Located between 25 to 30-minutes drive from Yudanaka Station, Kita-Shiga Kogen is home to multiple small ski resorts including Ryuoo Ski Park. The resort is dominated by the main ‘Skyland Express’ Ropeway that can ferry up to 166 passengers to the top station, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and ever popular Sora Terrace café and observation deck – which remain open throughout the year offering some great hiking and nature photography in summer and autumn.

The area around the base of the resort offers plenty of accommodation, with most guesthouses being slope-side hotels or traditional guesthouses. While the village is quite spread-out, it is also quite rundown in places and in need of investment. There is little in the way of night-life and don’t expect much English.