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

Otome Kogen

Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture

乙女高原スキー場　山梨県山梨市

Otome Kogen was a ski area in Makioka Town, now part of Yamanashi City, in the western region of Yamanashi Prefecture. It was the first official ski area in Yamanashi Prefecture and opened in 1951. A T-bar lift was installed in 1975. It appears that Otome Kogen was part of a never-realised plan for a much larger ski area in this location. The ski area closed in 2000, but the site is still well maintained.

Opened
開設		 20th January 1951
Closed
 閉設		 March 2000
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 1650m
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 1700m
Vertical
標高差		 About 50m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 Unconfirmed
Number of Courses
コース本数		 3
Longest course
最長滑走距離		 About 300m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Unconfirmed
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unconfirmed
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift (see below)
T-bar About 150m
Any lift has been removed

Photographs

Taken in November 2023
写真撮影：2023年11月

Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）
Otome Kogen Ski Area (Yamanashi, Yamanashi)　乙女高原スキー場（山梨県山梨市）

Further Information

  • Otome Kogen is a highland area in the southwestern part of the Okuchichibu Sankai mountain range 奥秩父山塊 in Yamanashi Prefecture
    　
  • This area used to be part of Makioka Town  牧丘町
    　
  • Makioka Town became part of Yamanashi City in March 2005
    　
  • Otome Kogen Ski Area opened on 20th January 1951
    　
  • It was the first official ski area in Yamanashi Prefecture and was operated by the prefecture
    　
  • Before then, there were no suitable places to practice skiing in Yamanashi, so skiers had to travel north into Nagano Prefecture
    　
  • When Otome Kogen was being planned, the name was initially Kinpu Sanroku Ski-Jo Otome Gelande  金峰山麓スキー場乙女ゲレンデ
    　
  • (Mt Kinpu is the second highest peak in the Okuchichibu mountain range)
    　
  • It appears that there were plans for a potentially much larger ski area, and Otome was just the first part to be developed
    　
  • According to an official Prefecture government document, in 1975, a 150m t-bar lift was installed - the first in the prefecture
    　
  • No other record of any ski lifts can be found
    　
  • The Makioka-cho Otome Kogen Green Lodge 牧丘町乙女高原グリ－ンロッジ opened in 1978 by the base of the ski area
    　
  • Various ski competitions were held on this slope
    　
  • The first snow each year usually fell in early November and lasted until the middle of April
    　
  • However, this area never enjoyed large amounts of snowfall like many 'snow country' regions
    　
  • This is an area of tall grass, and grass-cutting was required each year just before the winter season
    　
  • As transportation options improved, larger and more modern ski areas further away became more popular, and the number of people visiting Otome Kogen declined
    　
  • The ski area closed in March 2000
    　
  • In April 2001, the Otome Kogen Fan Club 乙女高原ファンクラブ opened for people who wanted to help with the maintenance of the area and prevent it from becoming overgrown
    　
  • The cutting and maintenance of the grassland have continued
    　
  • Many types of wildflowers grow in the area, and there are a few easy walking courses around the old ski slope
    　
  • The slope is also surrounded by a fence with various gates to prevent wild animals from entering
    　
  • There is also a viewing area at the top with beautiful views looking south towards Mt Fuji

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Located by the side of the Crystal Line road in the western region of Yamanashi City.
About 16.5km off Route 140.
About 20km from Yamanashishi Station on the Chuo Honsen line.
中央本線　山梨市駅から的20km

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 Yamanashi Prefecture

This page was created in August 2022
Last updated on 6th December 2023
2022年8月 作成 　2023年12月6日 更新