SnowJapanHistory　スノージャパン ヒストリー
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

Asosan

Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture

阿蘇山スキー場　熊本県阿蘇市

Asosan was a small ski area located close to Mt Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu. The one ski lift serviced a gentle slope that was used both during the winter and also during the summer months for grass skiing, when it was officially known as Aso Artificial Ski Ground. Asosan closed in 2003 leaving Kumamoto Prefecture without an operating ski area. The base building and ski lift have now been removed.

Asosan Ski Area（阿蘇山スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1968
Closed
 閉設		 2003
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,050m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,100m
Vertical
標高差		 50m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 14°
Number of courses
コース本数		 1
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 300m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 100% beginner
0% intermediate
0% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift
Single 450m
The lift and base building have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 One guidebook from 2001 said there was night skiing; another from the same year said there wasn't. Unconfirmed!

Further Information

  • This ski area was located to the west of the famous Mt Aso
    　
  • It featured one single lift - with 87 chairs - and a gentle average slope gradient of just 7°
    　
  • Asosan increasingly struggled for natural snowfall and at one time 6 snow making machines were used to help out
    　
  • Two other ski areas opened in nearby prefectures around 1990 - Tenzan  天山スキー場  in Saga Prefecture and Gokase  五ヶ瀬スキー場  in MiyazakiPrefecture
    　
  • The number of people visiting Asosan decreased after those areas opened
    　
  • The lift also operated outside of the winter season for summer grass skiing
    　
  • The summer operations were known as Aso Artificial Ski Ground  阿蘇人口スキー場
    　
  • Asosan closed in 2003
    　
  • The abandoned base building and ski lift were left in place for a while before being demolished around 2012
    　
  • One information source claims that the demolition costs came to 22,600,000 yen
    　
  • Only the car park now remains and it is used by an operation offering tourist helicopter tours of Mt Aso

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

Location
所在地

Located by the side of Prefecture Road 298, close to Mt Aso in the southern region of Aso City in Kumamoto Prefecture.
About 14km from Aso Station on the Houhi Honsen line.
豊肥本線　阿蘇駅から的14km

This page was created in June 2020
Last updated on 12th August 2022
2020年5月 作成 　2022年8月12日 更新