Episode 2: Guest - Mr. Yamamoto, Secretary General of the Shiga Kogen Ropeway Association

🐒✨Guest for the 2nd Broadcast: Mr. Yamamoto, Secretary General of the Shiga Kogen Ropeway Association📻✨

🎧 Contents of this broadcast

At the beginning of the program, Mr. Terashima shared an episode about having just returned from a pilgrimage around Shikoku.
Amid weather hinting at snow, Mr. Yamamoto from the Shiga Kogen Ropeway Association visited the studio.
At 8 a.m. that day, Shiga Kogen was around 10 degrees Celsius, still slightly too warm for snow to fall.

The scale of Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and its world-class snow quality

Shiga Kogen is located at an elevation ranging from 1,400 meters to 2,307 meters. Mr. Yamamoto explained by comparison, "The summit of other ski resorts is roughly equivalent to the base of Shiga Kogen."
As Mr. Terashima also emphasized, Shiga Kogen is a world-class ski resort of exceptional grade. Its vastness, altitude, and above all, the superb quality of its snow are truly outstanding. Surprisingly, both gentlemen agreed it's a shame that locals sometimes fail to recognize its value.

Shiga Kogen boasts 18 ski resorts, connected by 46 gondolas, lifts, and shuttle buses.
Mr. Yamamoto emphasized the snow quality at Shiga Kogen.
Located inland, the wet snow falls on the Sea of Japan side, leaving only dry air to reach Shiga Kogen and produce snowfall.While not a heavy snowfall area, Shiga Kogen is characterized by its precious, powdery dry snow. Even if you fall, you rarely get wet.
This snow quality is praised by world-class skiers, who reportedly say it "feels like your skiing has improved by a whole level."

The latest IC ticket system introduced this season

Starting this season, Shiga Kogen has introduced a state-of-the-art IC ticket system.
By purchasing lift tickets online in advance, you can head straight to the lift gate without stopping at the ticket window. Simply keep your IC chip-enabled ticket in your left chest pocket or on your arm, and the gate antenna will automatically read it. No need to take off your gloves, and no worries about dropping your poles.About 20 years ago, it was fashionable to wear lift ticket bands over your skiwear, but times have certainly changed.

Featured "Monkey Show" Event

This season's featured event is the "Monkey Show." Having been held on a trial basis last season to great acclaim, this event moves to the Shiga Kogen General Hall this season for a more full-scale production. Two monkeys from Nikko's Monkey Enterprise will perform, delivering evening entertainment with an original Shiga Kogen story. Scheduled for three performances during the season, last year's shows reportedly entertained about 50 guests per performance.

This year, thorough English interpretation has been provided, ensuring the event is enjoyable not only for Japanese guests but also for visitors from overseas. As Mr. Terashima pointed out, monkeys are considered distinctly Asian creatures, and they are apparently very mysterious and fascinating animals to foreigners. Moreover, this monkey show offers the luxurious experience of enjoying a buffet-style French meal and conveyor-belt sushi while watching the performance.

Ski Resort Opening Dates and Snow Conditions

The ski resort, originally scheduled to open on November 15th, has unfortunately been postponed. However, they are preparing for the upcoming three-day weekend, hoping for the cold front arriving the following day.
At this time of year, the ground is still not sufficiently cold. Therefore, they need to first thoroughly chill the ground with natural snow before using snowmaking machines to prepare the slopes.

Ski slopes and facilities recommended for families

For families, Maruike's Kids Park was recommended. It features moving walkways and tube rides resembling merry-go-rounds, allowing even young children who don't ski to enjoy playing in the snow. Additionally, Okushiga Kogen and Yokoteyama offer gentle, easy slopes, making them ideal for family skiing. With 18 ski areas available, they encourage visitors to come back multiple times to find their favorite slopes.

Efforts Toward Internationalization ~ IKON PASS Membership

Starting this season, Shiga Kogen has joined the Icon Pass, connecting resorts in 70 countries worldwide.
This allows international visitors holding an Icon Pass season pass to enjoy Shiga Kogen for either 5 or 7 days, further boosting its international appeal.

Ending Message

At the end of the program, Mr. Yamamoto sent a warm message to listeners: "Shiga Kogen is charming not only for the beauty of its snow, but also for its spring and summer greenery, and the warmth of its people. Please come visit and experience the nature of each season."
Enjoy skiing during the day, soak in the hot springs, and in the evening, enjoy delicious meals while watching the monkey show.
The broadcast conveyed that this is a resort full of charm, where you can experience the world's finest powder snow.