At 1,700 Meters, Just One Minute from the Slopes: A Hotel in Ichinose, Shiga Kogen Where You Can Enjoy Skiing, Food, and Highland Time

At 1,700 Meters, Just One Minute from the Slopes: A Hotel in Ichinose, Shiga Kogen Where You Can Enjoy Food, Group Camps, and Highland Time

When looking for a place to stay in Ichinose, Shiga Kogen, location is usually the first thing that comes to mind.
You want to ski properly. You want to get around easily. And in the green season, you want to spend time comfortably in nature.
If the meals and facilities are also easy to use, the stay becomes much more comfortable.
Hotel Japan Shiga is one hotel that strikes a good balance across all of these needs.

It is located in Shiga Kogen’s Ichinose area at an elevation of 1,700 meters.
Even better, the ski slopes are just a one-minute walk away.
In winter, it works well as a base for skiing and snowboarding. In summer, it is also convenient for highland activities such as hiking, gathering wild vegetables, mountain biking, and BBQs.
The hotel also features a 250-tatami-mat hall, making it suitable for music training camps, dance groups, school trips, and more.

Beyond convenience, this hotel also has an interesting quality: the experiences of the people behind it are directly connected to its appeal.
While inheriting the memories of a place with a long history, the hotel is expanding the ways guests can enjoy food and their stay with a modern sensibility.
Hotel Japan Shiga is a hotel that is moving beyond being simply “a long-established inn.”

An Inn That Has Grown Alongside the History of Ichinose

During the interview, we heard stories about the origins of Hotel Japan Shiga that evoke the pioneering days of the area.
The owner’s grandfather built a hut here, and at that time, Ichinose looked completely different from the way it does today.
Back when the roads were still insufficient, there was even a time when guests were picked up by horse-drawn carriage or horse-drawn sleigh.

Hearing these stories reveals just how much time has been layered into Ichinose before it became the comfortable area for visitors that it is today.
Hotel Japan Shiga, too, is an inn that exists within that history.
Rather than beginning as a fully completed large hotel, it gradually took shape over time, adapting little by little to each era.
That background seems to be reflected in the atmosphere of the hotel itself.

Ichinose is home to many long-running inns.
Among them, Hotel Japan Shiga leaves a strong impression as an inn that carries memories of the pioneering period while also offering the usability expected today.

A Wide Range of Experience Shapes the Hotel as It Is Today

What stood out especially during this interview was the background of President Katagiri, the representative of Hotel Japan Shiga.
He began in the sciences, then worked as a programmer, an assistant to a food coordinator, in sales promotion and production, and later in the food and beverage industry.
At first glance, many of these experiences may seem far removed from running an inn, but listening to his story makes it clear that all of them are connected to the hotel’s current operation.

“The work of running an inn involves not only hospitality, but also food, facilities, communication, operations, planning, and even the movement of people.”
“That is why it is not limited to just one field; it is also a place where broad experience can easily come to life. That is what makes Hotel Japan Shiga so interesting.”

What guests see on the surface may be the ease of staying here or the appeal of the meals.
Behind that, however, are perspectives cultivated through many different kinds of work.
Those accumulated experiences seem to be reflected in the overall comfort and atmosphere of the hotel.

Mealtimes Are One of the Pleasures of This Hotel

Hotel Japan Shiga also places great value on the enjoyment of food.
In the green season in particular, its signature BBQ plan with a Dutch oven and Shinshu beef BBQ plan are especially popular.
Dining in the crisp highland air makes a trip’s memories even stronger.

Another welcome point is that the hotel offers not only meals for staying guests, but also day-trip BBQ options.
You may not be staying overnight, but still want to enjoy a meal while feeling the nature of Ichinose.
The ability to enjoy the hotel in this way is another part of its appeal.

The interview also showed that the hotel has a very clear approach to food.
What to serve, how to present it, and what form makes it appealing in this location.
Because of this perspective, the dining here feels not like simply “hotel meals,” but like a food experience unique to Hotel Japan Shiga.

A 250-Tatami-Mat Hall That Makes the Hotel Reliable for Training Camps and Group Stays

One major feature of Hotel Japan Shiga is its 250-tatami-mat hall.
Having a space of this scale makes it easy to accommodate not only individual travelers, but also a wide variety of group uses.

The official website notes that the hotel can be used with confidence for music training camps, dance groups, school trips, and more.
In Ichinose, Shiga Kogen, hotels that can secure not only accommodation but also activity space are especially valuable.

It is appealing not only for winter ski camps and school groups, but also as a base for activities during the green season.
At an elevation of 1,700 meters, the environment remains comfortable even in hot weather and makes it easy to focus amid nature. This combination of location and facilities is rare even within Japan, making it an excellent option for group camps.

A Base for Enjoying Ichinose in Both Winter and Summer

Another appeal of Hotel Japan Shiga is how easy it is to use in any season.
In winter, of course, its location just one minute on foot from the slopes is a major advantage.
It is easy to get started in the morning and smooth to return after skiing.
For those who enjoy skiing and snowboarding, this proximity is truly significant.

In the green season, highland activities such as hiking, gathering wild vegetables, mountain biking, and BBQs open up a different way to spend time here.
Shiga Kogen is not only a snowy-season destination.
The fresh greenery, summer coolness, and clear air of autumn are also major attractions of this place.

Furthermore, Hotel Japan Shiga is located within Shiga Kogen, a national park and UNESCO Eco Park recognized area.
Because the natural environment itself has value, simply staying overnight would be a missed opportunity.
Using this hotel as a base makes you want to fully experience the nature of Ichinose and Shiga Kogen.

A Hotel That Layers Today’s Sensibilities Over Its History

The appeal of Hotel Japan Shiga may lie in the fact that an inn with history continues to evolve in step with the times.
It has a long background and memories that recall the pioneering days of the area.
At the same time, its approach to presenting food and creating enjoyable stays clearly incorporates modern ideas.

It feels reassuring because it has been here for a long time.
But it does not remain stuck in the past.
That balance feels very comfortable.

For those looking for a hotel close to the slopes in Ichinose, Shiga Kogen.
For those looking for an inn that works well for training camps or school trips.
And for those who want to enjoy not only their stay, but also meals and highland time.
Hotel Japan Shiga is one hotel that naturally meets a variety of needs.