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

Otari Onsen

Otari Village, Nagano Prefecture

小谷温泉スキー場　長野県小谷村

Otari Onsen is located in the Nakatsuchi neighbourhood of Otari Village in northern Nagano Prefecture. Otari Onsen was never a traditional ‘ski area’, and there was never a permanent ski lift. People still ski at this location, and it acts as a base for mountain skiing. More details below.

Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1917 (?)
Closed
 閉設		 It's complicated!
See below
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 880m
Top elevation
標高最高		 Unclear
Vertical
標高差		 Unclear
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 Unknown
Number of courses
コース本数		 Unknown
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 Unknown
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Unknown
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 No fixed lifts
See below 　
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in April 2021
写真撮影：2021年4月

Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）
Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）

Further Information

  • Otari Onsen is a rather unique entry because, in some ways, it is still open
    　
  • 'Available' is probably a better description, as there are no proper ski lifts at the location and the area is free to explore
    　
  • While it is not a traditional ski area, it was (is) actually known as Otari Onsen Ski Area  小谷温泉スキー場
    　
  • A sign on a base building still states that name, as well as it being open 'since 1917' (see photo above)
    　
  • It was never listed in any of the major ski area guide books
    　
  • Some unconfirmed online sources imply that there used to be a simple lift mechanism at one time
    　
  • This area always seems to have been about being a 'yama ski' 山スキー (mountain skiing) backcountry base, rather than a traditional ski area
    　
  • The Yamada Ryokan traditional hot spring onsen accommodation  小谷温泉 大湯元 山田旅館  is located at the base
    　
  • The onsen in this location are said to have been used since 1555 (the Tenbun era 天文)
    　

  • Nakatsuchi  中土村  used to be an independent village 
    　

  • Nakatsuchi Village merged with Minami Otari Village 南小谷村  and Kita Otari Village 北小谷村  to create Otari Village  小谷村 in 1958

Google Earth

Otari Onsen Ski Area（小谷温泉スキー場）

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Located in the Nakatsuchi neighbourhood of Otari Village in northern Nagano Prefecture.
About 40km from the Itoigawa IC exit of the Hokuriku Expressway.
About 11km from Nakatsuchi Station on the Oito line.
北陸自動車道　糸魚川ICから的40km
大糸線　中土駅から的11km

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

Hakuba Cortina　白馬コルチナスキー場　21km
Hakuba Norikura Onsen 　白馬乗鞍温泉スキー場　21km
Tsugaike Kogen 　栂池高原スキー場　21km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 26th April 2022
2020年5月 作成　2022年4月26日 更新