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

Kirigamine Sawatari

Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture

霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場　長野県諏訪市

Kirigamine Sawatari was a ski area located in the Kirigamine Kogen highland region of Suwa City in Nagano Prefecture, in the Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen Quasi National Park. The open location gave Kirigamine Sawatari a rather different feel from most Japanese ski areas. Unfortunately, it closed in the late 1990s. As seen in the photographs below, the ski lift was still there in May 2021, but by July 2022, it had been completely removed.

Kirigamine Sawagatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1980
Closed
 閉設		 Late 1990s
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,685m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,790m
Vertical
標高差		 105m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 Unknown
Number of courses
コース本数		 3
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 About 1,000m
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		 1 lift
Single 480m
The lift was removed sometime between May 2021 and July 2022
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in May 2021
写真撮影：2021年5月 

Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）
Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area（霧ケ峰沢渡スキー場）

Further Information

  • Kirigamine Sawatari Ski Area was located on an open grassland area of Kirigamine Kogen  霧ケ峰高原  in Suwa City
    　
  • The location made it look unlike most other ski areas in Japan, with wide open spaces and not many trees
    　
  • There was one single 480m ski lift
    　
  • The mostly gentle slopes were on the eastern side of the lift
    　
  • A ski guide book from the time mentions that the area was popular with families with children
    　
  • There are however indications that it also attracted more adventurous types
    　
  • By the base of the ski lift there was a sign warning about quickly changing weather conditions on this mountain
    　
  • It also asked people wanting to explore the wide-open nature of the area to fill in a mountain climbing registration card before venturing out
    　
  • There might also have been a rope tow lift in the lower areas, though that is unconfirmed
    　
  • This ski area closed in the late 1990s
    　
  • The ski lift was still there on a visit in May 2021
    　
  • However, it has since been cleanly removed
    　
  • This area is part of the Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen Quasi National Park  八ヶ岳中信高原国定公園
    　
  • The Quasi National Park was established in 1964
    　
  • From the top area there are fine views of the Japanese Alps as well as Mount Fuji to the south

Google Earth

Google Street View

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Location
所在地

Located just over off the Venus Line road in the Kirigamine Kogen area of Suwa City.
About 18km from the Suwa IC exit of the Chuo Expressway.
About 16km from Kami Suwa Station on the Chuo Line.
中央自動車道　諏訪ICから的18km
中央本線　上諏訪駅から的16km

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

Kurumayama Kogen SKYPARK 　車山高原SKYPARK　10km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in May 2021
Last updated on 12th August 2022
2021年5月 作成 　2022年8月12日 更新