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

Shirakawa Kogen

Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture

白河高原スキー場　福島県西郷村

Shirakawa Kogen was a ski area located on the eastern slopes of Azakurayama in the central southern region of Fukushima Prefecture, close to the border with Tochigi Prefecture. It opened in 1972 as Azukurayama. Azukurayama was redeveloped and renamed Shirakawa Kogen a few years before eventually closing in 2001. Two decades later, the ski lifts and base building facilities remain in place. Since 2014 significant efforts have been made to plant trees and encourage nature to take back control.

Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1972
Closed
 閉設		 2001
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,090m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,500m
Vertical
標高差		 410m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 30°
Number of courses
コース本数		 6
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 50% beginner
35% intermediate
15% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 40% / 60% [2000]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 5 lifts
Quad 1,000m
Pair 700m
Pair 578m
Pair 578m
Pair 589m
Lifts and the abandoned base building remain
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing in the lower area, mostly on weekends and holidays
 

Photographs

Taken in April 2022
写真撮影：2022年4月  

Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）
Shirakawa Kogen Ski Area（白河高原スキー場・赤面山スキー場）

Further Information

  • This ski area was originally known as Azakurayama Ski Area  赤面山スキー場
    　
  • Azakurayama made some changes and re-opened as Shirakawa Kogen in the late 1990s, but it only operated for a few more seasons beyond the change
    　
  • One hooded quad and four pair lifts serviced the slopes and the two lower pair lifts ran in parallel
    　
  • Artificial snow-making machines were also installed to help natural snowfall
    　
  • There was night skiing in the lower section with the two pair lifts operating
    　
  • At one time the night skiing was until 10pm every day (in later years it was only on Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm)
    　
  • The floodlights were multi-coloured, and they called it Rainbow Nighta  レインボーナイターゲレンデ
    　
  • After closing, the ski lifts and facilities were not removed - they still remain in place as if just abandoned one day
    　
  • In January 2014, a group was formed with the aim of helping nature reclaim the mountain
    　
  • The group is called  赤面山を緑にする会 - which basically translates as the 'make Azakurayama green' group
    　
  • Many trees have been planted on the old ski slopes every year since 2014 over the green season
    　
  • There are some signs around the base near the old lifts that mention these efforts
    　
  • It also points out the areas where planting has taken place and asks people not to enter them with skis and snowmobiles
    　
  • Apparently, it is proving to be more difficult for tree growth in the upper areas, but the efforts continue
    　
  • During a visit to the location in spring 2022 the lower ski runs were clearly much less visible than they were just ten years previously
    　
  • There do not seem to be any plans to remove the ski lifts, so it looks like, over time, the facilities will continue to disappear into new forest
    　
  • When the ski area was operating, the approach road was known as the Nasu Kashi Line  那須甲子道路
     
  • The Nasu Kashi Line was a toll road which effectively added to the cost of skiing at Shirakawa Kogen
    　
  • In 2008 the Nasu Kashi Line became the toll-free prefecture road number 290

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Located just off Prefecture Road 290, about 6km to the south of Route 298.
About 20km from the Shirakawa IC exit of the Tohoku Expressway.
About 21.5km from Shin Shirakawa Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen and Tohoku Honsen line.
東北自動車道　白河ICから的20km
東北新幹線　東北本線　新白河駅から的21.5km

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

Mt Jeans Ski Resort Nasu 　マウントジーンズ那須 　4.5km
Nasu Onsen Family 　那須温泉ファミリー 　12.5km
All currently operating ski areas in Fukushima Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 13th June 2022
2020年5月 作成 　2022年6月13日 更新