![[Renewed in April 2026] Begin Your Journey into the Nature of Shiga Kogen at the Shiga Kogen Visitor Center ②](https://www.ichinose.gr.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IchinoseNavi_image_260621_02_MV.jpg)
Recommended for Guests Staying in Ichinose: A Base for Understanding All of Shiga Kogen
For guests staying in the Ichinose area, the Shiga Kogen Visitor Center is a place well worth visiting.
Ichinose is a popular area where ski slopes and accommodation facilities are gathered together. But by learning about the nature, landforms, and history of Shiga Kogen as a whole, the time you spend in Ichinose becomes even richer. Head from Ichinose toward Hasuike, stop by the Visitor Center to grasp the overall picture of Shiga Kogen, and then enjoy trekking, driving, or skiing. This way of spending time is recommended for both first-time visitors and repeat guests.
In fact, when hotel representatives from the Ichinose area visited the Visitor Center on a tour hosted by the Ichinose Ryokan Association, they were able to learn about Shiga Kogen’s formation and history up to the present day through the exhibits, with guidance from the guide association. Even for those working at local accommodation facilities, the center has become a place to rediscover the appeal of Shiga Kogen.
Experience the Nature of Shiga Kogen with Certified Guides
The Shiga Kogen Guide Association, an affiliated organization of the Visitor Center, offers trekking tours during the green season and snowshoe tours during the snow season. Custom-made guided tours are also available, with dedicated guides arranged upon request for groups of up to five people, accompanied by two guides.
From spring through autumn, visitors can enjoy walking through the nature of Shiga Kogen by visiting ponds, strolling through wetlands, and observing alpine plants. In winter, in addition to skiing, snowshoeing through snowy forests is also popular. Walking with a guide brings discoveries that you may not notice by simply looking at the scenery.
- Animal tracks
- Natural shapes created by snow and wind
- Seasonal changes in plants
- Landforms and traces of volcanic activity in Shiga Kogen
- Rules and manners for protecting nature in the national park
When you walk while hearing this kind of knowledge, the nature of Shiga Kogen feels much closer and more vivid.
Recommended for Families with Children: Events for Learning About Nature
The official website regularly introduces events for children, such as the Children’s Nature Exploration Team. Learning the importance of protecting nature and how to interact with living creatures while playing outdoors is an experience unique to a national park. Environmental learning programs are also offered for schools and other groups.
For adults, forest therapy programs are also available, offering a relaxing way to be refreshed by nature. Spending time breathing deeply in the cool forests of Shiga Kogen, away from the heat of the city and the busyness of daily life, may become one of the main purposes of your trip. Program contents vary by season.
Stop by Before Sightseeing in Shiga Kogen, and Your Trip Becomes More Interesting
Shiga Kogen is vast. Ichinose, Takamagahara, Kumanoyu, Yokoteyama, Okushiga, Hasuike, Maruike, Kidoike — each area has its own character. First-time visitors may find themselves wondering where to go first.
That is when the Visitor Center becomes useful. By checking trekking course information, natural highlights, weather and seasonal conditions, and the rules and manners of the national park, you can enjoy Shiga Kogen with greater confidence. In mountain areas, weather can change quickly, and suitable clothing and equipment vary by season. Having a place where you can obtain up-to-date information before sightseeing is a great reassurance, especially for first-time visitors.
Shiga Kogen Visitor Center Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Facility Name | Shiga Kogen Visitor Center |
| Location | Inside Shiga Kogen Sogo Kaikan 98, 2nd Floor, Hasuike, Shiga Kogen, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture |
| Telephone | 0269-34-2133 |
| FAX | 0269-34-2480 |
| Opening Period | Open year-round |
| Closed | Open daily |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Operation | Shiga Kogen Visitor Center Operating Council, composed of the Ministry of the Environment, Nagano Prefecture, Yamanouchi Town, Wago-kai, Kyoeki-kai, and the Shiga Kogen Tourism Association; affiliated organization: Shiga Kogen Guide Association |
*Opening hours, events, experience contents, and fees may change. Please check the official website for the latest information before visiting.
References and Sources
- Official Shiga Kogen Visitor Center website｜https://visitor-center.shigakogen.gr.jp/
- Shiga Kogen Tourism Association, “Shiga Kogen Visitor Center Renewal Opening”｜https://www.shigakogen.gr.jp/event/20522.html
- Shinano Mainichi Shimbun｜https://www.shinmai.co.jp/news/article/gf01d7nieqnj201uv250hlf0