REPORT

The Okushiga Kogen Ski Area kicked off its season on 12/13 (Sat.) with 100% natural snow, and a total of six courses were open for skiing: the 1st Slope, the Expert Slope, the 3rd Slope, the 4th Slope, the Rinkan Course, and Kids Rinkan Course. Perhaps because an announcement on the official X account the day before opening said the Expert Course would open ungroomed, a line had already formed at the 2nd Rapid Pair Lift (1,555 m) before 8 a.m. this morning.
[Okushiga・Expert Course]

As the 2nd Rapid Pair Lift began operating at 8:30 a.m., the perfectly smooth surface of the Expert Course came into view during the ride up, and my excitement rose instantly. “Once you experience Shiga’s powder, there’s nowhere else you’ll want to go. I’m really looking forward to skiing the ungroomed Expert Course,” said the skier at the front of the line from Niigata Prefecture. A skier from Nagano City who had just come down the course (pictured) added, “That was an incredible run!”
[Okushiga・Expert Course]

I met a family from Nakano City (pictured), who told me, “We always check your reports. We came out today because the Expert Course was opening ungroomed. It was fantastic!” On the Expert Course, I was able to enjoy outstanding float with no bottoming out at all. The 4th Slope (pictured) offered excellent packed-powder conditions, with snow that was moderately firm and ideal for skiing.
[Okushiga・4th Slope]

The other groomed runs were also in great shape, with moderately firm packed-powder conditions throughout. A man I met on the 3rd Slope said, “It’s just the right length and perfect for practice. The snow quality is so good it almost tricks you into thinking you’ve suddenly gotten better.” Access to the neighboring Yakebitaiyama is open as of this morning.
[Okushiga – No. 4 Slope]

＊The No. 4 Pair Lift at Okushiga Kogen (pictured) will be out of operation from 12/15 (Mon.) to 12/19 (Fri.).
＊Ichinose Family and Takamagahara Mammoth have been connected via Tanne-no-Mori Okojo since 12/5 (Fri.), allowing skiers and riders to move easily between the two areas.
＊The base depth at the top of this report reflects the maximum depth across all of Shiga Kogen. Currently, the highest recorded depth of 60 cm is at Yakebitaiyama and Okushiga.
　
[Shiga Kogen Details on 12/15 (Sat.)]
*Available Courses … (OKUSHIGA) No.1, No2 Expert, No3, No.4 (YAKEBITAIYAMA) Panorama, South (YOKOTEYAMA) Kaiwa, No.1, No.2, (KUMANOYU) No.2A, No.2 Begginer, No.3 Begginer, Umanose, No.4A, No.4 Bigginer (ICHINOSE FAMILY) Bottom part of Shomen, (TAKAMAGAHARA) Bottom part of Takamagahara Monmoth
*Available Lifts … (OKUSHIGA) No.2 Rapid Pair, (YAKEBITAIYAMA) No.2 Gondola (YOKOTEYAMA) 1st Sky B, 4th Pair, (KUMANOYU) 2nd Pair A & B, (ICHINOSE FAMILY) 2nd Pair A & B, (TAKAMAGAHARA) 2nd Triple
*Fees … OKUSHIGA Adults JPY6,000, 13 to 18 y/o JPY5,100, 6 to 12 y/o JPY 3,000, Over 60 y/o JPY5,500 / YOKOTEYAMA Adults JPY6,000, Junior & Senior High JPY5,300, Elementary JPY3,000, Ages 60+ JPY5,500 (until 12/19) / KUMANOYU Early Season 1-Day Pass Adults JPY6,200, Junior & Senior High JPY5,500, Elementary & Under JPY3,000, Ages 60+ JPY5,900 (until 12/19) / CENTRAL AREA Adults JPY5,600, Elementary & Under JPY2,800 (until 12/19) / YAKEBITAIYAMA Adult JPY6,500, 13 to 18 y/o JPY5,400, Over 60 y/o JPY5,900

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi