A summary of recommended ski resorts in Chukyo and Kansai | A collection of unique resorts with plenty of powdery snow during the peak season

2024/01/31

Of the three prefectures of Gifu, Aichi, and Mie that make up the Chukyo region, Gifu Prefecture has about 15 ski resorts. Most of Gifu's ski resorts are located in the Oku-Mino area, and are scattered throughout the mountains surrounding the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. Let's take a look at what kind of ski resorts they are!

The Okumino area is full of unique features that will make you want to ski around

During the peak season, you can enjoy powder riding on the soft, smooth snow, but the ski resorts in the Oku-Mino area are well-positioned to ensure a long season by making good use of artificial snow

Each ski resort offers a wide variety of options, including plenty of ungroomed areas, long courses where you can enjoy high-speed carving turns, exciting mogul courses, and highly functional parks where everyone from beginners to advanced skiers can improve their skills.As a competitive ski resort area, the Oku-Mino area's ski resorts are all unique and appealing

INDEX

[Ski resorts in the Chubu area]
Okumino, easily accessible from Nagoya

Experience the thrill of a packed ride with just one lift ride!
Snowwave Park Shiratori Kogen

This resort was quick to adopt the latest ice crushing system, allowing it to open in mid-November with artificial snow – a groundbreakingly early start to the season. Known as a hidden area for heavy snowfall, it frequently experiences sudden, heavy snowfalls, offering the chance to hit some real powder.

A key feature of this resort is its high degree of freedom, with no course restrictions on the slopes, allowing skiers to ski anywhere, including under the lifts – a welcome attraction for skiers. The natural terrain is rich and varied, with plenty of steep slopes and gaps. Its proud large natural ravines and waves are the reason it's called "Snow Wave Park." The entire resort feels like a giant park. And yet,

the park itself is incredibly well-equipped, with over 20 different features during peak season. The large kicker, in particular, is a famous attraction. Furthermore, it boasts Japan's longest sledding course, stretching 2km. A ski resort like this, with so much fun packed into such a compact mountain, is truly unique.

◆Official Website:http://www.siratori-k.jp/swp/

Winghills Shiratori Resort offers everything: moguls, ungroomed areas, and a snow park.

Even within the Okumino area, where many ski resorts are concentrated, Winghills stands out with its sophisticated and vibrant atmosphere. This is due to the fact that it is managed by the famous shop "Alpen," and offers a variety of services that meet the needs of the times.

Utilizing an ice crushing system (snowmaking machine), the season starts in early November. It boasts a highly mobile 6-person gondola, a high-quality park, a natural hot spring at the base, a panoramic restaurant at an altitude of 1,000m, and, most notably, an impressive selection of rental gear. They reportedly stock 2,000 items, mainly the latest models.

The slopes are laid out with a gondola that takes you straight to the top, and then splits into three courses. The lineup includes a 2.8km downhill, a full-fledged mogul course, and ungroomed courses where you can enjoy their renowned powder. In addition, a self-responsibility skiing area was introduced last season, making it a truly amazing, cutting-edge ski resort that continues to evolve each season.

◆Official Website:https://winghills.net/snow/

Japan's longest operating hours – "Yoru Dyna"
at Dynaland, where

With a total of 17 courses, Dynaland boasts one of the largest scales in western Japan. Along with Takasu Snow Park, which is connected at the mountaintop, it is known for being constantly bustling with activity from morning till night throughout the season.

The reason for this is its famous night skiing, "Yoru Dyna," which is open until 11 PM every day. It boasts one of the longest night rides in Japan, stretching 2,800 meters. And on weekends, holidays, and during the New Year period, it opens as early as 6 AM with "Asa Dyna." Combining morning and night hours, it offers the longest operating hours in Japan, up to 17 hours. Not only is the time long, but the longest run is also an impressive 3,200 meters.

The courses take advantage of the terrain and are diverse, with newly built tree run courses, moguls, downhill, and park courses.

◆Official Website:https://www.dynaland.co.jp/

Enjoy double the scale
at Takasu Snow Park with a combined ticket for Dynaland | TAKASU SNOWPARK

With an altitude of 1,550m, the snow quality is excellent, making this a ski resort that powder lovers will love. You can also use a combined ticket to ski at Dynaland, which is connected to the top of the slope. Takasu Snow Park is on a scale comparable to Dynaland, so you can freely move between the two big slopes, doubling the fun

With a longest run of 4,800m and two other long courses exceeding 4,000m, it's perfect for enjoying long cruising runs. A 2,700m-long gondola with a capacity of 15 people takes you up to the top of the slopes at an altitude of 1,550m, so even on bad weather days you can ski down without getting cold.

Takasu Snow Park is expanding its ungroomed courses year by year. You can enjoy powder to your heart's content on the tree run course on the north-facing slope. For those who enjoy jumping, the snow park is popular for its wide range of features, including a superpipe that meets world standards, measuring approximately 120m in length and 7m in height.

◆Official Website:https://www.takasu.gr.jp/

Meiho, the highest point in Okumino at 1,600m, offers a magnificent panoramic view

Meihō Ski Resort, at 1,600m, boasts the highest elevation in the Okumino area. From the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views of the majestic Northern Alps and the Hakusan mountain range.

While 80% of the 14 courses are for beginners and intermediate skiers, there is a wide variety of runs, including a steep 38-degree slope, a long course with a maximum run length of 5,000m, a tree-lined course exceeding 1,000m, and a wide run with a maximum width of 200m. The high-speed quad chairlift makes it convenient to efficiently get around.

The photo shows the advanced "γ900" course. This 900m course from the summit has a maximum slope of 34 degrees. The morning after a snowfall, you can enjoy powder snow, and when it doesn't snow, it becomes a long natural mogul run. It is said that there are few mogul slopes this long.

◆Official Website:https://www.meihoski.co.jp/winter/

Saturday night is an all-night event on a grand scale at
Washigatake | WASHIGATAKE

The 35-degree wall on the advanced course is so scary it's nicknamed "Sadako."

Located just 3 minutes from the Takasu Interchange on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, Washigatake Ski Resort boasts an incredibly convenient location, allowing you to arrive without having to drive on snowy roads. Equipped with numerous snow machines, it offers consistent conditions even during seasons with little snow.

Washigatake's signature feature is its Saturday all-night operation, the only resort in Gifu Prefecture offering non-stop long runs from 6 AM to 6 PM the following day. Its large park, one of the largest in the area, is another reason for its popularity, attracting many repeat skiers and snowboarders who enjoy jumping. With

13 courses in total, including a wide 400m-wide run, it offers a sense of openness. Three of the five lifts are quad chairlifts, ensuring excellent mobility. The forest courses and long, advanced runs are also popular. A shared lift ticket allows access to the neighboring Whitepia Takasu, which boasts 26 courses—one of the largest in Western Japan.

◆Official Website:https://ski.washigatake.jp/

[Kansai Area]
Ski resorts in Shiga and Hyogo Prefectures

Lake View, No. 1 Ski Resort in the Keihanshin Area
: Biwako Valley

Located just 40 minutes from the Kyoto East Interchange, Biwako Valley is easily accessible and stands out as one of the most popular ski resorts in the Keihanshin area. The reason for its popularity is undoubtedly its beautiful location, where you can enjoy exhilarating riding while overlooking Lake Biwa. Furthermore, by supplementing natural snow with artificial snow, it maintains excellent conditions with abundant snowfall and consistent snow quality throughout the season.

The resort has a layout of nine courses, and you can access the summit directly from the bottom by ropeway. Six of the nine courses arelong, offering plenty of skiing enjoyment. There are courses with natural moguls, tree runs through beautiful forests, and ungroomed courses that are opened when it snows, allowing you to enjoy a variety of diverse courses.

A highly popular spot that makes Biwako Valley a "must-visit" is the "Biwako Terrace," located at the summit at an altitude of 1,000m. This designer space has a luxurious feel reminiscent of a European resort, and from the deck you can enjoy the breathtaking view of Lake Biwa, considered the best in Japan.

◆Official Website:https://www.biwako-valley.com/winter/

Ranked number 1 in Japan's ski resort popularity rankings! GRANSNOW OKUIBUKI

Just 50 minutes from Nagoya, 80 minutes from Kyoto, and 100 minutes from Osaka, and only 30 minutes from the highway exit for those traveling by car in the Kansai and Chubu regions, it's perfect for a day trip. The parking lot is mega-sized, accommodating 2,700 cars, and there's even an elevator that takes you directly to the slopes, making getting there from the parking lot very convenient.

The slopes have a deep course layout, offering a variety of free skiing courses including powder, steep slopes, and long runs. Of the 14 courses, there are four expert courses and one exclusively for skiers. With a maximum slope of 46 degrees, touted as the steepest in Japan, ungroomed courses, tree runs through beech forests, a mogul run that produced Olympia, and of course a snow park, it offers plenty to suit your skill level and preferences.

On clear days, you can enjoy beautiful views of Mount Ontake and the distant Hakuba mountain range, which is another of its attractions. In addition, the slopes are filled with live music by a DJ, creating a happy atmosphere, and there are various special service days, making it a ski resort packed with things to delight guests. It's no wonder that it was ranked number one in the nationwide ski resort popularity ranking (according to Weather News'2020-21 nationwide ski resort popularity ranking).

◆Official Website:okuibuki.co.jp

*Information current as of the end of January 2024. Please refer to the official website of each ski resort for details


Top elevation : 1,276m	Longest run: 2,500m	Altitude difference 176m	maximum slope 29°


11 courses	3 lifts	Gondola base	Ropeway - Book


Top elevation : 1,350m	Longest run: 3,500m	Altitude difference 480m	maximum slope 35°


Number of courses: 9	3 lifts	One gondola	Ropeway - Book


Top elevation : 1,430m	Longest run: 3,200m	Elevation difference: 447m	maximum slope 38°

A summary of recommended ski resorts in Chukyo and Kansai | A collection of unique resorts with plenty of powdery snow during the peak season

[Ski resorts in the Chubu area]Okumino, easily accessible from Nagoya

Experience the thrill of a packed ride with just one lift ride!Snowwave Park Shiratori Kogen

Winghills Shiratori Resort offers everything: moguls, ungroomed areas, and a snow park.

Japan's longest operating hours – "Yoru Dyna"at Dynaland, where

Enjoy double the scaleat Takasu Snow Park with a combined ticket for Dynaland | TAKASU SNOWPARK