Located in the very depths of Shiga Kogen is the Okushiga area, which takes the good part of a day to travel to and from the central area. Its location means that planning is involved to make the trip, but it is also known as a highly sought-after area of luxury where crowds are non-existent. The hotel at the base of the mountain is just as extravagant as the rest of the area.
Okushiga Kogen Hotel is run by the Okushiga Kogen Resort and features spacious rooms, an open-air bath with expansive views of the surrounding nature, and a lounge bar with a large fireplace amongst the other lavish facilities to make a stay here as luxurious as it can get. Head on over to the lounge at night to grab yourself a drink and put your feet up as you listen to live piano music.
The Hotel Grand Phoenix, the most luxurious resort hotel in Shiga Kogen, is cloaked in a traditional and honourable air having been frequented by the Japanese royal family, and the world-renowned conductor, Seiji Ozawa. Guests have the opportunity to have the ultimate relaxing stay in this establishment abounding with poise and grace.
Popularity continues to rise in recent times for the off-piste fun to be had here that you won’t find mentioned in guidebooks on the market. Okushiga is also home to the only international ski school in Shiga Kogen. If you’re looking for information about the side and backcountry areas then feel free to ask one of the instructors at the ski school. While I mentioned earlier that Okushiga takes time to reach due to its remote location, there are regular shuttle buses that operate between the ski resorts within Shiga Kogen. Be sure to take advantage of these buses if you want to get the most out of your trip to Okushiga without wasting any time. Head on over and tear up all of the slopes that Shiga Kogen has to offer when ski season rolls around once again.
