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

Hotaka Olympia

Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture

武尊オリンピアスキー場　群馬県片品村

Hotaka Olympia was a ski area located on the south-eastern slopes of Mt Hotaka in Katashina Village in the northern region of Gunma Prefecture. This ski area opened in 1964, the year of the Tokyo Olympics. In 1975, what is now the currently operating Oguna Hotaka opened right next to Hotaka Olympia and they even shared one slope, but no basic joint lift ticket covering both was available. Hotaka Olympia closed in 2001 and now very little evidence of the ski slopes remains.

Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Opened
開設		 1964
Closed
 閉設		 2001
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,050m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,359m
Vertical
標高差		 309m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 35°
Number of courses
コース本数		 7
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 30% beginner
30% intermediate
40% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 50% / 50% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 7 lifts
Pair 605m
Pair 492m
Pair 912m
Single 306m
Single 306m
Single 610m
Single 628m
All lifts have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing in the lower area at one time

Photographs

Taken in April 2020
写真撮影：2020年4月

Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）
Hotaka Olympia Ski Area（武尊オリンピアスキー場）

Further Information

  • Hotaka Olympia opened in 1964 - the year of the Tokyo Olympics, hence the name
    　
  • 'The closest powder ski area from central Tokyo' was their claim  「都心から一番近いパウダースキー場」
    　
  • The neighbouring - and still operating - Oguna Hotaka オグナほたかスキー場  was originally known as Kokusetsu Oguna 国設武尊スキー場  when it opened in 1975
    　
  • Kokusetsu Oguna changed name to Snowpal Oguna Hokata  スノーパル・オグナ武尊  in 1997 before eventually becoming Oguna Hotaka  in 2013
    　
  • Hotaka Olympia and Snowpal Oguna Hotaka used to have a 'shared' course area, coming down from the top of the Number 5 lift at Olympia. That course continued down to the base of Hotaka Olympia close to the side of the road
    　
  • Curiously, there was no basic shared lift ticket covering the two areas
    　
  • The Number 1 AB and Number 2 AB lifts each consisted of two parallel single lifts, so the layout looked more like having five lifts rather than seven in total
    　
  • One of the single lifts had a mid-point where you could offload
    　
  • Large solar panels can now be seen around the old base area
    　
  • There are also football pitches and other sports facilities close to base
    　
  • After so many years it is now increasingly difficult to see the old slopes, especially as they are effectively hidden behind various private properties

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Location
所在地

Located about 8km off Route 120 to the west of the central area of Katashina village in Gunma Prefecture.
About 27km from the Numata IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway.
About 31.5m from Numata Station on the Joetsu line.
関越自動車道　沼田ICから的27km
上越線　沼田駅から的31.5km

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

Oguna Hotaka 　オグナほたか　Less than 1km
Katashina Kogen 　かたしな高原　17.5km
White World Oze Iwakura 　ホワイトワールド尾瀬岩鞍　18.5km
All currently operating ski areas in Gunma Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 11th August 2022
2020年5月 作成 　2022年8月11日 更新