REPORT

The third snowfall of the season so far, following earlier snow on 10/28 (Wed.) and 11/3 (Tue., public holiday), left every slope across Shiga Kogen once more covered in white. At 7 a.m. on 11/8 (Sun.), the cold blowing wind made it feel even colder than the -3°C shown on my thermometer. As light snow continued to fall, the clouds briefly cleared to reveal the summit of Higashidateyama (pictured), where the trees were coated in brilliant rime ice. The scene was so striking that I stopped for a while simply to take it in.
[Higashidateyama]

Snow began appearing even along the roadside shortly after I passed Bodairabashi Bridge (1,200 m) on National Route 292. Up to 1 cm of dry fresh snow had accumulated at the base of the Sun Valley Ski Area, the gateway to Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort. I continued carefully toward the Kumanoyu Ski Resort, where icy sections of the road had become slippery.
[Nagano Prefectural Route 471]

Snowmaking was running at full capacity on the 2nd Beginner Course (pictured) at Kumanoyu Ski Resort, as well as on the Kaiwa Slope at Yokoteyama-Shibutoge Ski Resort, both of which are scheduled to open on 11/14 (Sat.). I spoke with a member of the Yokoteyama-Shibutoge staff who told me, “The cold weather is expected to continue into next week, so we should be able to make rapid progress with snowmaking. For everyone following Snownavi, please check the official website for the latest information on whether the resort will open as scheduled!”
[Kumanoyu・No. 2 Beginner Course]

The frost-covered landscape around the Maeyama Summer Lift (pictured), where the chairs have already been removed following the end of summer operations, was just as beautiful as anywhere else. A man from Tokyo told me, “I came to photograph the snowy scenery, but it’s even colder than I expected. The rime ice is absolutely beautiful, though.” Plenty of other visitors had also come equipped with large cameras to capture the wintry landscapes.
[Maeyama]

　　
＊Shiga Kogen’s 2026–27 winter season is scheduled to run from 11/14/2026 to late May 2027.
　　　　
＊Special Offer! Advance Discount Lift Tickets
YAKEBITAIYAMA Adult 1-day pass JPY8,000 → JPY6,000！（Until Dec. 1）
KUMANOYU Adult 1-day pass JPY7,000 → JPY6,500！ (*On sale 11/1 to 3/)
　
＊Click here to purchase photos found in this report

reported by Snownavi