REPORT

Following the first snowfall of the season on 10/28 (Tue.), a powerful cold front—unusual for this time of year—moved over Nagano Prefecture from 11/3 (Mon., holiday) to 11/4 (Tue.), bringing steady snowfall across the entire Shiga Kogen area. National Route 292 between the Yozaka Gate and Kusatsu Tenguyama Gate was temporarily closed (and will close fully for the winter as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday 11/12.) This morning, the road surface above the Kanbayashi Chain Base parking area was icy and slippery, so extra caution was needed while driving.
[Kumanoyu Ski Resort]

Even at the lower end of the Giant Slope—the lowest elevation area in Shiga Kogen—there was still 5 to 10 cm of snow accumulated, and from a distance, the Ichinose Family Ski Area (pictured) appeared completely white. The “Shiga Kogen Opening Festival” is scheduled to be held there on 12/6 (Sat.).
[Distant View of Ichinose Family Ski Resort]

Hiking up to the top of the Ichinose Diamond Ski Area via the Rabbit Course, I found that while the parking lot had around 5 cm of snow, the upper slopes had as much as 20 cm. The Ichinose Family, Takamagahara Mammoth (pictured, back right), and Yakebitaiyama Ski Areas are all scheduled to open on 12/6 (Sat.), with Okushiga Kogen Ski Area expected to follow on 12/13 (Sat.).
[Ichinose Diamond・Rabbit Course]

At the Yokoteyama / Shibutoge Ski Area’s Kaiwa Slope, which is scheduled to open this weekend on 11/8 (Sat.), about 20 cm of snow had accumulated thanks in part to artificial snowmaking. The slope was nearly free of exposed brush and looked just about ready for skiing (pictured). “We’ll announce the official opening details on our website,” said a staff member from the ski area. Not long after, the Kumanoyu Ski Area is slated to open on 11/15 (Sat.).
[Yokoteyama・Kaiwa Slope]

　
＊Yokoteyama-Shibutoge Ski Resort announced afterward that the opening has been postponed to Saturday, November 15.
＊Shiga Kogen’s 2025-26 winter season will run from November 8, 2025 to late May 2026 (※Yokoteyama/Shibutoge: subject to snow conditions).
　
*Advance Discount Lift Tickets
Yakebitaiyama Adult 1-day pass JPY8,000 → JPY6,000! (*Until 12/5)
Okushiga Kogen Adult 1-day pass JPY6,700 → JPY4,500! (Sold out)
Shiga Kogen Central Area Adult 1-day pass JPY7,000 → JPY6,000! (Sold out)
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi