Shiga Highlands
The Shiga plateau (Japanese志 贺 高原, Shiga Kōgen ) is located in the Japanese Alps in Joshinetsu National Park. It belongs to the municipality of Yamanouchi, Yamanouchi-machi, Nagano Prefecture. She is also one of the largest ski areas in Japan and was one of the venues of the Olympic Winter Games 1998.
The ski area lies at 1300-2000 m altitude, is approximately 70 minutes away by bus from Nagano. The core area consists of Sun Valley, Maruike, Hasuike and the mountain Yokote with about 2305 m peak height.
History
In 1912 was begun in the area with skiing. After the Second World War ( 1947) the first ski lifts were built by the occupying powers in the area of Maruike. Here also learned Chiharu Igaya, the first Asian medalist at the Winter Olympics, skiing.