Shiga Highlands 3.37

Shiga Highlands is a ski resort and hiking spot, located in the Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park in the highlands of Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan. In 1980, an area of 13,000 ha was designated a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve.Ski resortAt 4.25 square kilometres (1.64 sq mi), Shiga-kōgen is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan and the world. The resort is made up of many smaller, interconnected resorts, with 71 lifts in total. Starting in winter 2015-16 all of Shiga-kōgen will be open to skiers and snowboarders.The resort was the site of several events in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. There are more than 100 hotels in the area, with both Japanese style or washitsu (和室), Western style or semi-Japanese style rooms.Ski seasonShiga-kōgen has one of the longest ski seasons in Japan with the official ski season commencing from mid-to-late November and continuing throughout April and until Golden Week, the first week of May.Christmas and the New Year's season is the peak period in Shiga-kōgen during the Japanese school holiday break. From April 1 onward, the spring ski season begins with lift ticket discounts offered and the Maruike, Hasuike, and Sunvalley ski areas cease operation.TransportationDuring the ski season, the free Shiga-kōgen Ski Shuttle Bus is provided for transportation across the ski resorts and various ski fields and hotel areas. The buses are usually quite punctual to the minute but this can vary with the weather conditions so it is recommended that guests take an earlier bus where possible. During the season, the shuttle bus between resorts operates Monday to Sunday unless there is a severe snow or other weather warning, which can often see services terminate early.