Shiga Kogen is an excellent resort for beginners, with a wide range of accessible and straightforward runs, and some 45% of all trails here are rated green (easy). The beginner slopes are nearly all generously wide and immaculately groomed, making for an enjoyable and stress-free experience for newcomers. During our visit there were scores of beginners on piste and most were clearly having a great time. It’s hard to imagine another resort that offers beginners quite as much scope for adventure and exploration.
Kick things off in Maruike and Hasuike
The best place for beginners to start is undoubtedly the area around Giant, Hasuike, Sun Valley, Maruike and Nishitateyama. Most of the green slopes here are gentle and quiet, and offer a varied array of straightforward terrain. We particularly liked run no. 18 down from the Nishidate 1st Hoodie Quad Lift in Nishidateyama, not least due to the stunning views back over towards Giant.
Head south for panoramic views and wide groomers
If the weather is good then our favourite destination for beginners is undoubtedly Yokoteyama. This means taking the shuttle bus south to the final stop and then taking your pick between the Yokoteyama 1st Gelaende (no. 73), which runs wide and handsome alongside the chairlift, or the Yokoteyama 2nd Gelaende (no. 76) which winds its way through the trees further to the outside. Both runs are straightforward and a lot of fun. You can then either take the 67 or 68 chairlift back up Mt. Yokote or keep left to link up with the runs in Kumanoyu. If you’re feeling adventurous you can even take the Yokoteyama 3rd Sky Lift up to the peak of Mt. Yokote for incredible views in all directions. You might even get to see the famous “snow monsters” (frost coated trees) on the way up. From the summit, beginners can head down the 2 km Shibutoge Simple Course which offers stunning views over the peaks to the north. This will, however, eventually mean taking the intermediate Yokoteyama King Course (a really enjoyable groomer with cracking views) back down to link up with a green course further down, or alternatively taking the Yokoteyama 3rd Sky Lift back down to lower ground.
Don’t miss the Tengu Course!
The other area we would recommend to beginners is the Tanne and Ichinose Family area. There are a number of different green runs to explore which meander between the handsome upland trees on this side of the valley. The gentle runs were very quiet when we visited and skiing among pristine pine and white birch trees will be an unforgettable experience for those getting to grips with life on the snow. While you are here, you should also try the long and majestic Tengu Course down from the Terakoya First Pair Lift. This run starts at around 2,000 meters and sweeps gently down beyond the Ichinose Family ski area before looping back into the valley – it was probably our favourite run for beginners in Shiga Kogen. The long Forest Course down from Higashidateyama is also hugely enjoyable.
Some easy intermediate terrain available
The rest of the ski area also has some great terrain for beginners, most notably the wide and flat runs down into the valley in Yakebitaiyama, though these runs are often sandwiched between intermediates and don’t offer much scope for exploration if you feel uneasy about taking on red runs. It is worth pointing out that many of the intermediate slopes here were pretty manageable and are worth a try for beginners looking to make the step up.