Winter Season

Daily from January to early May

Winter is just around the corner in Shiga Kogen!
Last year’s great snow let us start tours early — we can’t wait to welcome you again in this winter wonderland!

Features of Early Winter

Early winter in Shiga Kogen is a special time.
The snow may still be light, but you can walk across freshly fallen, pristine powder.
Depending on conditions, chain spikes or snowshoes help you keep your footing and enjoy a safe winter hike.
This is one of the few times you can feel the first breath of winter on the lightly dusted plateaus.

【All tour prices include English interpretation service fees.】

Tour Start Guide (Dates may vary depending on snowfall)

Tour Name	Usual Start Period	Features
Winter Forest Group Tour	Early to late December	Usually possible even with light early snow. A safe route following the summer trail.
Mountain Top Group Tour	Late December to mid-January	No summer trails here — we need deep snow to cover the plants and ground before starting.

*Start dates change every year depending on snowfall. Please check our official website or social media for the latest updates.

Wear & Boot Rentals:
Rental shops near the meeting point usually open around 20 December.

🌤️ Past Tour Start Dates
2024–25: Winter Forest Walk from 10 Dec / Summit Tour from 28 Dec
2023–24: Winter Forest Walk from late Dec / Summit Tour from mid-Jan

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:
・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.

・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’d like a relaxed, personalised experience that suits your pace and energy level
　- You have other interests beyond hiking, like playing in the snow, taking photos or videos, or enjoying a snow picnic

Who Can Join? 👈Click

・ Anyone who can walk is welcome!
・ 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

✓ Warm, waterproof winter clothing suitable for skiing
✓ Snow boots to keep your feet dry and warm
✓ Sunglasses or goggles and sunscreen (Snow reflects sunlight and can cause sunburns, including to the eyes)
✓ Waterproof winter gloves
✓ Woolen beanie
✓ A backpack
✓ Drinks
✓ Lunch or snacks (for full-day tours only)

Clothes & Footwear 👈Click

Given the current snow conditions in April, heavy equipment is not necessary, so please rest assured (this is the privilege of spring snowshoeing – you can participate with ease!). Just make sure to wear warm clothing, and you’ll be good to go.

Regarding footwear, if you are staying in Shiga Kogen and can rent snowboard boots from your hotel, that would be ideal. If not, please come with the shoes you have. (Still, waterproof hiking boots/shoes are suitable) We can provide shoe covers here, but please note that the sizes are limited. If we are unable to provide a suitable size, we kindly ask for your understanding that your shoes may get wet during the activity.

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? Check out the following features of each tour. We look forward to seeing you!

Winter Forest Group Tour

Moutain Top Group Tour

Private Tour

Tour availability

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.
Your guide will drive you to the starting point. 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 blog　Tour availability

Fitness Level	★★☆☆☆　Walking distance 1.5–2.5 km
Tour duration	About 2–3 hours Morning Tour Meeting at 9:30 AM, return around 11:30–12:30 Afternoon Tour Meeting at 1:30 PM, return around 3:30–4:30 PM
Meeting Place	Shiga Kogen Guide Association Front Desk 👈Click Inside Tourist Information Centre Across the road from Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki bus terminal. Free parking is available at Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki. 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 per Person	Adult: 7,000 JPY / Child (6 to 12 YO): 5,000 JPY👈Click You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes OR poles, 1,000 JPY discount if you bring both. 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	English-speaking guide, insurance, snowshoes and poles

Booking

Mt. Yakebitai or Mt. Higashidate Moutain Top Group Tour

Tour Area👈Click

⚠ This tour starts operating from late December. ⚠
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 blog　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 (THE ROOF TOP DINING) with an observation deck, where you can choose to end your tour. 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 After meeting, 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	Mt. Higashidate Tour Adult: 13,000 JPY / Child (6 to 12 YO): 9,500 JPY Mt. Yakebitai Tour Adult: 13,000 JPY / Child (6 to 12 YO): 8,500 JPY👈Click You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes OR poles, 1,000 JPY discount if you bring both. 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	English-speaking guide, insurance, snowshoes and poles, return gondola ticket
Important Information	⚠ This tour starts operating from late December. ⚠ 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.

Booking

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 blog　Tour availability

Tour Operation	Tour operation: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM *Please let us know how many hours you’d like the tour to be.
Meeting Place	Shiga Kogen Guide Association Front Desk👈Click Inside Tourist Information Centre
Tour Price per Person (JPY)	2 Hours ←Click 19,000 for one / 12,000 for two / 10,500 for three / 9,500 for four / 9,000 for five 3 Hours ←Click 22,000 for one / 13,000 for two / 12,000 for three / 10,500 for four / 9,500 for five 4 Hours ←Click 25,000 for one / 15,500 for two / 13,000 for three / 12,000 for four / 10,500 for five 5 Hours ←Click 28,000 for one / 16,500 for two / 14,000 for three / 13,000 for four / 12,000 for five ※2,000 JPY 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	English-speaking guide, Insurance, Snowshoes and poles. *You’ll get a 500 JPY discount if you have your own snowshoes OR poles, 1,000 JPY discount if you bring both.

Booking

Snowshoes & Pole Rentals

If you are an experienced snowshoe hiker and feel comfortable exploring the forest on your own, we also offer snowshoe rentals.

【Snowshoe and Pole Rental】
Two Hours: 2,000 JPY
One Day: 3,500 JPY
Two Days: 5,000 JPY
*Price is for one person

【Mountaineering Gaiters Rental】
One Day: 500 JPY
Two Days: 1,000 JPY
*Price is for one person

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.

Please note:
– Access to the ski resort slopes is permitted only for our tours, so we kindly ask that you refrain from entering these areas.
– 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.

【Reservation Information Required】

To ensure a smooth reservation process, please provide the following information via email to:

E-mail:: guide@shigakogen.gr.jp

We would greatly appreciate it if you could copy the details below, paste them into the email, and complete all the required fields.

Primary Contact Information:
◆Tour Date:
◆Tour Name:　　　 (e.g.,Winter Forest / Mountain Top / Private)
◆Time/Mt.: 　　　(e.g., AM / PM, Mt. Yakebitai / Mt. Higashidate / Course Time)

Tour Information:
◆Full Name:
◆Mobile Phone Number:
◆Emergency Contact Phone Number:
◆Accommodation (night before and day of the tour):
◆Length of Stay in Yamanouchi Town, including Shiga Kogen (from d/m to d/m):
◆How You Will Arrive at the Meeting Place (Bus / Vehicle / Walk):

Participant Information (for insurance and equipment preparation):
Please provide this information for all participants:
◆Full Name:
◆Date of Birth (DD/MM/YY):
◆Country of Current Residence:
◆Height (cm):
◆Boots Type (Snow boots / Winter hiking boots / Own Snowboard boots / Rental Snowboard boots):
◆Boots Size (cm):

Important Notice:
*We do not provide footwear rentals. If you are staying in Shiga Kogen (not Yudanaka, Shibu, or Nagano City), please check with your hotel about rentals. If unavailable, waterproof hiking boots are recommended. Please contact us if you need advice.

Additional Notes:
◆Payment is accepted CASH ONLY.
◆Required fitness level may vary depending on snow depth.
◆The Shiga Kogen Guide Association reserves the right to cancel tours due to inclement weather.
◆We do not provide transportation services. Please use your own vehicle or public transport.
◆There are no supermarkets or convenience stores in Shiga Kogen.

Cancellation Policy:
◆Our guides are limited and tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please notify us if you must cancel to avoid inconveniencing others.
◆We understand that unexpected events can occur, such as sudden illness or changes in itinerary. If you need to cancel for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible.

Indoor Craft Experience in Shiga Kogen Nature Conservation Center

We offer two types of indoor craft workshops every day.
Both activities are suitable for children and adults, and they’re truly unique to Shiga Kogen.
Take home your very own handmade memories from the heart of Shiga Kogen.

1.Nature Craft Workshop👈Click

Create your own original craft using natural materials collected from the forests of Shiga Kogen.
Using a hot glue gun, attach small seeds, twigs, and other forest treasures to make a unique decoration.
As you work, listen to stories about the forest and discover the charm of Japan’s subalpine woodlands.

2.Okomin Clay Doll Painting Workshop👈Click

“Okomin” is Shiga Kogen’s original mascot character, modelled on the charming stoats that live in the area. The name is unique too: “Oko” comes from the Japanese word “Okojo” for stoat, and “min” comes from the English word Ermine, another name for a stoat.
In this workshop, you’ll paint a “clay doll” of Okomin, a traditional craft that has been made in the neighbouring town of Nakano for generations. Each doll is carefully handcrafted by skilled artisans as a plain white figure, ready for you to bring it to life with your own colours.
While many Okomin souvenirs are available in shops, here you can create your very own one-of-a-kind Okomin, a special keepsake to take home and remember your time in Shiga Kogen.

No prior booking is necessary, but we’d love to know your planned date and time if possible 🙂

Tour Availability

〇 = Available　△ = Please inquire　✕ = Fully booked
日本語 = Japanese Guide　ENG = English-Speaking Guide

Top　Winter Forest Group Tour　Moutain Top Group Tour　Private Tour

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Phone: +81 269 34 2133 (available 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Japan Time)
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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.