Sugadaira Highlands, Highland in Ueda and Suzaka, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Sugadaira Highlands is a plateau in the Ueda and Suzaka area of Nagano Prefecture, lying at 1,250 to 1,650 metres. It rises toward the rounded mass of Mount Azumaya (2,354 m) and Mount Neko (2,207 m). Snow-covered fields with dark tree lines and scattered buildings lie below the open slopes.

In 1927, Yaō Hidetake named the area "Japan's Davos" and the Sugadaira Ski Club was founded the same year. The ski resort opened in January 1928, and in 1929 Hannes Schneider presented it abroad as "Japanisch Schwarzwald". Hosei University's rugby club began summer camps here in 1931, followed by Waseda University the next year.

The highlands draw athletes from rugby, soccer, and tennis who come here to train throughout the year. You can see teams practicing on the fields and courts across all seasons.

The main route is via Hokuriku Shinkansen to Ueda Station, then a 50-minute bus ride through mountainous terrain to reach the highlands. The road becomes winding at higher elevations, so allow extra travel time.

Sugadaira's January average stays below freezing, and recent readings reached -29.2°C on 19 February 2012 and -27.0°C on 26 January 2023. Hannes Schneider, who visited in 1929, presented the plateau abroad as "Japanisch Schwarzwald", the Japanese Black Forest.