NAGANO JAPAN

Located across from the Takamagahara ski fields, Hotel Sunny Shiga is ideally positioned for guests wanting easy access to all areas of Shiga Kogen. Known for its spacious and bright rooms, friendly...

From all of us at Snow Monkey Resorts, we would like to give a big shout out to all of our guests who joined us in Nagano during winter 2019/20! Thanks to you we were able to have a successful winte...

As Nagano’s No.1-rated tour operator, we always have one eye on winter. Having just emerged from the last one, and even though we’re looking to the warmer days of spring and summer, we already have ...

It’s no secret that the snowfall in Nagano this winter is much less than usual. Unusually warm weather patterns have led to higher than normal temperatures and as a result, lower snowfall. Many ski ...

Shiga Kogen, the largest and highest ski resort in Japan, accommodates 18 interconnected ski areas, each located at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,300 meters. Shiga Kogen is nestled in the north-eastern al...

With its beautiful mountains, forested valleys, and vast highlands, there couldn’t be a better place to see the fall colors than in Nagano. There are fantastic spots all over the prefecture, but i...

As recently featured, Shiga Kogen is not just Nagano’s but also Japan’s largest and highest ski resort. With 79 ski runs serviced by 51 chairlifts and gondolas, Shiga offers the largest expanse of...

As host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano is home to around 80 independent ski resortsand blessed with some of the best powder in the world. Whether you are visiting Nagano for the first time or a...

Nestled high above the Snow Monkey Park within the beautiful surrounding of Joshinestu Kogen National Park, there is a ski resort which is Nagano’s sleeping giant and the next big destination for ...

Winter is never far away – or at least never out of mind – here in Nagano. With the past winter having come late but then refusing to call it quits, and ultimately blessing us with a massive amoun...

Here in Nagano during the the month of May, the rice fields are filled with water in preparation for planting. The flooded fields create a mirror-like surface, reflecting the majestic snow-capped ...

Japan's winters are legendary. A combination of big mountains and some of the world's deepest, driest powder make Japan a favorite destination for skiers and snowboarders from around the world. With t...

With the snow now falling in Nagano we are gearing up for another big winter and with that, we are happy to offer our popular 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen Tour from December 22...

We are now officially into winter and while the snow is a little late this year, sooner or later it will begin to fall in abundance. Most famous as a winter destination, Nagano has so much to offer ...

Newly opened Japanese restaurant Hotaru-tei in the Kanbayashi Onsen area is the place to go if you're looking for a local food experience in a traditional setting. The restaurant, located only 10 minu...

As Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen offers an expansive area of terrain to explore and some of the most beautiful powder landscapes to carve and slash your way through each winter. At an impr...

Consisting of 18 ski areas - some large, some small - Shiga Kogen is Japan's largest mountain resort spread through the peaks and gullies of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. The expansive resort is l...

Viewing autumn leaves, called koyo in Japanese, is after cherry blossom-viewing the most beloved seasonal activity for the Japanese. If you're planning on visiting the Snow Monkey Park in fall, we rec...

With around 80 ski resorts, Nagano spoils winter visitors with choice! Among those resorts, Shiga Kogen is not only Nagano's biggest area of interconnected ski fields, but it also tops in the list as ...

With winter fast approaching it's time to get serious and decide where you're headed! The big question for many people coming to Japan is which region best fits their needs - Nagano or Hokkaido? Both ...

Unless you're flush with cash and time and can afford to be here for an extended period during winter, skiers and snowboarders headed to Japan are faced with one big decision before they even get here...

Nestled within an expansive mountain range known for its beauty and deep powder snow, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest ski resort and one of the host venues for the 1998 Winter Olympics. The resort offe...

There are many reasons to choose Japan for your winter sports holiday. Numerous resorts, reliable snow conditions including world-class powder, friendly locals, great food, all the cultural trimmings,...

When planning your ski or snowboard trip to Japan there are lots of things to take into consideration for choosing your destination of choice. Of all the questions you might ask when choosing a resort...

Shiga Kogen is situated in a broader mountain range known as Joshinetsu Kogen National Park; a vast area that spans Nagano, Gunma, and Niigata prefectures. The region has long been known for its beaut...

Conveniently located in the central area of Shiga Kogen, the Higashitateyama Ski Area offers visitors some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the region. As the host venue for the 1998 Winter Olym...

Backcountry skiing is one of the great attractions at any resort for advanced skiers. Bursting through pristine snow and the beauty of the forest is an adrenaline rush that gets you hooked. However, b...

While the sun is shining here in Yamanouchi and we head towards another hot summer, we can’t help but turn our minds to the coming winter and another highly anticipated snow season in Japan... and we ...

Another favorite area in Shiga Kogen for lovers of tree runs is a course which runs from the top of Ichinose Family Area down to bottom. It's a little hard to find the course on the map so here is how...

Nagano Prefecture is home to the majority of Japan’s highest mountain peaks and an abundance of snow. Just ask the locals, they’ll tell you the snow here is world class!   As host of t...

This winter season (2017/2018) in Shiga Kogen brought a lot of powder snow and many fantastic days of skiing and snowboarding.  The early and massive snowfall experienced in December created a good ba...

With the recent completion of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games and upcoming XII Paralympic Winter Games in Pyongyang, South Korea, there is understandable interest in celebrating the 20th anniversary ...

If you're thinking of heading to Shiga Kogen for your ski/snowboard trip you have multiple accommodation areas to choose from. As Japan's largest resort, Shiga is expansive therefore it's important to...

It's been snowing steadily in the Snow Monkey area and even more up in the mountains of Shiga Kogen. The slopes are slowly all opening up, with the higher altitude slopes already fully open. The ar...

The season has turned, it`s now December, and the long-awaited snow season has arrived to the area! We would like to keep you posted about the current snow situation of Shiga Kogen - the largest and h...

Shiga Kogen, with its high altitude, has a few spots where you can really see some spectacular views. The massive amount of snow in winter only adds more beauty to the mountainous scenery. If you want...

As the largest ski resort in Japan, Shiga Kogen lies in the north of Nagano, a region known for hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics. Comprised of 18 ski areas, the resort has varying terrain and slop...

If you didn't bring any snow gear with you to Japan, no worries! Like most of the ski resorts in the world, Shiga Kogen also has a plenty of items to rent/sell for visitors. But the question would b...

When the first snow starts falling from the sky in November, the ski slopes of Shiga Kogen start their preparations for the winter season. Skiing in the largest ski resorts of Japan is possible very e...

The temperature is quickly dropping day by day here in Yamanouchi and we already start feeling an approach of winter! Many of you might be planning to visit Japan for winter sports, so this blog is to...

Approximately 45km to the east of Nagano City, Shiga Kogen can be readily accessed using public transport. Most people will start their journey from Nagano Station or from the nearby monkey park or ...

Shiga Kogen has a great number of hiking courses, all different. The most popular one would be the Lake Course, or the Ike-Meguri in Japanese. This blog is to explain the hiking course step-by-step so...

The Shiga Kogen Highlands are most know know as the region that holds the largest ski resorts of all of Japan. Loads of people come to enjoy skiing and snowboarding down the mountains. In summer howev...

Even though this region is called the Snow Monkey area, we have more than six months without snow. Our Spring, Summer, and Autumn all have their own attractions. In this article we will expand on the ...

Skiing season in Japan usually ends around the end of March, when the temperature starts rising and the snow starts melting. However, the Shiga Kogen Highlands hold to a different schedule. The...

Shiga Kogen is the biggest ski resort in Japan with a total of 18 ski areas, 52 working ski lifts and countless slopes. Due to its size it is difficult to look at Shiga as a whole, so we have simplifi...

Shiga Kogen is the biggest ski resort in Japan boasting a total of 19 ski areas, 52 working ski lifts and countless slopes. Due to its size it is difficult to look at Shiga as a whole, so we have divi...

Shiga Kogen is the biggest ski resort in Japan with a total of 19 ski areas, 52 working ski lifts and countless slopes. Due to its size it is difficult to look at Shiga as a whole. To make it easier f...

When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, people regularly refer to "powder snow" and will do anything to find it! Powder is the most coveted type of snow when you want to bomb down a mountain with th...

Do you love to ski or snowboard? Then Shiga Kogen (or Shiga) is where you need to go. The fact that the Highlands were the stage for the 1998 Winter Olympics is already testament to the quality of sno...