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

Goshiki

Yonezawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture

五色スキー場　山形県米沢市

Goshiki was a ski area located in Yonezawa City in the southern region of Yamagata Prefecture, close to the border with Fukushima Prefecture. Goshiki dates back to 1911, and it appears to have been the ‘first privately owned ski area’ in Japan. The nearby Goshiki Onsen hot springs were a popular draw before the ski area closed in 1998 due to declining numbers and the ageing ski lift.

Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Opened
開設		 Origins dating back to 1911
Single lift installed in 1955
Closed
 閉設		 1998
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 750m
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 920m
Vertical
標高差		 About 170m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 20°
Number of courses
コース本数		 1
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 800m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Generally fairly gentle slope
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift
Single 600m
The lift has been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in June 2022
写真撮影：2022年6月 

Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）
Goshiki Ski Area（五色スキー場）

Further Information

  • The official name of the ski area was Goshiki, but in some places, it is referred to as Goshiki Onsen  五色温泉 スキー場
    　
  • Goshiki Onsen is also the name of an onsen hot spring with just one accommodation called Soukawa Ryokan  宗川旅館 
    　
  • Until 2021, Soukawa Ryokan enjoyed a history of over 120 years
    　
  • Goshiki is found at the end of a 7km road that goes up from the area around Itaya Station 板谷駅 on the Ou Honsen train line
    　
  • The ski slope itself was on either side of the road, while the accommodation was on the other side of the slope
    　
  • Goshiki Ski Area plays a part in the early history of skiing in Japan
    　
  • In 1911 the Austrian Egon Edler von Kratzer エゴン・フォン・クラッツァー  visited and skied at Goshiki
    　
  • A ski club was established in 1914
    　
  • In the same year, Goshiki is said to have become 'the first privately owned ski area in Japan'  「日本で最初の民営スキー場」
    　
  • A few ski areas seem to have appeared around that same period - without ski lifts - and Goshiki was undoubtedly one of the first
    　
  • Apparently, people walked up to the onsen and ski area from the train station (it took over 1 hour!)
    　
  • Over the years, members of the Japanese Imperial Family, as well as other wealthy and famous guests, visited Goshiki
    　
  • In 1924 a special ski lodge building was built for these guests, called Rokka Club 六華倶楽部
    　
  • A special VIP room was also available for such visitors at Itaya Station
    　
  • Various national ski events were also held on the slopes of Goshiki in the Showa era
    　
  • During some of these events, there was a special ski run from the ski area toward Igaya Station
    　
  • Goshiki was also used as a base for mountain ski tours around nearby Mt Iegata 家形山 and Mt Issaikyo 一切経山
    　
  • The single ski lift, one of the first steel-frame ski lifts in Japan, was installed in 1955
    　
  • The ageing lift, as well as the declining number of visitors, contributed to the ski area closing in 1998
    　
  • The ski lift was removed, though what looks like a concrete base of one of the towers (unconfirmed) still remains by the side of the road
    　
  • Soukawa Ryokan remained open after the ski area closed, but itself closed on 30th November 2020
    　
  • In June 2022, some kind of demolition, restoration or construction work is being undertaken at the site of the old accommodation
    　
  • Itaya Station was also well-known as having a switchback track
    　
  • The switchback was abolished in 1990, but the small, unmanned station is still open
    　
  • Wikipedia shows that in 2004 an average of just 16 people used the station every day

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Location
所在地

Just over 7km off Route 13 in the southern region of Yonezawa City, close to the border with Fukushima Prefecture
About 33km from the Fukushima Nishi IC exit of the Tohoku Expressway.
About 7km from Itaya Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen line.
東北中央自動車道　米沢中央ICから的17km
山形新幹線　板谷駅から的16km

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

Yonezawa　米沢　14km
All currently operating ski areas in Yamagata Prefecture

This page was created in July 2020
Last updated on 22nd June 2022
2020年5月 作成 　2022年6月22日 更新