Ski areas from Japan’s past 過去の日本のスキー場を懐かしむ

Kita Iiyama

Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture

北飯山スキー場　長野県飯山市

Kita Iiyama was a ski area located close to the centre of Iiyama City in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. It opened in December 1964 and closed in the spring of 1976 and so it was only operating for 12 winter seasons. There were two single ski lifts at Kita Iiyama covering largely fairly gentle slopes that are now mostly farmers fields. Partial remains of both ski lifts can still be found at the location, but they are well hidden in trees and undergrowth - they could only be found on a second visit in April 2022.

Opened
開設		 1964
Closed
 閉設		 1976
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 360m
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 455m
Vertical
標高差		 About 95m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 30°
Number of courses
コース本数		 4
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 About 1,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Mostly fairly gentle
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Closed before snowboarding became popular
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 2 lifts
Single About 300m
Single About 400m
Parts of both ski lifts remain (see below)
Night skiing
ナイター設備
There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in April 2020
写真撮影：2020年4月

Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）

Number 1 lift

Taken in April 2022
写真撮影：2022年4月 

Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）

Number 2 lift

Taken in April 2022
写真撮影：2022年4月  

Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）
Kita Iiyama Ski Area（北飯山スキー場）

Further Information

  • When Kita Iiyama Ski Area first opened there was just one 300m single lift
    　
  • A second single lift was added at a later date
    　
  • That second lift was originally less than 200m in length
    　
  • It was subsequently extended by a further 200m in 1967
    　
  • One ride on either ski lift cost 40 yen; seven rides cost 250 yen
    　
  • Ski rental cost 650 yen for one day
    　
  • Boots rental cost 250 yen for one day
    　
  • An overnight stay with two meals at a local accommodation cost as little as 800 yen
    　
  • Iiyama Kokusai Ski Area  飯山国際スキー場  (now closed) was located about 500m to the south of Kita Iiyama Ski Area
    　
  • An old guidebook describes a simple lift - a rope tow or sledge-type mechanism - connecting Kita Iiyama with Iiyama Kokusai
    　
  • More information on Iiyama Kokusai can be found here
    　
  • A different guidebook from 1973 mentions a 150m ropetow lift that cost 20 yen to use one time
    　
  • It is unclear if that rope tow lift is the same one mentioned in the other guidebook
    　
  • The guidebook also mentions services at Kita Iiyama called ポップスノー (pop snow) and スノーロケット (snow rocket) - both cost 150 yen for one hour, but no further description is offered
    　
  • Kita Iiyama Ski Area was only open for about 12 years and it closed in 1976
    　
  • The old ski slopes are now largely farmers fields
    　
  • The concrete base, towers and top of the Number 1 ski lift remain in place
    　
  • The base foundation and lift machinery, lower three towers and a concrete foundation of at least one more tower of the Number 2 ski lift also remain in place
    　
  • The remains of the ski lifts are all now well hidden in trees and undergrowth

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

  • Just over 500m off Route 292 just to the north of central Iiyama City

  • About 10km from the Toyota Iiyama IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway

  • Just over 2.5km from Kita Iiyama Station on the Iiyama line

  • About 4km from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Iiyama line

  • 上信越自動車道　豊田飯山ICから的10km

  • 飯山線　北飯山駅から的 2.5km　飯山駅から的4km

  • 北陸新幹線　飯山駅から的4km

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 19th April 2022
2020年5月 作成　2022年4月19日 更新