Not open yet for 2026/27. We have not yet found an official opening date. The snowfall below is a model figure and does not mean the slopes are skiable.
A weather-model figure, worked out the same way for every ski area, and lower than what actually falls. Use it to compare ski areas, not against the resort’s own totals. How we measure →
This season so far (1 Nov to 9 Nov): 2 cm. The average for these dates is under 10 cm, so we do not give a percentage yet. The average is over twelve winters on the same weather model. Across Japan →
Updated: 10 Nov 2026, 12:15
| Date | Weather | Snow (cm) | Low / high (°C) | Wind (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 10 Nov | Snow | 0 | −4 to −1 | 11 |
| Wed 11 Nov | Cloudy | 0 | −6 to 1 | 12 |
| Thu 12 Nov | Clear | 0 | −3 to 8 | 9 |
| Fri 13 Nov | Cloudy | 0 | 0 to 9 | 8 |
| Sat 14 Nov | Cloudy | 0 | 3 to 10 | 6 |
| Sun 15 Nov | Cloudy | 0 | 4 to 11 | 10 |
| Mon 16 Nov | Drizzle | 0 | −2 to 5 | 11 |
The five add up to the 100-point Powder Score: more fresh snow, more on the way and colder air all push it up. How we measure
Okushiga Kogen is the furthest area into Shiga Kogen, and no snowmaking is used on its slopes. The Okushiga Kogen Hotel stands next to the piste, with ski-in, ski-out access. For children there is the KIDS Rinkan course, which curves its way down through the trees. Sources: shigakogen.gr.jp, shigakogen-ski.or.jp, resv.shigakogen.gr.jp (sources read 12 Oct 2026; reviewed by the editor)
Counted from the runs and lifts drawn on OpenStreetMap, within the boundary of the ski area. These are not the resort’s own published figures.
88% of the vertical on the runs descends to the north or east. Those slopes get the least sun, so the snow lasts longer.
See past trail maps on Skimap.org ↗
Source: OpenSkiMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0). How finely ski areas are drawn varies by region, so treat the counts as indicative. Vertical is the difference between the highest and lowest points of the mapped runs and lifts.
Shiga Kogen webcams & snow report — all 10 ski areas →
Modelled from weather data the same way at all 3,069 ski areas we cover. These are not the resort’s own published figures.
The tick marks the median across every Japanese ski area we measure. All four bars run the same way — longer is better.
The quality score leaves out how much snow falls (it uses temperature, frequency, rain and wind).
Within 50 km in a straight line. Ski areas in the same weather-model cell (about 30 km across) get the same figure.
| Ski area | Distance | Seasonal snowfall | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area | 2.0 km | 333 cmsame grid cell | 333 |
| Shiga Kogen Ichinose Yamanokami Ski Area | 3.3 km | 333 cmsame grid cell | 333 |
| Shiga Kogen Ichinose Family Ski Area | 3.8 km | 333 cmsame grid cell | 333 |
| Shiga Kogen Terakoya Ski Area | 4.5 km | 333 cmsame grid cell | 333 |
| Ryuoo Ski Park | 4.6 km | 405 cm | 167 |
The most snow falls in January. March brings 66% of January’s snowfall. That is a gentler fall than the median for ski areas in Japan (52%). In amount, March brings 69 cm, more than the median of 46 cm.
Across the 12 winters measured, the average is 333 cm, and 6 of them fell short of it. The leanest was 2015/16 with 214 cm; the biggest was 2016/17 with 434 cm (2.0 times as much).
Snowfall each winter (December–March total). The dashed line is the average; the numbers mark the leanest and the biggest winter.
Within 20 km in a straight line, nearest first. Some lie over a pass that is closed in winter.
| Place | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jigokudani Monkey Park地獄谷野猿公苑 | Park | 6.8 km |
| Shiga Highlands志賀高原 | Nature | 7.4 km |
| Shibu-tōge渋峠 | Nature | 11.7 km |
| Nozori Dam野反ダム | Landmark | 12 km |
| Mount Kusatsu-Shirane草津白根山 | Nature | 14 km |
| Kusatsu Onsen草津温泉 | Hot spring town | 17.7 km |
Chosen from the places most read about on Wikipedia, favouring those with an English article. Based on the Japanese Wikipedia lists of sights in each prefecture, as compiled in travel-log-data (CC BY-SA 4.0). English names from Wikidata (CC0). The content of this section is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Checked on the official site (12 Oct 2026) · Source. Compare with other ski areas →
Contains advertising. Property names and Rakuten Travel’s booking pages are in Japanese.
10 properties on Rakuten Travel lie within about 3 km of this ski area. The table shows the nearest 10 with a listed price.
| Property (links to Rakuten Travel) | Lowest listed (per person, tax incl.) | Rating | Distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 奥志賀高原ホテル | ¥11,267 | 4.06／5 279 reviews | 1.1 km | 信州中野ICから車で40分 長野駅より長野電鉄急行バスで110分 |
| 奥志賀高原シャレークリスチャニア | ¥8,300 | 4.43／5 59 reviews | 1.2 km | JR長野駅東口より奥志賀高原行バスにて1時間30分終点下車、歩2分 |
| ホテルグランフェニックス奥志賀 | ¥11,225 | 4.71／5 76 reviews | 1.2 km | 長野電鉄湯田中駅→定期バス(13往復)硯川・白根火山行き又は奥志賀高原行きにて志賀高原へ/上信越道信州中野IC~50分 |
Prices are the lowest Rakuten Travel lists; a property name, or “Pick dates and guests” above, shows prices and rooms for your dates.
Contains advertising. Property names and Rakuten Travel’s booking pages are in Japanese. · Property data by Rakuten Travel (Supported by Rakuten Developers)
2 places within 12 km of the slopes, as mapped on OpenStreetMap, many of them small inns and pensions. Many are not on booking sites — open the name for the website or the map.
Nearest: 9.7 km
Accommodation data: OpenStreetMap
Other booking sites: Booking.com ↗ · Agoda ↗ · Rakuten Travelad ↗
“ad” marks links that pay us a commission if you book. Links without it are not affiliated.
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