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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

Kayama Captain Coast

Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture

加山キャプテンコーストスキー場
新潟県湯沢町

Kayama Captain Coast was a ski area located about 6 kilometres to the east of the central area of Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture. The popular singer and actor Yuzo Kayama was the driving force behind this ski hill. There were initial plans for Kayama Captain Coast to be larger than it ever became but unfortunately it operated at a loss from the opening season. The resort was closed during for the 2010-2011 winter season as it announced that it was undergoing ‘renewal developments’, though specific details were never revealed. On 11th March 2011, the major earthquake in the northern Tohoku region of Japan disrupted the ski season and Kayama Captain Coast never re-opened.

Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Opened
開設		 December 1990
Closed
 閉設		 Last operated in 2010
Officially closed in 2011
Base elevation
標高最低		 503m
Top elevation
標高最高		 765m
Vertical
標高差		 262m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 40°
Number of courses
コース本数		 6
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 1,500m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 40% beginner
30% intermediate
30% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 70% / 30% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 4 lifts
Quad 850m
Quad 850m
Pair 550m
Pair 590m
All lifts have been removed
Concrete foundations of some base buildings remain
Floodlit operations
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at Kayama Captain Coast
Night time operations were suspended in later years before the ski area closed

Photographs

Taken in April 2020
写真撮影：2020年4月

Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）
Kayama Captain Coast Ski Area（加山キャプテンコーストスキー場）

Further Information

  • Kayama Captain Coast was owned by the popular musician, songwriter and actor, Yuzo Kayama 加山雄三
    　
  • It featured a few steep courses and a handful of gentler slopes
    　
  • There were initial plans for Kayama Captain Coast to expand, but those plans never came to pass
    　
  • That explains why course Numbers 5, 6, 7 and 8 were always missing
    　
  • From the beginning, only course numbers 1-4 and 9-10 were on the official course maps
    　
  • The base area featured a full-sized yacht... sailing was another personal interest of Mr Kayama
    　
  • A special seafood ramen noodle dish available in the base area restaurant was Mr Kayama's idea
    　
  • He also often made personal appearances, especially when events were held at the ski area like Nabisco Family Ski and Captain Coast Cup GS
    　
  • Effectively tucked away behind Yuzawa Park  湯沢パークスキー場, Kayama Captain Coast was about 1km off the Prefecture Road 457 which continues to the popular Daigenta Canyon  大源太キャニオン  area
    　
  • Kayama Captain Coast last operated in 2010 and officially announced closing in July 2011
    　
  • Outdoor music events were sometimes held at the base area in the summer months
    　
  • The concrete foundations of the base buildings and car parks remain

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Location
所在地

Located to the east of the main central area of Yuzawa Town.
About 6km from the Yuzawa IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway.
About 7km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line.
関越自動車道　湯沢ICから的6km
上越新幹線　上越線　越後湯沢駅から的7km

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

Yuzawa Park 　湯沢パーク　2.5km
Iwappara 　岩原　4km
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort 　湯沢中里スノーリゾート　4.5km
All currently operating ski areas in the region
All currently operating ski areas in Niigata Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 11th August 2022
2020年5月 作成 　2022年8月11日 更新