A ski resort that bursts with sheer appeal in the Gifu area is one that is operated by Alpen (a major Japanese sporting and outdoor goods retail chain) and comes with its own hot springs—The WINGHILLS SHIROTORI RESORT. Access can be difficult when weather conditions are poor due to its location deep in the snowy mountains of Gifu, but visitors won’t regret the trek as powder snow awaits on the slopes upon taking a gondola directly to the top of the mountain. Hardcore fans have their eyes glued on this location for the incredible powder snow after a night of snowfall because it offers one of the best experiences in the area.
This ski resort is still very much unknown amongst skiers and snowboarders from overseas, making this one of the biggest hidden treasures in the Gifu area. It also happens to be home to the only seated gondola in the prefecture, which has garnered it some well-deserved popularity for the comfort it offers.
There’s plenty in store for families with children. Mothers and fathers can be found riding snowmobiles with their kids or pulling children along on sleds at the base of the mountain.
When it comes to facilities, visitors just can’t ignore the excellent quality of rental gear available. The top-quality selection can’t be found at other areas and is one of the advantages of visiting a snow resort run by a renowned sporting and outdoor goods retail chain like Alpen.
Snowboarders can rent a Burton board featuring their easy-to-wear Step On bindings, while skiers can drop by the ATOMIC EXPERIENCE CENTER, where there is a huge selection of skis for beginners, as well as demonstration, racing, and backcountry skiing models. Skiers can also rent-out next season’s models before they’re even available for purchase.
WINNER OF THE TRUE NEAPOLITAN PIZZA ASSOCIATION COMPETITION —JAPAN’S BEST PIZZA
WINGHILLS continues to boost its appeal by renovating its already incredible facilities. In July 2023, “The LOOK” (a restaurant in the skiing area) made headlines for its revamping, before a restaurant on the base of the mountain underwent a complete makeover and was reborn under the name “Kitchen WING.” The signature dish here is, of course, the award-winning pizza. Visitors can sink their teeth into the true Neapolitan pizza here made by Gonza, a famous restaurant in the Gujo area. This pizza was awarded as Japan’s Best Pizza at the 2022 competition sponsored by the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. It’s an absolute joy to ski right in and enjoy the best pizza in Japan. Diners can choose from either a margherita or quattro formaggi pizza in S (1,500 yen) or M size (2,500 yen) and chow down on some authentic Italian pizza at a reasonable price.
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GIFU AT MANTEN NO YADO
One of WINGHILLS’ great advantages is that visitors can enjoy both the ski slopes and hot springs by staying at the wonderful “MANTEN no YADO” inn. Located in Gujo, it’s the top-grade inn and offers direct access to the ski slopes, allowing guests to walk right to the courses. This makes it highly convenient, and it offers the best service around when it comes to hot springs and food. It continues to gain more attention for its luxurious experiences that can only be found here. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the inn, and you can feast on local dishes such as Hida beef grilled on a ceramic slate, or grilled salted sweetfish—all from the comfort and privacy of your own room.
MANTEN no YADO is a special inn that features exclusive, all-private rooms for eight groups a day. Each room comes with its own open-air bath and dinner is served in the private rooms. The meals are traditional Japanese fare using local ingredients such asHida beef (a popular local type of wagyu).
Another unique facility here is the glamping area. Much like in MANTEN no YADO, meals here are made with local ingredients. The glamping facility continues to grow with popularity as guests can stay amongst nature and gaze upon the stars at night. For the ultimate experience in the Gifu area, a stay at MANTEN no YADO for a trip filled with skiing, hot springs, and sightseeing just can’t be beat.
