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

Mikuni

Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture

三国スキー場　新潟県湯沢町

Mikuni was a ski area in the southern region of Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture, close to the border with Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture. It was less than 4km to the south of the famous Naeba ski resort and was operated by the same company. Located deep in the mountains at the end of a winding and sometimes narrow road, Mikuni had a distinctly different feel to the more famous - and much busier - neighbour. For a long time, Mikuni was a skiers-only hill and joint lift tickets were available for the other two nearby areas - Shirakabadaira and Asagai. Mikuni closed in 2004 and the mountain has been returned to nature.

Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Opened
開設		 18th December 1980
Closed
 閉設		 2004
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,120m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,548m
Vertical
標高差		 428m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 30°
Number of courses
コース本数		 9
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,500m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 30% beginner
60% intermediate
10% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・スノーボード		 60% / 40% [2001]
100% / 0% [2002]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 3 lifts
Pair 1,192m
Pair 734m
Single 352m
All lifts have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in June 2020
写真撮影：2020年6月

Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）
Mikuni Ski Area（三国スキー場）

Further Information

  • Mikuni was owned and operated by the Prince Group, the same as nearby Naeba
    　
  • It was in a quiet beech forest area and offered a very different experience and atmosphere from Naeba
    　
  • The windy and sometimes narrow road from Naeba to Mikuni is about 3.5km
    　
  • Close to the end of the road on the right hand side was the Number 3 Romance pair lift and a car park
    　
  • That ski lift and car park opened on 20th December 1985
    　
  • The Number 1 Romance pair lift and main car park was about 400m further along the road
    　
  • The Mikuni Hutte  三国ヒュッテ  restaurant and ski rental facility opened in 1986
    　
  • During the 'ski boom' period Mikuni was known as one of the 'escape' areas when Naeba was extremely busy
    　
  • At one time Mikuni shared lift ticket with the nearby Asagai Gelande and Shirakabadaira Gelande
    　
  • Both the Asagai and Shirakabadaira areas are also now closed and can be found on this website
    　
  • From the 2002 season Mikuni was only open on weekends and over the New Year period
    　
  • It also once again became a 'skiers-only' area
    　
  • The three ski lifts and all of the facilities were removed around 2008-2009 and the mountain has been returned to nature
    　
  • There are many trees now growing in the base areas
    　
  • In just 11 years it has changed considerably and now it is difficult to see where the old ski courses and lifts were
    　
  • The hat-wearing signpost shown in one of the above photographs is the entrance to the hiking trail to Inazutsumiyama  稲包山
    　
  • Road signs mentioning Mikuni Ski Area remain on Route 17 - one in the Futai area near Tashiro and the other at the main Naeba road junction (photos above)
    　
  • The Chochin Iwa (lantern shaped rock)  ちょうちん岩  is located on the other side of the road between the location of the two base lifts and car parks

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

Location
所在地

Located about 3.5km to the south of the popular Naeba resort and 10km from the Tashiro Ropeway of Kagura.
About 25km from the Yuzawa IC exit and 35km from the Tsukiyono IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway.
Just under 25km from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line.
関越自動車道　湯沢ICから的25km　月夜野ICから的35km
上越新幹線　上越線　越後湯沢駅から的25km

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

Naeba 　苗場　3.8km
Kagura 　かぐら　10km
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