Introducing Togakushi Ski Resort, where you can enjoy powder snow just 45 minutes from Nagano Station
[Introduction to the ski resort]
Despite being located at a high altitude, this ski resort has some of the best powder snow in Japan❄️, and is also very accessible, being only a 45-minute drive from Nagano Station, where the Hokuriku Shinkansen🚄 stops.
The four advanced courses directly in front of the base of the slope are impressive, and since there are many intermediate to advanced courses overall, it is often used by skiers⛷ aiming to enter competitions to improve their level.
Togakushi is also known as a ninja village🥷, where one of the three major ninja arts in Japan, the Togakushi-ryu, still exists, and the kids' park for small children and beginners has many features that allow you to improve your skiing while having fun, such as the wave🌊 (wave riding technique) that imitates ninja training and the tunnel slippery technique!
When you get tired of skiing, another fun thing to do is have a meal🍚, and Togakushi Ski Resort is famous for its authentic Togakushi soba. The soba noodles made by locals are delicious, firm and chewy, and some people come to ski just to enjoy it.
For a break, we recommend the Honey Toast Deluxe🍞. The thick slices of bread are smeared with butter and honey, and topped with soft serve ice cream. It's sweet and will blow away your fatigue.✨
[Visiting impressions]
We visited in January 2023 after being recommended by the online travel agency Trip.com. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and visibility was poor, but when it's sunny, you can ski while looking at the steep Togakushi mountain right in front of you, which is great.☀️
The slopes are empty because it's a weekday, but there are high-speed lifts, so it seems that it's relatively less crowded even on weekends.
There are many advanced skiers and snowboarders, and just watching them from the lift was educational.
For lunch, we had lunch at the center house "Charmant Togakushi", which was renovated by the ski resort staff themselves a few years ago and has a stylish impression with plenty of wood. From the classic curry🍛 and ramen🍜 to hamburgers🍔 and roast beef bowls, there are plenty of trendy and stylish menu items✨
I was told that this is the only place where you can eat authentic soba noodles while wearing ski boots🎿, so I ordered "zaru soba" without thinking.
Everyone from beginners to advanced skiers can enjoy Togakushi Ski Resort, which has delicious food and plenty of charm✨
#snowscape #wintertrip #skiresort #greatview #soba #ninja