mysnowjapan 0 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I'm a boarder, joining some skier friends on a trip to Shiga Kogen next week. I heard that the resorts there aren't 100% open to snowboarders, so I checked out their website and found the following bizarre text: "Snowboarders need to carry skis until mid April when the Shiga-Kusatu Route will be open." See for yourself: http://shigakogen.gr.jp/english/snow/ski.html I can't seriously believe this is meant to be taken literally... does anyone have any ideas? Do they mean, I'll need skis *if* I want to transit the entire area, or something? I just want to turn up and board a bit - someone tell me it's possible? (First post, btw - be gentle) Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted January 28, 2006 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted January 28, 2006 Hi there That is a little confusing. Basically the Yokoteyama part of Shiga Kogen is skiers-only. Behind Yokoteyama is an area called Shibutoge - and the only way to get to Shibutoge (until late spring) is via Yokoteyama... because of all of the snow that blocks the road off up there. Shibutoge allows snowboarders. So what I think they are meaning is that if you want to snowboard at Shibutoge when that road is blocked off, you'll have to carry your board up there. Not many people do that, which is why you will see Shibutoge saying they get 99% skiers. When spring arrives and the road opens up again, you can drive up to Shibutoge (from either Shiga Kogen or Kusatsu) and snowboard there. It's worth pointing out that Shibutoge is only a small area, so it's no real loss (though the views from the top are incredible on a fine day). You will have plenty of runs to choose from, no need to worry. Hope that makes some sense! You should have a great time there. We took some a lot of photos this last week: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo.php?userid=ShigaKogenNow Link to post Share on other sites
mysnowjapan 0 Posted January 28, 2006 Author Share Posted January 28, 2006 Ah, I see. That makes sense. I think actually know that road from Kusatsu; my rental car navi system tried to take me through it one January. We got a couple of miles up into the hills only to be confronted with the road disappearing under a piste, and families happily skiing right past our front bumper. Thanks for the info; glad to hear I won't have to learn to ski over the next five days... Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted January 28, 2006 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted January 28, 2006 Quote: We got a couple of miles up into the hills only to be confronted with the road disappearing under a piste, and families happily skiing right past our front bumper. That's the one! A nice drive from late April until November..... Hope you enjoy it, remember to take some pics now! Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted January 28, 2006 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted January 28, 2006 Here's the Shibutoge page http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=262 Link to post Share on other sites
mysnowjapan 0 Posted January 28, 2006 Author Share Posted January 28, 2006 Heh, you weren't kidding... 99% skiers! Think I'll be giving that one a miss, then. Seems like a massive area, though, so I'll do some research on the other resorts in the vicinity. I don't know exactly where we're staying yet, but as I understand it it's quite easy to get around. Thanks again. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted January 28, 2006 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted January 28, 2006 It is a very big area and apart from Kumanoyu/Yokoteyama/Shibutoge it's all connected. But those 3 are all skiers-only so you won't be minding about that. The resort at the other extreme, Okushiga Kogen, is also skiers-only. That still leaves a very big area for you to enjoy though! Link to post Share on other sites
SnowConnection 0 Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 Yes, SJ4 is right. Kumanoyu area is a separate one (skiers only) to whole Shiga Kogen resort, the right side of the picture map. http://shigakogen.gr.jp/english/snow/ski.html The Japanse page reads; 1. For Kidoike, *Snowboarding is restricted when the ski run is being used for the school excursion program. 2. For Shibutoge, *Snowboarders need to carry skis until mid April when the Shiga-Kusatu Route will be open. The English page must need the corrections. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I wonder what those 1% of guys are thinking? Is it worth it? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted January 30, 2006 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted January 30, 2006 We have contacted them about this... Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Those 1% of snowboarders will surely be people riding there in spring when you can drive up there. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 From what Ive heard Shiga is just old, old, old,old,old,old school skiers. Like ice-age old... There is an area across from Kumanoyu where boarders can go. Is that one of the names thats already listed above? I saw all the boarders in the powder and all the skiers on that one run Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Boarders are ok on the majority of SK - I'm pretty sure it's just Yokoteyama/Kumanoyu in the south part and Okushiga in the northern part that don't allow boarders. Link to post Share on other sites
number9 0 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Shiga's a nice big mountain, I've only been there one day at a time, but would like to spend several days there to go check out all the different areas and runs. You still get a very big resort excluding the ski-only runs. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Yes thats the point I wanted to make but didn't ----- it is huge. Link to post Share on other sites
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