Reset search
Japan
Satellite

Japan
Yamanouchi Machi

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • TravelerJapan 2020 - Trip 5
      Day 3

      Day 3 - Nagano to Shiga Kogen

      February 24, 2020 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

      We started the day slowly having spent the night at Nagano Mash Cafe & Bed. It was a short walk to Lawsons for some breakfast, then back to the cafe to eat. We strolled a bit of Nagano and boarded the 9:51am train to Yudanaka.

      Here's where the bulk of our near 13km walking began. We strolled the uphill path to Shibu Onsen. Note there seems to be no real distinction, you just arrive in the main street and, oh look we're here, kind of happens. Shibu Onsen is a pretty place for a stroll. Once we were done, we realised we should eat lunch. So back to near the beginning we go to an open restaurant. It was fukuan, a small place run by one man, and the food was fantastic. Kaarage, yakisoba, and gyoza we had. Then we happened to be at a bus stop 3mins before the bus was due.

      Off to the snow monkey Park we went. Oscar was 2yrs old last time, so at 6 he was able to enjoy it more. Dale loved having her camera with her. There was some snow around, but it was by no means snowy. We spent some time here, and got back to the bus stop about 5mins after a bus left. So we waited for the 4:10pm, off to Shiga Kogen.

      By now the kids were stuffed, so were we. Ichinose is quite snowy. But staying at the Prince we ate what was closest, the Chinese Restaurant. Man that place is expensive, but we paid for convenience.      Read more

    • TravelerTrip 6 - The Revisit
      Day 7

      Day 7 - All Mountain Shiga Kogen

      February 24, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

      Day 7 - All Mountain Shiga Kogen

      This morning we began using our 3 day all-mountain passes. Oscar's and mine were purchased at half price via the Go-Nagano site. We went to the linking chair to Diamond, but it does not open until 8:50, we did a warm up run on good old C1 at Prince West.

      After this it was up the link chair, down Diamond, up the small cgair and across the road bridge to Ichinose Family. The top here we were treated to some awesome views, as the lingering cloud was high ove rthe mountains. From here we went straight to Terakoya, where we did a few runs, the snow quality all day was very crunchy, with the occasional patch of ice, and occasional softened snow.

      After Terakoya we headed over to Higashidateyama following the meandering track down to Hoppo Bunadaira. Here at the base of Giant we went and had some morning tea at Alpen Shiga, where we had some delicious pasteries. They are so good and only 250yen.

      From the base of Giant, we decided to head left onto the quad chair and do a run of Nishidateyama. The green run here was nice, so were the views. Next was the run down to the chair and up Takamagahara chair. We did a few runs here, then hit up the pizza place that elSpike recommended. The pizzas were very good, but the fries were outstanding, and only 300yen.

      After our lunch stop, we had a play at Tanne no Mori, and did a few of their short runs. From here it was a run at Family, and back across to Yakebitaiyama, finishing off with a run down good old C1. Then it was definitely onsen time.

      Dinner tonight was at the Junk Food Cafe again, karaage, Hot dogs and chips. Followed by some vending machine Hagan Daas ice cream.      Read more

    • TravelerTrip 6 - The Revisit
      Day 6

      Day 6 - Shiga Kogen

      February 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C

      We woke up early to a slightly cloudy day where the sun tried to poke through. Dale is 13 today, and being wonderful parents we let her get a grape drink that when you shake it, it turns to jelly, and have melon soda at breakfast. The buffet was the same fare as before. Jason seems to try as many different food groups on the one plate.

      We started off at the C chair outside prince west and did a warm up run down C1. The snow is crunchy and was not too soft at this time of morning. We then headed over to A gondola, wanting to hit up the runs over there before they got too chopped up. It was firm and nice to ski on at this stage. From here we went over to the D quad chair, wher ethe kids were wanting to try the remaining 'powder' that was off to the side, both made it out the first time, the second however Oscar took a tumble and managed to do a cartwheel. He was fine. At B South Gondola, we found our first real queues of the trip, the line was not far out the building and moved fast. We even had some single riders join us in the gondola. We have put the crowd down to it also being the Emperors birthday holiday??

      We skied a bit there before heading over to C chair back on the west side. Where lunch was icecream while sitting outside in the sun in light snow. After this, we put the skis away and had some family fun time on the snowbikes at the play area. The snow falling off the building roof was also entertaining. Onsens were had and icecreams again followed. I can rate the Hagan Daas Macadamia Toffee Crispy icecream sandwich. Very nice.

      Tonight dinner is the hotel buffett. Where the choice of steak as our main was the winner, this was a standout along with cheese risotto arancini balls. Dale had a bowl of mango and pineapple as her birthday dessert.      Read more

    • TravelerTrip 6 - The Revisit
      Day 5

      Day 5 - Sunny Shiga Kogen

      February 22, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -7 °C

      Day 5 - Sunny Shiga Kogen
      The sun was out this morning, revealing a beautiful blue sky.

      After a buffet breakfast, they had the mini waffles this morning, yeah. We started off at the quad outside the west wing. We have now pieced together the new numbering system used here. So C chair, where we warmed up on C1. We then made our way over to the B gondola, and skied off there for a bit. The viewpoints were turning it on today, it was stunning. We did a run or two from the D hooded quad, then went over to A gondola for our first time this trip. The views from the top were magic and the mountain range in the distance filled the sky. There were quite a few groups around, as there are 8 buses in the carpark, but they were easily avoided. It was a bit crunchy underfoot over this way, so we headed back to B south gondola, and popped back downstairs for lunch again. Everyone had the pork katsu this time.

      After lunch we headed over to A and then back to C, then back to B, then back to the top of C, where we demolished a pristine snow bank with some snow play and frolicking, the kids jumped, rolled, made houses, threw snow and had a ball. After our run back down to the west, the Kids play area was pretty empty, so we tried our hand at some snow bikes and sleds. Whilst there, the snow from the roof of the hotel was crashing down, and some crashed down into the water in front of the onsen. It also happened while we were in the onsen.

      Dinner tonight was seek and find, we decided to walk into Ichinose. We were headed to the Ramen place suggested by Patrick, but it was shut, so we headed over to the junk food cafe, it was shut, so we ended up at Shiga Kogen Tacos at Shiga Grand. I really enjoyed my food so much we forgot to photograph it. We had tacos, nacho and a quesidilla. Timing our exit with the next hotel courtesy shuttle.      Read more

    • TravelerTrip 6 - The Revisit
      Day 4

      Day 4 - Snowy Shiga Kogen

      February 21, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌫 -10 °C

      Day 4 - Snowy Shiga kogen
      This morning, the view of the carpark from Prince West was snowy and white.

      The snow fell all day and did not stop. It was an epic first day, and the most snow we have ever skiied in. We have 3 days of Yakebitiyama tickets, then onto 3 days all mountain. We started the day with a few runs at the quad chair outside the west wing. Then, we headed over to the south wing gondola where we did a few runs, before hitting up the hooded quad outside east wing. We loved the D1 and D2 runs there, finding lots of powder to play in. The kids and the big kid found out that some powder is too much to move through, and got stuck a few times, always in view of the chair, moreso under it. It was a chilly -11 and the snow did not relent. I found visibility was a struggle at times.

      Lunch was the place under the south gondola, where we like the food, except Dale did not like the chicken curry. Pork katsu for the win. After that we returned to the fun of the hooded quad and the runs off that. I must say I love the silent snow and the squeaks it makes, sure is much nicer than the scrapes of ice and hard snow we are used to in Australia. Here ever time I planted my poles, they squeaked.

      By around 2:30pm we were fading, and cold, so we headed back over to the west wing, via the south goldola, and then down to the west wing of the Prince. Near the Prince we found a lovely stash of powder and had to have a frolick as only Queenslanders could, the kids dove and swam in the powder.

      Onsen was high on the list to warm up, followed by Coolish from the vending machine, then dinner was at the Teppa room,(6,700yen) it was ok, not as good as it was in 2020. Really missing the Nepalese place. We ate and the tried to time our exit out to the bus stop as best we could, as there is no protection from anything, and it was windy, snowy and cold, so at the kids suggestion we huddled like penguins for the 5mins it took for the bus to come.      Read more

    • TravelerTrip 6 - The Revisit
      Day 3

      Day 3 - Nikko, Nagano, Shiga Kogen

      February 20, 2023 in Japan

      Day 3 - Snow time. Nikko - Nagano - Shiga Kogen
      We were up early and out into some beautiful sunshine Nikko displayed for our leaving. We caught the 7:37am train back to Asakusa at 9:33am, then a quick hop on the metro over to Ueno. The plan was to grab some lunch and exchange JR passes for after skiing, but the line was really long and slow, so we just bought our shinkasen tickets for Nagano, from another slow moving line, so we missed the 10:30 train and opted for the 11:30 on instead. These trains were pretty much full. The JR person said to try non-reserved to sit together. Our lunch was a grab something that looks ok from the konbini at Ueno station and head to the platform to line up for non-reserved. We got seats together on a pretty packed train arriving at 12:50.
      At Nagano there was no one in the foreign person part of the JR service centre, but issuing the JR passes took a while, a long while. Then we also booked our journey to Kyoto, and from Osaka back to Tokyo for later in the trip. By this time we did a quick power walk from one side, out of the station, then back the other realising we did have much time to kill, and we wanted to make the 2:15pm Nagano Snow Shuttle. We were one of the first on this quite packed bus. As we were leaving it started to snow, this continued to snow more as we ascended towards Shiga Kogen, at times the road was covered in white. The bus driver put chains on once we reached Shiga Kogen. We have never had that happen before.
      It was snowing big fat flakes on our arrival. We collected our bags delivered by takqbin, and checked in. Then headed back out for food, luckily the shuttle arrived moments after we stepped outside, as the walk in the snow would have not been fun. We went to the junk food cafe for dinner (7,100) and even tried our first crepes. Probably won't try it again, I have a really sweet tooth, but it is just too much. It was freezing cold and still snowing while we waited for a shuttle to return. Daughter and I hit the onsen to warm up, even convinced hubby to take son into the onsen for his first time.
      We ski tomorrow....its looking good.      Read more

    • TravelerJapan 2020 - Trip 5
      Day 9

      Day 9 - Last day at Shiga Kogen

      March 1, 2020 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

      It was another clear day, set to get into single figures, for our last ski day. We had plans to meet up with the ski forum members at 8:30am.

      From here we skied a few runs at Yakebitiyama, then we parted ways and headed over to Diamond and onto Family. Jason tried the black run there, we were glad the rest of us bailed from that. Then we headed back to Yakebitiyama and skied from gondola 1 back to 2, then back to Prince West.

      Here we had a late lunch, then tackled the task of packing the skis and ski gear bag up. We sent each bag to the airport (¥2700 approx each). So we hope to meet up with our ski bags at Narita. We also shipped a clothing bag off to Fujisan, where we'll hopefully meet up with it after our night in Kofu. So we'll just have backpacks for our next overnight stop.

      Dale and I had our last onsen, then for dinner, we dined at the Prince West buffet, using the meal vouchers that we included in our package.      Read more

    • TravelerJapan 2020 - Trip 5
      Day 6

      Day 6 - Shiga Kogen

      February 27, 2020 in Japan ⋅ ❄️ -4 °C

      We woke to find it still snowing, the car park was very white and cars had about 15-20cm on them.

      When we hit the slopes we experienced our first taste of powder snow. Much fun was had making new tracks off to the sides of runs, hubby and the kids found new lines in the trees just on the edge of the runs.

      We moved over to ride the gondola, as this much more pleasant in the snow than the chair. Gondola 2 runs were better than the runs off gondola 1 for us due to more wind at gondy 1. We stopped for an earlish lunch at the dotonburi bowl place under gondola 2 again.

      Then we went back out and enjoyed the snow some more. The good part was that due to the cold (-5 to -10) you didn't get wet at all. The kids wore some snow at times when they stacked it. Jason and I each had an off of our own. One of Dale's stacks in about 40cm of powder had us searching for a ski that came off. Luckily it was found. The onsen was great after a day like today.

      Tonight dinner was at Altopiano in Ischinose. This was up some stairs, that were buried under a whole lot of snow. It continued to snow all through dinner.      Read more

    • TravelerJapan 2020 - Trip 5
      Day 5

      Day 5 - Shiga Kogen

      February 26, 2020 in Japan ⋅ ❄️ -1 °C

      After a snowy night, we woke to a blanket of snow outside the window. So after the standard hotel breakfast fare we suited up and headed out for the lifts. There wasn't really much of a queue, but there were more people around compared to yesterday.

      Visibility was ok down low, but up top of all lifts and gondolas it was very foggy with only about 50m vis in places. The kids had a ball chasing daddy through the trees on the edges of runs

      Before lunch we headed off into the side of a run and had a play in the snow. Snow angels, and a kind of snowman were made. We then lunched at the Prince west wing restaurant.

      Kids and I did some laundry, while hubby lapped the quad chair a few more times. The Dale and I hit the onsen again. We then caught the bus into Ichinose and dined at the fabulous Nepalese place. The naan is amazing, the chicken Tikka was good too.      Read more

    • TravelerJapan 2020 - Trip 5
      Day 4

      Day 4 - Shiga Kogen

      February 25, 2020 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

      Today we woke to a nice morning, got ready and had the hotel breakfast.

      We exchanged our tickets for an electronic pass. Then hit the slopes at Yakebitiyama - the slopes of the Prince Hotel. We made our way from left to right, the kids gaining confidence with every run, they kept going right up the sides of the runs to get more speed going down into the centre.

      We took one wrong turn and needed to head to gondola 2, but we were on a path for gondola 1, so our option was an icy mogul run that the kids ended up butt sliding down. We ended up under gondola 2 for lunch at the dotunburi bowl place.

      During lunch it started snowing, so we did another run back over to Prince West, calling it quits after 2pm. We theb took a lively stroll through the falling snow (something us Queenslanders rarely get to do) to Ichinose. The kids were delighted to see snow monkeys along the way.

      At Ichinose we made a few dinner reservations and then wandered into Shiga grand, and found the hotel lobby that doubles as the Taco place after 3:30pm. It was 3:30pm so we decided to stay for a drink and eat. Then we walked back through the still falling snow to the Prince. Where the Dale and I went and had a relax in the onsen, looking out to the falling snow.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Yamanouchi Machi, 山ノ内町

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

    • 2024© FindPenguins
    • Home
    • About us
    • Blog
    • Group Tracking
    • Press
    • Terms
    • Privacy Policy & Cookies
    • Support
    • Legal notice
    • English