Episode 13 of the podcast – and the first of Season 2 – brings us back to Nagano and Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen. A host venue in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort is Japan’s largest and highest ski resort and enjoys the longest season of any resort in Nagano or Central Japan. Despite this the resort remains relatively unknown to international visitors… In this episode I speak with Robel Zemichael, manager of Shiga International Ski School. Robel is a two-time Olympian who represented his birth country of Ethiopia at the 2006 Games in Torino and 2010 Games in Vancouver. He is long-term resident of Japan who has called Nagano his home for some time now, and as we wait the beginning of the ski school’s ninth season, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Robel for a chat about the ski resort and why he rates it so highly. Make sure to check out the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for further information, relevant links and a map showing where Shiga Kogen is located. Given the size of Japan’s snow country and often unfamiliar place names, understanding where each episode is talking about can be confusing. For that reason, each episode has a page on website including links and maps to help you get your bearings and learn more about the people and places discussed. For more information about the podcast and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com. Make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  00:00  Episode Introduction  03:30  Robel's Story  08:01  Shiga Kogen Size & Ski Areas  14:11  Recommended Length of Stay  16:08  Altitude & Topography  17:35  Season Length & Best Time to Visit  20:13  Snow Quality & Where to Find the Best Powder  24:32  Shiga International Ski School: Group & Private Lessons  26:41  Shiga International Ski School: Tours & Backcountry 31:37  Where to Stay  37:29  Ski & Snowboard Rental  42:33  Episode Close  Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website: www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.