REPORT

Foehn winds sent temperatures soaring on 7/19 (Sun.), with 118 locations across Japan—mostly along the Sea of Japan coast—reaching 35°C or above. Even Shiga Kogen, which lies at elevations between 1,300 and 2,300 meters, felt unusually warm and humid. Luckily, on a day like this, there is no better escape than a cool, uncrowded SUP tour hosted by Shiga Kogen Mountain Discovery.
[Biwa-ike Pond]

After checking in at 9 a.m., we put on our life jackets and received a brief lesson from our guide (pictured, right) before heading out onto the water. I met a couple from Tokyo (pictured, left and center) who told me, “This is our first time trying SUP, so we’re a little nervous!” They seemed intimidated as they first climbed onto their boards, but quickly found their balance and were standing up within about five minutes.
[Biwa-ike Pond]

With our guide keeping everyone entertained throughout the tour, we spent a leisurely two hours exploring the Biwa-ike Pond. The couple told me, “It’s so much cooler than Tokyo! We jumped into the lake earlier, and the water was wonderfully cold and refreshing.”
[Biwa-ike Pond]

The Sunshine Trail / Mizunashi-ike Course, a walking trail around the Biwa-ike Pond, takes about 45 minutes to complete. Near the water, utsubogusa, oka-toranoo, and yotsuba-hiyodori were blooming in abundance, while I found an Asagimadara butterfly (pictured) resting among the flowers.
[Sunshine Trail・Mizunashi-ike Course]

　
[Shiga Kogen Opening Information]
* Period … Yokoteyama Skylator and Sky Lift 4/22 – late October (*scheduled), Shibu-toge 1st Romance Lift After snow removal – Early November (*scheduled), Shiga Kogen Golden Line 6/20 – 11/1, Maeyama Summer Lift 6/20 – 10/18 (Sat, Sun, holidays and reserved days), Takamagahara Summer Lift 8/8 – 8/16.
* Summer Lift Fees … Shiga Kogen Golden Line round trip 1-day pass / Adults JPY3,000, Child JPY1,800, Takamagahara Summer Lift round trip / Adults JPY1,200, Child JPY800, Maeyama Summer Lift one way / Adults JPY600, Child JPY400, Yokoteyama Sky escalator and Sky Lift round trip / adult 2,200 JPY, child 1,900 JPY, Shibutoge Romance Lift round trip / adult 2,200 JPY, child 1,900 JPY.
　　
＊*Click here to purchase photos found in this report.
　　　
reported by Snownavi