain in 15 min. You just need to ask at the front desk where you can hire some snowshoes and go with comfortable shoes and warm clothes.

We start to walk about 5:15 P. M.

And we were on the summit of Maeyama at 5:30 P. M.

Just in time to watch this beautiful sunset.


Sunset watched from 1810 m above sea level.


From the summit, you can see Kasadake, Kumanoyu Ski Area and all the Hotaru Onsen Hotels

At this time of the day, all the lifts had already stopped and it's very peaceful.



If you have the chance, I highly recommend, it's worth!

Two moments of Mt. Kasadake

As I told yesterday, we had a rainy Sunday in Shiga Kogen that turned in some snow this morning. But the runs are very icy outside so, take care!
We are still waiting more snow through the week. Let's hope!

This is Kasadake a few days ago... at March 19th, between Yokoteyama Skylift 2 and 3.

And this is Kasadake, viewed from the same place, on February 5th.

Rainy day....

Unfortunately, it's a rainy Sunday in Shiga Kogen...
The good news are that according to Japan Meteorological Agency, we can expect snowy days on the next week. Let's wait and enjoy!

this picture was taken from the Nagaden bus, a few days ago, in front of Kidoike Onsen Hotel.

Backcountry Ski Tour 2009, the end!

And those are the happy people who are enjoying the last edition of our Backcountry Ski Tour 2009.

We had 6 ski tours and one cancelled this year. Hope you all enjoyed a lot and see you next year!

Beautiful Weekend!

This is Maeyama Ski course this morning... another beautiful sunny Saturday!

And today I was on the bus, at Kumanoyu Area (Kuma=bear / yu=hot spring water) which means something like the bear of the hot spring water when I met him!