Ski areas from Japan’s past 過去の日本のスキー場を懐かしむ

Ginzan Onsen

Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture

銀山温泉スキー場　山形県尾花沢市

Ginzan Onsen was a small ski area close to the famous onsen hot spring of the same name in Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The opening and closing dates of this ski area cannot be confirmed, but there was one single ski lift. It appears to have been closed for at least a few decades.

Opened
開設		 Unknown
Closed
 閉設		 Unknown
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 270m
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 400m
Vertical
標高差		 About 130m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 Unconfirmed
Number of courses
コース本数		 A few
Longest course
最長滑走距離		 About 800m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Unconfirmed
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift
Single 595m
Rope tow 　
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 Unconfirmed

Photographs

Taken in October 2023
写真撮影：2023年10月

Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）
Ginzan Onsen Ski Area（銀山温泉スキー場）

Further Information

  • Ginzan Onsen is a famous onsen hot spring area due to its traditional Taisho Era architecture
    　
  • Although popular throughout the year, it is especially well-known for its 'picture-perfect' snowy scenery in mid-winter, featuring bridges and streets lit by gaslight after nightfall
    　
  • Less well-known is that there used to be a ski area a short walk from the main pedestrian-only onsen road
    　
  • Little confirmed information about Ginzan Onsen Ski Area can be found, including when it opened and closed (though it has already been closed for a long time)
    　
  • The base of the old ski area is now one of the main car parks for visitors to Ginzan Onsen
    　
  • There was one 595m single lift, and the remains of its concrete foundation can still be seen by the side of the car park
    　
  • A 1976 guidebook also mentions at least one rope tow lift and a later guidebook suggests that they were open beyond the single lift closing
    　
  • The name Ginzan means 'silver mine' - the local economy initially grew due to silver mining before it became popular for onsen

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

  • Located about 10 minutes walk from the famous traditional hot spring area of Ginzan Onsen

  • 14km from the Obanazawa IC exit of the Tohoku Chuo Expressway

  • 16km from Oishida Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen and Ou Honsen line

  • 東北中央自動車道　尾花沢ICから的14km

  • 奥羽本線　大石田駅から的16km

This page was created in May 2023
Last updated on 24th November 2023
2023年5月 作成 　2023年11月24日 更新