Daily from January to early May
as long as there’s snow!
Tour Highlights
★ Guided by local English-speaking guides
★ Suitable for first-timers and returning visitors
★ No special skills or prior lessons required
★ All tours include snowshoes and poles
★ Meeting point: across from “Yamanoeki Bus Terminal” Shiga Kogen’s main gateway
★ Scenic subalpine area, from 1,300m to 2,300m
★ Located within the Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park
Types of Tours
Group Tour: Join others on a popular route!
See what’s included and who it’s for 👈Click
This tour is ideal for you if:
☆You’d like to share the experience with new people
☆You can arrive on time for the meeting
☆You’re a solo traveler looking for a cost-effective option over a private tour
Please Note:
〇The group tour includes other participants.
So, please help us by arriving on time.
If you are late, we may not be able to wait for you.
〇The hiking pace will be set to match the slowest participant.
If you prefer to walk at your own pace, we recommend booking a private tour.
Private Tour: Enjoy a bespoke experience tailored just for you!
See what’s included and who it’s for 👈Click
This tour is ideal for you if:
☆You want to spend special time exclusively with family, friends, or loved ones
☆You’d like to go where you want, when you want
☆You’re physically fit and able to walk for more than 3 hours
☆You have other interests beyond hiking, like playing in the snow, taking photos or videos, or enjoying a snow picnic
Who Can Join?👈Click
〇 Anyone who can walk is welcome!
〇 Children over 6, with shoe sizes from 20 cm, can join too.
Note: Kid’s shoe sizes from 20 cm generally match US 1 (Big Kid), UK 13 (Child), EU 32, or 7.9 inches and above
Essential Items to Bring👈Click
〇 Warm, waterproof winter clothing suitable for skiing
〇 Winter snow boots to keep your feet dry and warm
〇 Sunglasses or goggles and sunscreen (Snow reflects sunlight and can cause sunburns, including to the eyes)
〇 Waterproof winter gloves
〇 Woolen beanie
〇 A backpack
〇 Drinks
〇 Lunch or snacks (for full-day tours only)
For those needing help with the above items👈Click
◆ Rental shops are available in Shiga Kogen, and some hotels have their own rental facilities.
Contact them first to check if they have the gear you need.
◆ The rental store “Alpina Sports” is conveniently located at Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki Bus Terminal, right in front of our tour office.
◆ Some items, like beanies and gloves, are only available for purchase. Sunglasses are not available for sale or rental. Alpina Sports
Important Information👈Click
☆ Advance booking required for all tours
☆ Cash payments only
☆ Please arrive ready with all necessary items for immediate departure
☆ One guide per group of up to 5 people
Itinerary Overview👈Click
- After payment and signing the agreement, we’ll fit your snowshoes.
- Once fitted, you’ll travel with the guide by car to the starting point.
Would you like to discover new wonders in a world of white snow?
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Winter Forest Group Tour (AM/PM)
Tour Area and Features👈Click
The tour takes place in a forest at an elevation of 1,300m to 1,600m.
The destination is chosen based on the snow conditions of the day.
You will travel by car with your guide from the meeting point, and the actual hiking will last about 1.5 hours.
While there won’t be views like those from a mountain summit, you can enjoy diverse terrains, including closed forests and open snowy fields.
Even in snow or fog, it is safe to walk, so the tour has a nearly 100% success rate in the past!
top tour photos Tour availability
Fitness Level ★★☆☆☆
Tour time 2 hours and a bit more
Morning Tour 9:30AM to 11:30AM
Afternoon Tour 1:30PM to 3:30PMMeeting Place Shiga Kogen Guide Association Front Desk👈Click
(Inside Tourist Information Centre)
*Across the road from Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki Sta.
*Free parking is available at Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki Sta.
*Please arrive fully prepared with the appropriate attire and any necessary items for the tour.
After meeting, we will proceed with payment and snowshoe fitting, and then promptly start the tour. After meeting, we will proceed with payment and snowshoe fitting, and then promptly start the tour.
Tour Price for per person Adult: 5,000 JPY /Child (6 to 12 YO): 3,000 JPY👈Click
*You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes &/OR poles.
*Please pay IN CASH on the day directly to your guide.
An ATM is available a 3-minute walk from the meeting point, but please note it is only open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturdays.
Price Includes Guide, Insurance, Snowshoes and poles
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Mt. Yakebitai or Mt. Higashidate Moutain Top Group Tour
Tour Area👈Click
The tour takes place near the summit, at an elevation of around 2,000m.
A gondola ride will take us close to the top, providing easy access.
With snowshoes, you can easily access areas that are difficult to reach on skis!
Enjoy experiences you can’t have at a ski resort and views you can’t see from the slopes.
You will spend approximately 1.5 to 2 hours walking on snow.Please choose a course after considering the unique features Mt. Yakebitai and Mt. Higashidate.
top tour photos Tour availability
Fitness Level and Course Features The Mt. Yakebitai Tour ★☆☆☆☆👈Click
The summit of Mt. Yakebitai is flat, with no uphill or downhill sections on the course.
This makes it a safe and enjoyable experience for young children and those who may not be very fit.
As soon as you exit the gondola, you will find yourself in a magical forest that feels like it could be home to Santa Claus, and you can explore your way to the summit.At the top, there is a large caldera pond and a wide wetland that transform into a vast snowy landscape in winter.
If the weather is clear, you can enjoy a “world of blue and white” under the blue sky, with stunning panoramic views of the Northern Alps and the Japan Sea in the distance.The Mt. Higashidate Tour ★★★☆☆👈Click
Mt. Higashidate is the course with the most ups and downs in our group tours, but it also offers some of the most spectacular views.
You can enjoy a total of 360 degrees of stunning scenery as you change locations along the way.
The hiking area consists of about 30% forest, 30% open space, and 40% ski slopes.At the summit station of the gondola, there is a café and restaurant with an observation deck, where you can choose to end your tour.
THE ROOF TOP DINING: https://www.alpinasports.jp/dining/ (only in Japanese)If you wish to end your tour at the gondola summit station, please take the shuttle bus from the nearest bus stop (S21. Hoppo Onsen) after exiting the gondola (transportation back is not provided).
Tour Time Meeting Time 9:30 AM / Tour finish 12:30 to 1:00 PM (about 3 hours)
Meeting Place Shiga Kogen Guide Association Front Desk👈Click
(Inside Tourist Information Centre)
Access: Click here*After gathering, travelling to the gondola station by car with the guide.
If you arrive by your own vehicle, you can follow the guide’s car to the gondola station in your own car.*Please arrive fully prepared with the appropriate attire and any necessary items for the tour.
After meeting, we will proceed with payment and snowshoe fitting, and then promptly start the tour.Tour Price Adult: 10,000 JPY/Child (6 to 12 YO): 7,000 JPY👈Click
*You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes &/OR poles.
*Please pay IN CASH on the day directly to your guide.
An ATM is available a 3-minute walk from the meeting point, but please note it is only open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturdays.
Price Includes Guide, Insurance, Return Gondola, Snowshoes and poles
Important Information Due to the high elevation, the tour may be cancelled in case of poor weather.
If this happens, we will guide you on a lower-altitude forest course.
If this does not suit your preferences, please let us know. -
Private Tour
In a private tour, you can enjoy your time more freely, deeply, and luxuriously. 👈Click
We will adjust the tour duration to meet your requests, and we can arrange activities other than hiking, such as playing in the snow, taking photos, or having a snow picnic if the weather permits.
You can also choose to have a private version of our group tour routes, so please share your preferences with us.
We will suggest a plan that suits your needs.
Let’s create your own original plan together!As a guideline, one guide can accommodate up to five participants, though more may be possible.
top tour photos Tour availability
Tour operation Tour operation: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Meeting Place Shiga Kogen Guide Association Front Desk👈Click
(Inside Tourist Information Centre)Access: Click here
Tour Price for per person/JPY 2 Hours←Click
13,000 for one / 9,000 for two / 8,000 for three / 7,000 for four / 6,500 for five
3 Hours←Click
16,000 for one / 10,000 for two / 9,000 for three / 8,000 for four / 7,000 for five
4 Hours←Click
19,000 for one / 12,000 for two / 10,000 for three / 9,000 for four / 8,000 for five
5 Hours←Click
22,000 for one / 13,000 for two / 11,000 for three / 10,000 for four / 9,000 for five
※2,000 yen discount for those 12 years old and under.
Note: The tour time is the total time from when we meet until the tour ends.
*Please pay IN CASH on the day directly to your guide.
An ATM is available a 3-minute walk from the meeting point, but please note it is only open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturdays.Price Includes Guide, Insurance, Snowshoes and poles.
*You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes &/OR poles.
Snowshoes & Pole Rentals
Two Hours: 2,000 JPY
One Day: 3,500 JPY
Two Days: 5,000 JPY
more details
*Please pay IN CASH on the day directly to your guide.
An ATM is available a 3-minute walk from the meeting point, but please note it is only open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturdays.
If you are an experienced snowshoe hiker and feel comfortable exploring the forest on your own, we also offer snowshoe rentals.
Please note:
〇Access to the ski resort slopes is permitted only for our tours, so we kindly ask that you refrain from entering these areas.
〇If you are only renting equipment, you can come without a reservation, but please understand that we prioritise tours, so there may be times when we are unable to provide rentals.
Important Notes
・We accept ONLY CASH.
・Required fitness level may change with snow depth.
・Shiga Kogen Guide Association have the right to cancel tours due to inclement weather conditions.
・We do not have transportation services. Please use your own transfer or public transportation.
・There is no supermarket or convenience store in Shiga Kogen Area.
Cancelation Policy
We are very grateful for the many customers who have joined our tours, but we only have a small number of guides.
Bookings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you cancel without notice, we will be very sorry for the other people we have had to turn down.
We understand that unexpected things always happen when we travel. And if you have to cancel your tour as a result of a change in itinerary or sudden illness, we would appreciate it if you could let us know.
Flyer
Tour Availability
The snowshoe tour availability for January to March
Blank dates are OPEN for booking.
△ = Please inquire with us ✖ = Fully booked
日本語 = Japanese guide ENG = English-speaking guide
top Winter Forest Group Tour Moutain Top Group Tour Private Tour
Please Note
Please Note(Phone: +81 269 34 2133 (available 8:30am – 4:30pm Japan Time)
1. For bookings made within 3 business days, please be aware that responses may be delayed. In such cases, kindly give us a call.
2. We aim to reply within 3 business days. If you do not receive a response, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Contact
& Entry
- Published itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.
- In order to arrange personal accident insurance, we will kindly ask for your name, address, and age. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
- Depending on the current registration status, we may have to decline participation. Please understand if we have reached the maximum capacity.
Shiga Kogen Guide Association
- E-mail:
- guide@shigakogen.gr.jp