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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

Ibukiyama

Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture

伊吹山スキー場　滋賀県米原市

Ibukiyama was a ski area located on the southern slopes of the mountain of the same name in Maebara City, Shiga Prefecture. It temporarily closed in 2005 but was quickly taken over by a different company to re-open as Piste Japon Ibuki Ski Area ピステジャポン伊吹スキー場. With the number of visitors continuing to decline and ongoing struggles with snowfall, the ski area closed permanently in 2008 and the ski lifts were removed in 2010.

Ibukiyama Ski Area （伊吹山スキー場・ピステジャポン伊吹スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1956
Closed
 閉設		 2008
Base elevation
標高最低		 420m
Top elevation
標高最高		 855m
Vertical
標高差		 435m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 39°
Number of courses
コース本数		 12
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 4,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 20% beginner
60% intermediate
20% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 40% / 60% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 11 lifts (at one time)
Gondola 1442m
Pair 446m
Pair 433m
Pair 335m
Single 448m
Single 418m
Single 768m
Single 768m
Single 263m
Single 263m
Single 588m
Ski lifts have been removed
The gondola remains in place
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at Ibukiyama, mostly on Saturdays in peak season

Further Information

  • Ibukiyama Ski Area opened in 1956 in what used to be Ibuki Town  伊吹町
    　
  • Mt Ibuki (1377m) - Ibukiyama in Japanese - is the highest mountain in Shiga Prefecture
    　
  • Mt Ibuki is one of the Japan's 100 Famous Mountains (Nihon Hyakumeizan 日本百名山) and is part of the Lake Biwa Quasi National Park  琵琶湖国定公園
    　
  • A 1990s guide book mentions how Ibukiyama Ski Area was usually able to open as early as mid December with the help of snow-making machines
    　
  • At one time there were 11 ski lifts operating at Ibukiyama
    　
  • Four of those were two single lifts running in parallel
    　
  • The six-person Ibukiyama Gondola  伊吹山ゴンドラ  opened in January 1989
    　
  • Access to the ski slopes was via the Gondola or the Sanroku Number 2 single lift 山麓第２リフト
    　
  • A 2001 guide book shows only 10 lifts operating on the mountain
    　
  • That guide book also mentioned that a lack of snow meant that lower slopes were sometimes unavailable
    　
  • Night skiing was on Saturday nights when it was open until 6am the following morning
    　
  • Due to a declining number of visitors the ski area temporarily closed in 2005
    　
  • It was quickly taken over (from Prince Hotels) by Piste Japon  ピステジャポン
    　
  • The ski area re-opened on 23rd December 2005 as Piste Japon Ibuki Ski Area  ピステジャポン伊吹スキー場
    　
  • Visitor numbers did not increase and ongoing struggles with low snowfall continued to cause problems
    　
  • Towards the end only the gondola and 4 lifts were operating
    　
  • Piste Japon Ibuki only managed to remain open until 2008
    　
  • The ski lifts were removed in 2010
    　
  • The Gondola lift was used after the ski area closed for sightseeing and trekking in the summer season
    　
  • Unfortunately that only lasted until 2011 and it has been closed since then
    　
  • The Gondola facilities remain in place
    　
  • The large limestone mine on the western slopes of the mountain next to the ski area is... not very pretty
    　
  • Ibuki Town merged with Maibara Town  米原町  and Santo Town  山東町  to become Maibara City  米原市  in February 2005
    　
  • This ski area is not to be confused with Gransnow Okuibuki グランスノー奥伊吹スキー場  (about 20km to the north)
    　
  • Gransnow Okuibuki was called Okuibuki  奥伊吹スキー場  until 2019

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Location
所在地

Just over 2km off Route 365 in the Ibuki region of Maibara in Shiga Prefecture.
About 10km from the Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
About 5km from Omi Nagaoka Station on the Tokaido Honsen line.
北陸自動車道　長浜ICから的10km
東海道本線　近江長岡駅から的5km

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

Gransnow Okuibuki 　グランスノー奥伊吹　20km
All currently operating ski areas in Shiga Prefecture

This page was created in August 2020
Last updated on 12th August 2022
2020年8月 作成　2022年8月12日 更新