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

Snow Park


Omoshiroyama

Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture

スノーパーク面白山　山形県山形市

Snow Park Omoshiroyama was a ski area located on the northern slopes of Minamiomoshiroyama, to the north east of central Yamagata City and to the east of Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture. Over the years it had previously been known as Omoshiroyama Kogen and Omoshiroyama Kokusetsu. The minor road that goes past the base area is closed during the winter months. It was famous for being the only ski area in Japan that could only be reached by train. The ticket office and pair lift was just steps away from the exit of Omoshiroyama Kogen Station on the Senzan line. Snow Park Omoshiroyama last opened in 2009.

Snow Park Omoshiroyama Ski Area（スノーパーク面白山スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1937 (?)
Closed
 閉設		 2009
Base elevation
標高最低		 460m
Top elevation
標高最高		 905m
Vertical
標高差		 445m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 34°
Number of courses
コース本数		 6
Longest course
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 30% beginner
50% intermediate
20% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 50% / 50% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 4 lifts (at time of closing)
Pair 312m
Pair 424m
Pair 439m
Pair 550m
Lifts and facilities remain in place
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in October 2023
写真撮影：2023年10月

The area around the train station

Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）

The ticket office and ski lift going up to the main area

Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）

The main lower section of the ski area

Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）
Snow Park Omoshiroyama (Yamagata, Yamagata)　スノーパーク面白山（山形県山形市）

Further Information

  • Snow Park Omoshiroyama has been known by a few different names over the years
    　
  • Initially known as Omoshiroyama Kogen Ski Area  面白山高原スキー場
    　
  • It is not 100% confirmed, but the ski area appears to have opened in 1937
    　
  • During the winter months when it was open, it could only be reached by train and was the only such ski area in Japan 全国で唯一鉄道でしかいけないスキー場
    　
  • The nearby minor road connecting it with the famous Yamadera 山寺 temple (and Yamagata City beyond) to the west and Tendo Kogen 天童高原 to the north is closed during the winter months
    　
  • The small Omoshiroyama Kogen Station on the Senzan train line 仙山線 is just steps from the ski area ticket office and Number 1 pair lift
    　
  • That ski lift took skiers and snowboarders up to what was effectively the main base of the ski area
    　
  • From that base, a further three ski lifts serviced the ski slopes at the time of the ski area closing
    　
  • As with other ski areas, looking back over the years, this ski area seems to have gone through various changes in terms of ski lifts and operations:
    　
  • 1976 guidebook: 2 ski lifts - 370m and 330m (single lifts), and also 6 rope tow lifts
    　
  • 1989 guidebook: 4 ski lifts - 320m (pair lifts) and 370m, 330m, 556m (single lift), and also 5 rope tow lifts
    　
  • 1995 guidebook: 4 ski lifts - 320m, 450m, 320m (pair lifts) and 556m (single lift) and also 1 surface lift
    　
  • 2001 guidebook: 4 ski lifts - 312m, 439m, 424m and 550m (pair lifts)
    　
  • (Note: guidebooks do not always agree on the actual lengths of lifts from year to year and have also been known to publish errors)
    　
  • In all the above guidebooks, the ski area was known as just Omoshiroyama Ski Area
    　
  • Some old signage at the location (see photo above) shows the name as Omoshiroyama Kokusetsu Ski Area 面白山国設スキー場
    　
  • It is unclear exactly when the name officially changed to Snow Park Omoshiroyama (apparently sometime between 2001 and 2008)
    　
  • Snow Park Omoshiroyama closed 'for lift maintenance' in 2009, with plans to re-open under new ownership
    　
  • A re-opening never happened, despite some attempts, post-Tohoku earthquake of 2011, around 2013
    　
  • In 2024, the ski lifts remain in place, complete with chairs attached to cables
    　
  • 15 years of nature's growth is now covering some of the old ski area facilities, making for some striking scenery and images
    　
  • The lower area is planted with cosmos for the autumn season and is known as Omoshiroyama Cosmos Berg  面白山コスモスベルグ
    　
  • The stark contrast between the old abandoned ski lifts frozen in time and the well-maintained lower area is definitely... omoshiroi!

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Location
所在地

Located next to the Omoshiroyama Kogen Station exit.
The local road by the base of the ski area is closed during the winter months.
10m from the exit of Omoshiroyama Kogen Station on the Senzan line.
仙山線　面白山高原駅から的10m　

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

All currently operating ski areas in Yamagata Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 27th October 2024
2020年5月 作成 　2024年10月27日 更新