Japan: February 2026: Day 8: Shiga-Kogen

Japan

Feb 2026: Day 8: Shiga-Kogen

More skiers from the tour now staying at Yudanaka Yumoto.

Breakfast.

Fresh snow overnight.

Going up Shiga-kogen Hasuike.

Cold and snowing.

So much fresh snow.

Covered lift chairs FTW.

Yes, everyone is cold.

Back at Ichinose.

Listening to our guide.

Oden and karaage for snack.

Aka, was trying to warm up.

Really snowing now.

Into the trees.

Yes, I am cold.

Boot-deep fresh snow and trees.

Helping out Mark, one of the snowboarders.

More trees.

Phil looking sharp.

Even more snow.

Lunch for the guide.

More ramen and karaage.

Beautiful and snowy.

Almost ready to call it a day.

Ice cream to end the day.

Kappa Sushi in Nakano.

Aka conveyor belt sushi.

Ran short of table space when orders started arriving all at once.

Duck was okay.

16 plates including Chris' to-go.

The aftermath. I think Japan Powder Culture Tours had 8 tables total? (48 people!)

Time to go back.

Some other Japan Powder Culture Tour skiiers arrived at Yudanaka Yumoto and hence our group for breakfast grew-- more Aussies, which seemed to comprise a big chunk of their customers; Kiwis, Brits, Canadians, and Americans the rest.

Day four on the mountain meant that the groups had more or less solidified, and today's guide, Brett, did a great job helping us brave through the fresh, still-falling-snow and the cold. Some very familiar ski areas by now, although we started at Shiga-kogen Hasuike and ended upat Takamagahara, which were both new to me (or maybe not?), and due to the chilly weather, we did an early stop for oden and karaage (and warmth). Brett ended up totally revitalized after our brief stop, and the rest of the day was strong.

Felt like we did quite a few laps on the same bit of side country in Terakoya, due to the great powder in the area. Two things were a bit tricky, one of which was perspective-- had to be aware of where you were going, less you end up on the wrong side of the mountain, and you actually dropped quite a bit cutting through the trees, so much that it was easy to come out too low.

Somewhere in there was lunch (same place as the morning, more karaage and also ramen, yum!), and some terrific views despite the absolutely frigid weather (down to -15 degrees C?). Dinner at the conveyor belt sushi place (Kappa Sushi) in Nakano was fun as well, not to mention affordable as hell, although a bit frustrating as half the group didn't seem to understand iPad ordering very well.

The main wrinkle of the day (and the trip) was Chris, skiing with one of the advanced groups, ended up crashing into a tree and breaking two ribs. At least he was skiing right behind his group's guide, Kam, and ended up efficiently taken care of. As skiing out of bounds is not allowed, Chris, fueled by adrenaline, made it out of the trees and back on-piste, where ski patrol then hauled him off the mountain and into an ambulance, where he was in and out of Nakano General Hospital in two hours, although without much more than a chest wrap and a day's worth of over the counter painkilers. Ouch.