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A look back at ski areas from Japan’s past 過去の日本のスキー場を懐かしむ

Seaburiyama

Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

背炙山スキー場　福島県会津若松市

This ski area was officially known as Seaburiyama Ski Area 背炙山スキー場 but was also sometimes known as Higashiyama Onsen Ski Area 東山温泉スキー場. Skiers got to the slopes using the Seabiruyama Ropeway (cable car) from the Higashiyama Onsen hot spring town area, about 6km to the south east of central Aizu Wakamatsu City. Fine views of Mount Bandai and Lake Inawashiro could be enjoyed from the top. The facilities all closed in 1985 but the second ski lift remains in places as a reminder of the old ski area.

Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Opened
開設		 Early 1960s
Closed
 閉設		 1985
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 770m (lowest point of ski area)
About 340m (Higashiyama Onsen base)
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 860m
Vertical
標高差		 About 90m (ski area)
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 20°
Number of courses
コース本数		 5
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Unconfirmed
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 100% skiers
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 2 Ropeways & 2 ski lifts
Ropeway 969m
Ropeway 700m
Single 500m
Single 372m
The Number 2 single lift remains
Other facilities have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing at Seaburiyama

Photographs

Taken in May 2021
写真撮影：2021年5月  

Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）
Seaburiyama Ski Area（背炙山スキー場・東山温泉スキー場）

Further Information

  • The Higashiyama Onsen region of Aizu Wakamatsu City has a history of over 1300 years
    　
  • The Seaburiyama Ropeway 背炙山ロープウェイ opened in 1956 and was also known as Kuchu (Aerial) Cable Car 空中ケーブルカー
    　
  • It had a capacity of 31 people
    　
  • At that time such lifts were still rare in Japan
    　
  • The 969m long cable car went from the Higashiyama Onsen hot spring area by the side of the road up to towards the top of the 863m Seaburiyama mountain
    　
  • The base station was called Higashiyama Onsen  東山温泉  and the top station was called Seaburiyama  背炙山
    　
  • The two cabins were called Asagiri あさぎり and Yuugiri ゆうぎり
    　
  • It was a very popular tourist attraction - at one time opening from 7:30am and open until 8:00pm
    　
  • A second 700m long Ropeway opened in 1962, and was called Seaburiyama Number 2 Cable  背炙山第2ケーブル
    　
  • This second 'one span' lift, with no towers between the two stations, had a capacity of 16 people
    　
  • The two cabins were called Akai Tori (Red Bird) 赤い鳥 and Aoi Tori (Blue Bird) 青い鳥
    　
  • The Seaburiyama Ropeway became known as Seaburiyama Number 1 Cable  背炙山第1ケーブル
    　
  • Two single ski lifts (500m and 372m) were built in the top area
    　
  • The ski area offered generally gentle slopes between 15 and 20 degrees
    　
  • It was a rather strange set up with the ski slopes accessed from the Higashiyama Onsen area via the two Ropeways
    　
  • In the 1970s the Prefecture Road 374 opened going up the mountain from Higashiyama Onsen
    　
  • The road surface of the road was unpaved until the mid 1980s
    　
  • With the opening of the road the number of people using the Ropeway gradually decreased
    　
  • The Ropeway eventually closed in 1985
    　
  • The Number 2 ski lift remains but nothing can be seen of the old ski runs
    　
  • The Seaburiyama Camping Ground  背あぶり山キャンプ場 is near the old lift
    　
  • The Seaburiyama Nature Park  背あぶり山自然公園  featuring Gold Hill  黄金丘  is now in the area where the base of the second Ropeway used to be
    　
  • After Seaburiyama Ski Area closed, another ski area called Oosugo  おおすごスキー場  opened about 6km to the south of Higashiyama Onsen
    　
  • Oosugo was open between 1988 and 1997 - details here

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Location
所在地

The Seaburiyama Ropeway as located by the side of Prefecture Road 325 in the Higashiyama Onsen area of Aizu Wakamatsu City.
About 9km from the Aizu Wakamatsu IC exit of the Banetsu Expressway.
About 6km from Aizu Wakamatsu Station on the Banetsu Saisen line and Tadami line.
磐越自動車道　会津若松ICから的9km
磐越西線　只見線　会津若松駅から的6km

Currently operating ski & snowboard resorts in the region
近隣の運営中のスキー場

All currently operating ski areas in Fukushima Prefecture

This page was created in May 2021
Last updated on 16th June 2021
2021年5月 作成 　2021年6月16日 更新