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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

Tateshina Associates

Saku City, Nagano Prefecture

蓼科アソシエイツスキー場　長野県佐久市

Tateshina Associates was a ski area northeast of Mount Tateshina and within the borders of Saku City in Nagano Prefecture. It opened in the mid-1980s with one pair lift. It was last open in 1997, but it was a few years beyond when it was formally closed. The ski lift and other facilities were removed in 2010, and the mountain was returned to nature. The old ski slope is now a forest, and there are no signs that there was ever a ski area at the location.

Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Opened
開設		 Mid 1980s
Officially closed in 2005
Closed
 閉設		 1997 (last open)
　
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,740m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,880m
Vertical
標高差		 140m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 35°
Number of courses
コース本数		 2
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 About 1,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 20% beginner
50% intermediate
30% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unconfirmed
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lifts
Pair About 800m
The lift and all facilities have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at Tateshina Associates

Photographs

Taken in September 2022
写真撮影：2022年9月

Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）
Tateshina Associates Ski Area（蓼科アソシエイツスキー場）

Further Information

  • It is unclear exactly when Tateshina Associates Ski Area first opened
    　

  • The ski lift could not be seen in an aerial image from 1982, but it can be seen in an image from 1986
    　

  • Access was via the scenic Tateshina Skyline  蓼科スカイライン  road from central Saku City
    　

  • The ski area was last open in 1997
    　
  • The number of visitors dropped as more conveniently located ski areas opened
    　
  • It seems like the ski area was officially temporarily closed for a few years, perhaps with a view to a possible re-opening, before being formally closed for good in 2005
    　
  • The ski lifts, floodlights and other facilities were removed in the summer and autumn of 2010
    　
  • Various trees were planted on the slope after the ski area closed
    　
  • On a visit in September 2022, it was bright and sunny down in central Saku City, but there was a thick fog covering the old ski area location
    　
  • There used to be a resort hotel and other buildings close to the top of the ski lift
    　
  • The hotel used to be members-only and commanded very expensive membership charges, perhaps explaining the name of the ski area (even though the ski area was seemingly open to the public)
    　
  • The area was completely deserted, giving it a very eerie feeling
    　
  • Clear 'no entry' signs surrounded the buildings
    　
  • A little further on, a small pathway that led to the top of the ski lift was available
    　
  • The old ski area has become like a forest, as can be seen in the above photographs
    　
  • The ski lift was less than 50m from the main road, and when Tateshina Associates was open, the base area and lift could be clearly seen from the road
    　
  • The whole location is now overgrown, and there are no signs that there was ever a ski area here
    　
  • The wider holiday home & villa area (besso-chi) close to the top of the ski area was collectively known as Tateshina Senkyo Toshi  蓼科仙境都市
    　
  • Apparently, Tateshina Senkyo Toshi was the villa area at the highest elevation in Japan

Google Earth

Google Street View

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Location
所在地

Located by the side of the Tateshina Skyline road in Saku City.
About 21km from the Saku Minami IC exit of the Chubu Odan Expressway.
中部横断自動車道　佐久南ICから的21km

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 Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in September 2022
Last updated on 14th September 2022
2022年9月 作成　2022年9月14日 更新