GRANSNOW Okuibuki is located in the northern area of Maibara city in Shiga Prefecture - in the mountains to the east of the northern part of Lake Biwa. It is one of the larger ski hills in the Kansai region and many people visit from the Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya regions. It has been operating since 1970 and to celebrate 50 years, the resort has renamed itself from 'Oku Ibuki' to 'GRANSNOW Okuibuki' for the 2019-2020 season.
The 'New Challenge' course features a steepest gradient of 46 degrees, allowing the resort to boast about it being the 'steepest in Japan'. For the 2019-2020 season they seem to be concentrating on claiming that the Number 3 quad lift is the 'fastest lift in Japan' as well as the area being on the receiving end of the heaviest/deepest snowfall in the world. (Yes... the world). 11.82m. We're going on what they're saying with these things, so just the messanger! Whatever, this region certainly does usually enjoy plenty and very good snow conditions.
Shiga Prefecture is part of the Kansai region in the western region of the main island of Honshu. Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater in Japan located at the centre of Shiga Prefecture. Most of the ski hills in Shiga Prefecture are found in the region to the north west of Lake Biwa. Be sure not to confuse Shiga Prefecture with the popular ‘Shiga Kogen’ resort region of Nagano Prefecture – they are un-related.
The Mountain
1250m
550m
700m
46"
12
2500m
9
30%
40%
30%
Skiers 50%
Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
Boarders 50%
0
0
1
1
7
0
0
GRANSNOW Okuibuki Snow Depth Statistics
Official snow depth numbers from the current season and previous season
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at GRANSNOW Okuibuki.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available. Ski and snowboard wear rental is also available.
Children's facilities
The 'Chibbiko' childrens area is next to the Resthouse building by the base area. It features various items and activities and covered moving walkway and that costs 1,000 yen (free with valid lift ticket). Open from 8:00am until 4:45pm.
Park information
The 'Snow Park' is off the Number 3 quad lift and features a bunch of items.
GRANSNOW Okuibuki Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Mid December until Early April
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
No
Weekdays
No
Opening information
GRANSNOW Okuibuki is normally open from 8:00am until 5:00pm.
There is no nighta at this ski hill.
GRANSNOW Okuibuki Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Elementary School age & under
Older Child
Junior High School age
Senior
60 years & over
1 Day (weekends & holidays)
4,800 yen
3,000 yen
3,500 yen
3,500 yen
1 Day (weekdays)
4,200 yen
3,000 yen
3,500 yen
3,500 yen
Afternoon (weekends & holidays)
3,800 yen
2,000 yen
2,500 yen
Afternoon (weekdays)
3,200 yen
2,000 yen
2,500 yen
1 Lift Voucher
350 yen
350 yen
350 yen
350 yen
10 Lift Vouchers
3,000 yen
3,000 yen
3,000 yen
3,000 yen
Tunnel Ticket
1,000 yen
1,000 yen
1,000 yen
1,000 yen
Season Ticket (all)
48,000 yen
20,000 yen
30,000 yen
35,000 yen
Season Ticket (weekdays)
32,000 yen
20,000 yen
30,000 yen
35,000 yen
January + February
38,000 yen
A 500 yen returnable deposit is required for lift tickets.
Getting to GRANSNOW Okuibuki
By public transport
Train
34.3km from Maibara Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen line
24.4km from Omi Nagaoka Station on the Tokaido Honsen Line
34.3km from Maibara Station on the Hokuriku Honsen Line
Information
GRANSNOW Okuibuki is just over 24km from Omi Nagaoka Station on the Tokaido Honsen line.
Bus
A bus service to the resort is available from Omi Nagaoka Station.
A bus service is also available from Maibara Station and takes about 55 minutes.
By Car
28.3km from the Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
31.5km from the Maihara IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
30.9km from the Sekigahara IC on the Meishin Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 365 (21km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 40
Direction
GRANSNOW Okuibuki is about 23km from Route 365 on Prefecture Road 40.
It is about 30 minutes drive from the Maihara IC exit on the Hokuriku Expressway and 40 minutes from the Sekigahara IC exit of the Meishin Expressway using Route 365.
Parking is 500 yen on weekdays and 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays - free with valid season ticket. Parking is available for 2700 vehicles over 10 different car parks!
If you are interested in ski areas from Japan's past, please check the new SnowJapanHistory
2020-2021 season ski area information on SnowJapan will be checked & updated through November. In the meantime, unless otherwise noted, information is from the 2019-2020 season.
For more details and explanations about the information presented on this page,
please read this.
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Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
