 Poster: A snowHead
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If you have please keep quiet about it because I want to be the first SH to ski there, whether I am in fact or not.
If you have and can't keep quiet about it, then if you can tell me useful stuff you'll be forgiven.
Anyone who just says they've been but tells me no useful stuff will be disbelieved on principle.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No, but had a superb week in nearby Hakuba late feb with fresh snow every day. I was tempted by Shiga as it sounds a huge area & I like to clock up the miles.As it was I chose Hakuba as I only had a week & it seemed more of a resort area with easier access & a greater choice of cheap accomodation.
I would definitely strongly consider it were I to get back to Japan ( here's dreaming ) so look forward to your posts should you make it.
I imagine you've found the snow japan site ( www.snowjapan.com ) which I found helpful. I suspect you might also hear from Mike Pow and Japow, both of whom gave me good advice when I was looking into the trip
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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did 4 days there in 2006. Stayed in a traditional, mid-range Japanese hotel at the biggest base area (forget name, there are lots of them!). Breakfast and dinner included, both were pretty good, and we had the old shared bath thing, which is fun.
The place is sprawling and there's some lovely intermediate skiing, with some tougher options in trees and off-piste. It's not steep, so safe to head off trail even though they don't do avi work in Japan. Ski patrol weren't hassling anyone. Third day we had about a foot of very light pow, and sun the next day. It was a fine day. And you can certainly get some distance in.
Most people eat in hotels and go to bed early, so apres borders on non-existent. There was one bar in our base area, which we went in. It was full of Aussies and local ski bums, and very friendly, but not exactly wild. Like all of Japan, the food one the hill is quite wonderful in quality, variety and a complete bargain. Once you figure out the ordering systems, lunch is a delight.
We were there mid week and the slopes were deserted. Groups of schools kids seemed to be teh largest clientele base, and they were very amusing - you don't get many Westerners up there and we were a bit of a novelty.
Overall - highly recommended as long as apres isn't big on your list. Snow record is excellent, and quality high
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Shiga is a collection of small ski areas now on one lift pass. Longest reasonable slope(in Oku Shiga) is about 3.2k(or was it 2.3k?!).....there are others a bit longer but with flat spots. Depends on when you want to go......avoid weekends and Japanese bank holidays, Jan 10-12, Feb 11, March 20-22. Depends on your skiing level.....no steeps and deeps, lots of intermediate cruising. Used to have some excellent bumps......until they smashed them in the interests of 'safety'! However, as we now have some very good mogulers on the world cup circuit the bumps are probably safe now  Enjoy!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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All, thanks for the info. gortonator, Getting told off for going off the pistes was a concern. Even better if not routinely skied by the locals.
Mac46, a collection of small ski areas that are reasonably well linked to make a big ski area I have been informed by OH (??)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Please respect Ski Patrol if they do ask you not to go off piste......they usually have reason although they may not be able to explain it in English. If you choose to ignore them you may end up having to buy a new ski pass. Yes, well linked but that means more time on lifts than on piste.....but that's true of most places in Japan.
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Mac46, OH is Japanese so I will let her translate if told not to ski off-piste. As I understand it there are very few westerners at Shiga and the Japanese tend to stick to the piste so hopefully ski patrol will just tell me off the first time if it happens, if it happens.
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Japan hills vary considerably on their off-piste policies in my expereince. I was wary at Shiga but when it dumped a few locals headed into trees and ski patrol were happy, so I followed. And I was happy 
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