Hello! I'm Espeyuki!
I shoot photos of snowy mountains all over Japan and share local information!
The place where I have eaten the most ski resort food is Shiga Kogen. It is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, with an area of 1,200m and a maximum elevation of 2,307m, and many other top-class features. There are also over 40 restaurants offering ski resort food, the most of any place I have visited in Japan
Even if you visit two places every weekend, you still can't visit them all in one season! This is a ski resort that is perfect for eating and skiing, not just walking around
A ski resort food expert's analysis! What is the ski resort food situation in Shiga Kogen?
First of all, I think the reason why Shiga Kogen has so many restaurants serving ski resort food is because of a combination of the following factors
- Because of the large size, lunch must be provided in each area (toilets and ticket sales)
- Because it is far from the city and there are many guests, meals must be eaten locally
- There are many inns and other establishments on the slopeside that can provide lunch
There are also restaurants run by the lift operators, but there are far more restaurants than that, and they are very popular. Each restaurant has its own dedicated fan base, as they all have very different atmospheres, characteristics, and menus
As for the sweets scene at Shiga Kogen, because of the characteristics mentioned above, visitors tend to be spread out, and there are no shops offering "crepes on your way home" like those found at other ski resorts. Instead, many shops have the equipment (refrigerated showcases, etc.) to serve desserts
Looking at the customers, we can see that many people order a sweet as an additional item on top of their main menu, satisfying their sweet cravings (?). As a result, more and more restaurants are offering sweets in addition to lunch, allowing customers to choose from a variety of unique menus
This time, I'd like to introduce some of my recommended sweets!
Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga "Basque Cheesecake"
Hotel Grand Phoenix Okushiga is located in the Okushiga Kogen area of Shiga Kogen
There are three restaurants for ski resort food here: La Stella Alpina (Italian), which serves Milanese lasagna and which I introduced on Matsuko's Unknown World (appeared on "The World of Ski Resorts" aired on January 24, 2023); Kagaribi (Japanese/Chinese), which serves delicious thick-fried noodles; and Largo, the lounge and bar that I will introduce this time
The lounge has a fireplace and sofas that you can sit back and relax in forever. I usually go to the lounge after eating Italian or Chinese food, but sometimes I end up arriving after 3pm and have to give up on skating
The recommended dessert here is the "Premium Basque Cheesecake Set," which is available for a limited time and in limited quantities, and is generally available on weekends during the ski season
You might be surprised by the dark browned surface, but the inside is not as cooked as a regular cheesecake, allowing you to enjoy the rich cream cheese flavor. We recommend eating it alternately with the baked apples that come with it and tea
We hope you all enjoy the time-consuming ski resorts
Lounge & Bar "Largo"
Opening hours: 10:00-22:30 (LO)
Location: Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort, Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga. Direct access to both the slopes and the parking lot.
Official website: https://www.hotelgrandphenix.co.jp/restaurant/lounge.html
Hotel Berg "Strawberry Tart"
Hotel Berg is located on the slopes of Giant Ski Resort, one of the most difficult areas in Shiga Kogen. This cafe is a popular shop in the central area of Shiga Kogen and serves a variety of cakes
The recommended dessert here is the strawberry tart!
They are not lined up in the refrigerated display case, so you will have to ask the staff directly if they have any left. They are generally only available on weekends
For an additional 300 yen, you can add coffee or tea to the set
Hmm? There are other cakes too. Berg's cakes are always good, so when I want to take my time, I order several!
If you've been discouraged by the Giant's Wall, please come here to recover
Cafe Berg
opening hours: 10:00-20:00 (except sweets until around 15:00)
Location: Giant Ski Resort, near the lift station, inside Hotel Berg. Enter directly from the slopes, but you will need to cross the slopes from the parking lot.
Official website: https://www.shigakogen.jp/berg/
Hotel Takimoto "Mountain vegetable and cheese pound cake, vegetable parfait, butterbur sweets"
Hotel Takimoto is located at the foot of Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Resort in the central area of Shiga Kogen. Because it is a little secluded, it is a hidden gem of a ski resort that you might not notice unless you know where it is. The menu was completely revamped in 2024, and now offers a menu carefully selected by the chef
The recommended dessert here is "Mountain Vegetable and Cheese Pound Cake Vegetable Parfait with Butterbur Sweets." What a long name!
It uses a lot of ingredients that aren't usually used in sweets (butterbur sprouts!?), but it's made with an exquisite balance, and it's fresh and delicious. The colors and presentation are great, so it looks great
When you want to eat something sweet that you can't find anywhere else, this is the dish for you
Hotel Takimoto
Opening hours: 11:30-13:00
Location: Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Resort, opposite the slopes
Official website: https://www.takimoto.in
Crepe Cafe Yukiusagi "Espe Special"
Yukiusagi Crepe Cafe is located in Ichinose Family Ski Resort in the central area of Shiga Kogen. It is the only crepe shop in Shiga Kogen
The recommended dessert here is called "ESP Special."
Yukiusagi is a little larger than a regular crepe (note: based on a 120kg weight), but that doesn't seem too big. Outside of busy times, you can customize the fillings of your crepes, so Espe Special is made to the maximum size that can be wrapped in the batter
I often hear people say things like, "This is something you can eat without dinner" or "The whole family of four ate this," but this is a snack♪
The shop owner has decided to stuff the inside of the dough with strawberries and bananas, making this a luxurious treat that can be enjoyed at a very reasonable price. Because it takes time and effort to make, we recommend ordering the "ESP Special" when it is not busy
If the restaurant is crowded or you feel like you can't finish your meal, take-out is available, so please feel free to use it. The restaurant is open late, so it's recommended to come after you've finished skiing
If you want to try a monster crepe that you can't find anywhere else, be sure to give it a try
Crepe Cafe Yukiusagi
Opening hours: 15:00-22:00 (LO 21:30) Varies depending on the day of the week
Location: Ichinose area, tenant within Silver Shiga, a short walk from the slopes
Official SNS: https://twitter.com/shiga_yukiusagi
Many other desserts
There are so many restaurants that it would be impossible to introduce them all! There are many other recommended restaurants besides the ones introduced this time, so please try exploring them
Dessert pizza at Takamagahara Hotel
Restaurant Takama
Opening hours: 11:00-15:00 (dessert pizza recommended after 14:00)
Location: Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Resort Takamagahara Hotel
Official SNS: http://www.takamagahara-hotel.co.jp
Restaurant Aspen's apple pie filled with chunks of apples
Restaurant Aspen
opening hours: 10:00-14:00 (sweets are served until around 15:00)
Location: Giant Ski Resort, below the lift station, Aspen Shiga. Enter directly from the slopes, but you must cross the slopes from the parking lot.
Official website: https://www.aspen-shiga.com
Cakes baked by the proprietress of New Yokote
NEW SIDE CAFE
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00 (approximate). Cakes and drinks may be served for an extended period.
Location: Yokoteyama Ski Resort, 1st slope, New Yokote. Access directly from the slope.
Official website: https://www.new-yokote.com
Restaurant Monte More 's special cakes
Restaurant Monte More
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00 The cafe may have extended opening hours
Location: Maruike Hotel, base of Maruike Ski Resort Accessible from both the slopes and the parking lot
Official website: https://maruike-hotel.com
lastly
What did you all think of this article?
Sweets are a fun field to explore because they clearly show the maker's attention to detail and trial and error. Gere food from all over Japan is introduced on social media and YouTube, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out
We also welcome any recommendations for great food!