YAMABOKU

Combine two mountains RYUOO AND SHIGA KOGEN

Nagano
YAMABOKU

Yamaboku is located in Nagano, just opposite Shiga Kogen. The most convenient train station would be JR Suzaka or JR Obuse. There is a bus between JR Suzaka station and Yamaboku. Fuikeikan offers a free pick up from JR Obuse station.

Yamaboku
Yamaboku is a summer cow farm, which turns into a snow resort in winter with ungroomed tree runs in the middle of the resort & privale backcountry cat runs available during the holidays & weekends. The perfect way to guarantee runs even on the busy days. First photo is Yamada Farm in summer & the seconds is how it looks in winter. Not sure where the cows go...
The course YAMABOKU

The course
YAMABOKU

Yamaboku has a very unique structure that defines where you can ski or snowboard.There are 3 different areas called stages and the Tacochi course.

1st stage - open all season
This contains 16 courses with 3 chairlifts, 70 % of the area is non-groomesd. 

Cost
1 day weekday lift pass - 3,100 yen 
1 day weekend lift pass - 3,600 yen

2nd stage - open on weekends & public holidays
This is a private non-groomd area that is limited only to 30 people who booked in advance. From the top of the #3 chairlift, you will be taken to the 2nd STAGE by CAT. It would be a perfect for backcountry biginners. 

Cost
5,700 yen per person including 1 day lift pass

3rd stage -  scheduled Saturdays in February and March or upon request
This is a CAT tour to ski/board Mt. Kasadake which is a 2,075 metre high mountain. The CAT tour bookings require a minimum of 5 people.

Cost
19,000 yen per persion including 1 day lift pass, lunch, backcountry gear rental

 

 

The Tachochi course - open all season (subject to weather conditions)
This is a 13 kilometre long off-piste course that is 800m higher & is accessed from the top of chairlift number #3.  There is a guided tour or you can have a free run!

Cost
Guided tour: 5,700 yen per person including 1 day lift pass
Free skiing / boarding: 1,000 yen per person (Lift passes are also required)

Traditional Ryokan FUKEIKAN

Traditional Ryokan
FUKEIKAN

The best accommodation would be Fukeikan Ryokan, which is located in the Yamada Onsen village where you ski back in after finishing the TACOCHI course. Fukeikan is about 15 minutes to the chairlifts but the staff will drive you there and pick you up daily. Koichiro who is the owner & manager of this ryokan & speaks English, so can assit you during your stay.
Fukeikan