in Shinano Omachi
A unique experience celebrating the joys of snow and water!
Welcome to Jigatake Snow Resort
in Hakuba Valley
Shinano Omachi is a small city in Nagano Prefecture, nourished by the rich blessings of water born from the Northern Alps’ snow and ice. Snow that accumulates on the 3,000-meter peaks slowly melts and seeps into the mountains, eventually transforming over many years into pristine spring water that wells up throughout the city.
Countless waterways run through Omachi, carrying pure water year-round. This is why it is known as the “City of Water.” These waters shape daily life, agriculture, local food culture—and even the special winter experiences featured here.
Welcome to
Jigatake Snow Resort
in Hakuba Valley
At Jigatake Snow Resort in Hakuba Valley, we offer winter experiences that even non-skiers can enjoy. Try gentle slopes perfect for your first winter adventure, and sample pristine spring water from the Northern Alps along with the traditional kori-mochi (freeze-dried rice cake). Make this a winter trip your family will remember.
Two experiences to enjoy
the winter to the fullest
Make Your Own
Kori-Mochi Fruit
Daifuku Rice Cakes
A miracle preserved food, born from the sharp temperature shifts of the Northern Alps, transformed into a simple sweet anyone can enjoy.
Try making kori-mochi fruit daifuku rice cakes by wrapping softened kori-mochi around strawberries or other fruits, along with sweetened red bean paste. The process is simple, so even young children can join in. It’s a fun, delicious way to learn about a food culture nurtured by snowy winters.
Snowy Mountain Fun—Discover the Blessings of Water on a Snowshoe Walk
Take a leisurely snowshoe walk to one of Omachi’s natural springs, nestled at the foot of the Shinshu mountains. Your guide will share stories about the Northern Alps’ water cycle and local nature as you venture into a special area normally off-limits to visitors.
Enjoy a unique winter break with locally roasted coffee and kori-mochi sweets made with natural spring water—served on a table of snow in a setting you can experience only here.
What is kori-mochi?
Kori-mochi is a special type of mochi (sticky rice cake) that can only be made in Omachi during winter. Only a few places have the right combination of cold nights, just the right amount of snow, and dry winds. Thanks to this rare climate, kori-mochi has become a food culture unique to this snowy region, passed down through generations.
Frozen and dried solely by the natural forces of winter, it keeps extremely well and was even used as relief supplies during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Made with locally grown glutinous rice, Mochi Hikari, this kori-mochi—slowly matured by the cold—is a winter delicacy found only here in Omachi.
Jigatake Snow Resort
in Hakuba Valley
Jigatake Snow Resort, located at the southernmost tip of the HAKUBA VALLEY area, has many gentle slopes that are easy for beginners, and there are plenty of rentals and lessons available. Even if you don’t ski, you can enjoy playing in the snow on the sled course and in the kids’ park, so the whole family can enjoy winter in Omachi.
An interactive tour where you get to drive a snowmobile yourself. Snowmobiles are rarely seen outside snow resorts, but they’re actually easy to operate—with just a throttle and a brake. With instructors guiding and accompanying you, even first-timers can enjoy the tour safely. The great outdoors is right at your fingertips!
The family-favorite Kids’ Park has been upgraded, letting children play freely on soft, fluffy snow!
Explore new snow obstacle courses and enjoy plenty of sledding, safe even for the little ones.
Meet the snowcat— the hardworking machine that keeps winter slopes in great shape.
Its large frame and powerful tracks are exciting for visitors of all ages.
At Jigatake Snow Resort, you can even ride in the snowcat’s passenger seat.
Enjoy a unique chance to view the slopes you usually ski from a higher perspective.
*Available on night-skiing days; register at the main counter on the day—first-come, first-served.
