Family-Friendly Hotels in Shiga Kogen: Snow Play and Hot Springs

When you choose a family hotel around Shiga Kogen, it can be hard to decide between being close to the ski slopes and having a relaxing hot spring to come back to. The inns are scattered through the mountains, so where you stay makes a real difference to how easy the trip is for your kids. We list 3 hotels for families here, so you can compare stays in Shiga Kogen itself, in the Yudanaka and Shibu hot spring towns below, and in Manza Onsen on the far side of the mountain pass.

Shiga Kogen lies inside Joshinetsu Kogen National Park and is known as one of the largest ski areas in Japan. In winter, many hotels sit right beside the slopes. If you choose a hotel close to the ski slopes or one that is set up for snow play, even small children can step outside and touch snow almost immediately. Some hotels, such as Manza Prince Hotel, also offer kids' programs and activities, so there are plenty of things to enjoy besides skiing.

Three things to check when choosing a hotel are the room type, the baths, and the meals. If a hotel has Japanese-style or Japanese-Western rooms, babies and toddlers who roll around a lot can sleep comfortably on futons. Baby cots are available to borrow at Manza Prince Hotel and Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, and Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel also lends bed guards. For a bath where your family can relax in private, Club Wyndham Shirakaba-so Shiga Kogen offers a private bath that is free to use. On the dining side, a hotel like Manza Prince Hotel, with toddler meals and allergy accommodations, can take away a lot of worry.

The highlands get cold and dry in winter, and many parents worry about their children's health. All of the hotels named here lend humidifiers and air purifiers, so it helps to ask for one when you arrive and enjoy a more comfortable night. When there is no snow, you can look forward to walks and pond-hopping in the cool highland air, and to the colorful leaves in fall. If you stay in the hot spring towns of Yudanaka and Shibu at the foot of the mountain, it is also easy to visit Jigokudani Monkey Park, famous for its snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) that soak in hot springs.

In winter, the roads over the mountains are sometimes closed, so if you plan to visit both Shiga Kogen and Manza Onsen on the same trip, it is wise to check road conditions first. Deciding in advance whether you want snow play or hot springs, and whether you are traveling in winter or summer, will narrow down your hotel choices a lot.