Located near the center of Shiga Kogen, Ichinose is the area where the greatest number of hotels gather. Standing between Ichinose Family Ski Area and Tannenomori Okojo Ski Area, just a one- to two-minute walk from the slopes, is Shiga White Hotel.
In fact, this hotel was one of the first lights to appear in Ichinose. For this article, we spoke with the third-generation owner about how the hotel began, the food that is its greatest pride, and the things the community has continued to protect together.
“White was the first to come in here. That was us.”
The third-generation owner says this quietly. Still in his thirties, he is one of the young people now carrying Ichinose forward. Let us take a closer look at what this pioneer hotel values today.
One of the First Hotels to Light Up Ichinose
The history of Shiga White Hotel overlaps with the history of Ichinose itself. In a place where there was once nothing, White Hotel was one of the first inns to take root.
The hotel was founded around 60 years ago. At the time, it was called White Hill. Later, the name was changed to Shiga White Hotel, and the business was passed down from the owner’s grandfather to his father, and now to the current third generation.
“My grandfather came here first, my father was the second generation, and I am the third.”
This was not a case of a family inn from the foothills simply moving uphill. It was an entirely new challenge in a highland area where nothing had yet been built. The hotel began with the atmosphere of a small mountain lodge, then expanded over the years into its present form. Around 20 years ago, a major renovation was carried out. The lobby, which had previously been on the second floor, was moved down to the first floor, while the second floor was opened up into a more spacious area. It was a thoughtful change designed to welcome guests more naturally as they came in from the slopes.
The many years Shiga White Hotel has spent as one of Ichinose’s pioneers form the foundation of the hotel today.
From His Mother’s Kitchen: A Buffet Built Around Homemade Cooking
When we asked the third-generation owner what he most wanted to recommend, he answered without hesitation: the food. In fact, the cuisine is one of the points most highly praised in Google reviews.
The person in charge of the kitchen is none other than the owner’s mother, who serves as the head chef.
“My mother is the head chef. We try to serve as many homemade dishes as possible, and she puts a lot of care into the seasoning.”
Both breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style, with a mix of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. After a full day of enjoying the mountains, there is a simple pleasure in choosing whatever you like, as much as you like. And each plate carries the warmth of a family’s hands. Although this is a large hotel, the dining table has a certain comfort — something close to a meal at home. That warmth is what makes the food here so appealing.
For guests staying multiple nights or visiting for training camps, food that can be enjoyed without growing repetitive is a major source of comfort.
Hospitality That “Does Not Burden the Guest”: The Warmth of Local Staff
Alongside the food, the hotel’s service also has a strong reputation. Many reviews praise the kindness and attentiveness of the staff.
Many of the people working here are local. As a family-run hotel, Shiga White Hotel is flexible and able to respond to detailed requests with ease.
“We try to respond in a way that does not place a burden on the guest. Because we are family-run, we can be flexible, and I think that helps us meet many different requests.”
The service here is not flashy, nor does it overwhelm guests with excessive explanations. Instead, it quietly stays close through smiles and thoughtful attention. There is a kind of hospitality here that lets your shoulders relax. It reminds you that comfort while traveling is often created by the warmth of the people you meet.
A Hotel Regular Guests Visit Across Three Generations
After graduating from university in Saitama, the third-generation owner returned directly to Ichinose. As he began standing in the hotel where he was born and raised, meeting guests day after day, he realized just how many regular guests had continued coming back for years.
“Some regular guests have been coming here since I was little. The fact that we have been able to continue for so long is thanks to people like them.”
From his grandfather’s generation, through his father’s, and now into the third generation, guests who continue visiting across generations have supported this hotel. Some even bring old photographs to show him.
“They tell me stories and show me photos of what the scenery used to look like. I learn a lot from that, and I find it fascinating.”
For many guests, staying here feels less like checking into a hotel and more like coming home. Relationships passed down across three generations are Shiga White Hotel’s greatest treasure.
Protecting the Char of the Headwaters: Ichinose’s Promise
Ichinose is one of the most densely developed hotel areas in Shiga Kogen. That is exactly why the bonds among residents are strong. Among the efforts that have brought the community together, one of the most important has been the protection of water.
In the headwaters of this area, precious char live in the clear mountain streams. To protect them, the inns of Ichinose have spent enormous sums — hundreds of millions of yen — to build water intake and wastewater treatment facilities, making it a shared local commitment to clean wastewater before releasing it back into the environment.
“Char live in the headwaters here, and protecting them by cleaning wastewater before releasing it is one of the central missions of this community.”
Building hotels in a place where there was once nothing, bringing in water, and protecting the natural environment — when the third-generation owner thinks about the efforts made by those who came before, he says he feels nothing but respect.
“When I think about the effort of the people who built that foundation, I can only respect them.”
Within the horizontal ties of the local innkeepers’ association, the shared belief that “this matters” has been passed from hotel to hotel and from generation to generation. Shiga White Hotel is one of the inns that continues to carry that promise.
Cool Summer Retreats and Training Camps, Exceptional Powder in Winter
Shiga White Hotel welcomes guests with a different face in every season.
In summer, the greatest appeal is, above all, the cool climate. The air of the highlands at this elevation feels like a completely different world from the intense heat of the city. July brings outdoor education groups, August brings study camps, and September brings university music camps, making summer a lively season for group stays.
“There is not much here in the usual sense, so people come seeking nature. It is a good place for recovery, or for focusing. People talk about digital detox these days, don’t they?”
Here, the absence of distractions becomes a luxury. Put down your smartphone and lose track of time in nature. Ichinose is perfectly suited to that kind of stay.
And in winter:
“For skiers, it has to be the powder snow. I think the snow quality here is among the best in Japan.”
In autumn, the entire mountain turns vivid with fall colors. Cool retreats and training camps in summer, outstanding snow in winter, and brilliant foliage in autumn — whatever the season, there is something to enjoy here.
A Message to Readers: Time to Forget Time
Finally, the third-generation owner shared this message with readers.
“In nature-rich Shiga Kogen, I hope people can forget time for a while, whether through activities or rest and recovery. For busy people in Japan today, I think it can become a time that creates space in the heart. Please come to Ichinose.”
A handmade dining table prepared by the owner’s mother, warm hospitality from local staff, regular guests who return across three generations, and a community promise to protect the char of the headwaters. Shiga White Hotel is built not only on facilities, but on the hands of people and the memory of this land.
The next time you visit Shiga Kogen, consider spending time at one of the first hotels to light up Ichinose — and let yourself forget time for a while.
Shiga White Hotel Facility Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Shiga White Hotel |
| Address | Ichinose, Shiga Kogen, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano 381-0401, Japan |
| Telephone | +81-269-34-2702 |
| Fax | +81-269-34-3025 |
| Access by Public Transportation | From Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Electric Railway, take a bus bound for Okushiga Kogen for about 60 minutes. Get off at the “Ichinose” bus stop and walk about 2 minutes. |
| Access by Car | From the Shinshu-Nakano IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway, drive toward Shiga Kogen and Ichinose. ※Please confirm travel time. |
| Parking | Free parking for 100 vehicles. Large buses can also park. |
| Ski Slopes | Adjacent to Ichinose Family Ski Area and Tannenomori Okojo Ski Area; about a one- to two-minute walk to the slopes. |
| Guest Rooms | 43 rooms in total: Japanese-style rooms with toilets, Types A and B; Western twin rooms, Type A, with bath and toilet in all rooms. Maximum capacity: 250 guests. |
| Large Public Bath | Men’s and women’s large public baths, accommodating approximately 20 to 30 people at a time. Available 24 hours. ※Bathing after check-out is also free. |
| Meals | Japanese, Western, and Chinese buffet for both breakfast and dinner. The head chef is the third-generation owner’s mother. |
| Facilities | Large dining hall with 204 table seats, lounge, gift shop, ski drying room, lockers, multipurpose room |
| Check-in / Check-out | 3:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. |
| Smoking | Non-smoking throughout the building, with designated smoking area available. |
| Official Website | http://www.shigawhite.com/ |
| Reservation Site | http://reservation.shigakogen.gr.jp/searches/hotel_plan/2702/hd:1 |
| https://www.instagram.com/shigawhitehotel/ |
*Accommodation plans, operating dates, meal contents, and public bath hours may vary depending on the season. Please check the official website or contact the hotel directly for the latest information.