Abandoned ski resorts in Japan

At Teine, I saw the lift pictured here from the top station. I think this may be the lift talked about in the link.
I wondered what it was, since its definitely not on the trail map and there were definitely no chairs on it.
Have read this guys posts before! pretty cool!


There are many closed resorts listed on SnowJapan and if you were really interested you might find some similar places

 

Reopening an old resort - I was just pondering what t today

 

I went to Japan in Jan 2008, stayed in Yudanaka, the snow monkeys town, with my son. We had some days at Shiga Kogen where he worked on his Japanese and I attempted to so on my skiing. I noticed there was a local lift in town just up from the hotel, a wonderful place named Ryokan Biyunoyado where he later went back on a working holiday. We visited in late Jan 2009 at the tail end of his working holiday and I was verry disappointed to see the lift base station all closed down


On the first visit we had done a day trip coach tour to Matsumoto Castle. To fill in the time on the coach the tour guide (a Kiwi, IIRC) had touched on the topic, commenting as we passed abandoned tennis courts how in Japan they went through fads with recreational activities and at one stage everyone was into tennis, so tennis clubs sprang up only to fold when the next fad came along. Skiing was probably just another example of this.

 

Yet Japan has some of most ideal conditions on the planet to produce epic amounts of powder snow. So much untapped potential!!!

 

There's a few places like that in Fukushima prefec. but for the most part they are still running, because they were never really touristy and the locals continue to use them. Having said that, many of the small ski jos do have 1 or more lifts not used anymore, or runs that have been closed etc. Which it great when you want untracked runs off the side of the trail maps.

From what I saw in Gifu though, there's lots of ski jos that have closed down or are in very much reduced capacity from their glory days.

 

very interesting thread..
as verm said.. there are lots of areas with reduced capacity of less lifts than when they opened.
I found that our at Izuna Resort where the main piste map outside the building indicated that there were 6 lifts and I kept looking out for certain lifts that were non existent

 

There is several others around Myoko, APA Pine Valley which is still operational as a Golf course i believe, and a small one opposite the Myoko-Kogen Station. Not to mention the old Champion top lift which is now part of Akakan.

I used to have a fantastic bookmark from a japanese blog where he visited abandonded Skijo but i lost it. @webberchoked might have it still..

 

Have heard a rumour that Sanosaka has closed. Hope not, it was a good place to go when it is too windy elsewhere. Like Aokiko it relied on school groups mid week. If so that will make five small ski fields in he Hakuba area closed in the last ten years.

 

Are the schools dialling it back or is Shiga becoming the school play ground, so to speak?

 

That would be sad... However I can understand the reasons if it has. I haven't been there since Aokiko closed, because the lift ticket price is not worth the limited number of lifts. When Aokiko, Sanosaka & Kashimayari were linked, I ALWAYS went there for a day or more, when at Hakuba.

 

I always found that if I was doing a morning skiing on my way out of the Hakuba valley, that I'd tend to go to Kashimayari, because it's bigger, with more lifts and more courses than Sanosaka. On that basis, of the two, I'm not surprised about Sanosaka, but I would be surprised if Kashimayari folded.

 

Kashimayari always appeared to be a much better resort to me, went there once or twice, its not bad, get the sun pretty bad and its not a huge elevation. I get the feeling that its more popular with azumino/omachi locals than any of the hakuba resorts. The dual access helps!

 

Anyone know what resort this used to be - located just south of Ohdai ski resort in Akita prefecture. Google maps says region call Kurosawa.





Looks like epic terrain. Gondola/lift running up the right hand side to the peak. Big open bowl facing Sea of Japan to west. Interesting....

 

Expect a few more after this season unless something changes....

 

And for anyone reading this Sanosaka is alive and well.

 

Hmm, I’m not so sure that’s the one. From what I can find, Chokai Okojoland was at the base of Mt Chokai, which is further SW than this place.

 

Good guess nonetheless. I found this one - it's somewhat near the base of Mt Chokai at a place called Sarukura Hot Spring.
Terrain looks much more mellow.

 

This is Chokai Okojoland. There is a map on the page you linked.

 

Senhata Ski Resort (Prince Hotels)

 

Speaking of abandoned resorts, we did a bit of touring out of the closed Mt Kamoi resort today. Seems like a waste, but I can see why it closed. Not a whole lot of terrain or vertical on offer, and I can only assume the ranges to the west get the best of the snow. It's a fun little spot for some touring laps though.

 

I like that resort and etc but I notice you’re taking it up a bit on Sanosaka. With no criticism intended, why the promotion for it? Just a great love for it?

 

Sorry just saw this. Its got everything 90% of our guests want and they have a guy down there (Jup) trying hard to make improvements. Wide open runs, beginner to intermediate terrain, fun on a pow day, very few gaijin or anyone for that matter, great vibe and lovely lake views. Its my 'go to' on days where I just want some fun sliding.

It shuts this Sunday for the season and with numbers up over previous years hopefully it can sustain itself.