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

Ongaku no mori

Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture

草津音楽の森スキー場　群馬県草津町

Ongaku no mori (or Kusatsu Ongaku no mori) was a ski area to the north of the famous Kusatsu onsen hot spring town area in the western region of Gunma Prefecture. Ongaku no mori shared a lift ticket with the nearby Kusatsu Kokusai ski area as well as a shuttle bus that operated between the two ski areas. The average slope of this area was just 4 degrees and the maximum slope was 8 degrees… more suited to the golf course in the same location than a ski area! The golf course remains open. The Ongaku no mori ski area closed in 1999.

Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area（草津音楽の森スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1987
Closed
 閉設		 1999
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,260m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,350m
Vertical
標高差		 90m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 8°
Number of courses
コース本数		 3
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 1,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 100% beginner
0% intermediate
0% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 2 lifts
Triple 　
Triple 　
The lifts have been removed but the base lift buildings remain
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in April 2021
写真撮影：2021年4月 

Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）
Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Ski Area （草津音楽の森スキー場）

Further Information

  • Ongaku means music; mori means forest - so the name translates as 'forest of music'
    　
  • Ongaku no mori was part open for the 1987-1988 winter season
    　
  • It was fully open from the 1988-1989 season
    　
  • The ski areas had two high speed triple lifts
    　
  • It featured very gentle slopes with an average gradient of just 4 degrees and a maximum of 8 degrees
    　
  • It sold itself as an area for families with infants and young children
    　
  • Ongaku no mori had its own independent name but the lift ticket was shared with the larger main Kusatsu Kokusai  草津国際スキー場  ski area
    　
  • Kusatsu Kokusai has gone through changes itself but remains open and is currently known as Kusatsu Onsen  草津温泉スキー場
    　
  • There was a shuttle bus between Kusatsu Kokusai and Ongaku no mori
    　
  • After closing the area was used as a cross country course during winter
    　
  • The Kusatsu Onsen Golf Course 草津温泉ゴルフ場  opened in 1989 in the same location
    　
  • The golf course remains open
    　
  • The Kusatsu Ongaku no mori Kokusai Concert Hall 草津音楽の森国際コンサートホール is also nearby

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

Location
所在地

Located just off Prefecture Road 55 and about 1.5km off Route 292 to the north of central Kusatsu Town in the north-western region of Gunma Prefecture.
About 60km from the Shibukawa Ikaho IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway.
About 17km from Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station on the Agatsuma line.
関越自動車道　渋川伊香保ICから的60km
吾妻線　長野原草津口駅から的17km

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

Kusatsu Onsen 　草津温泉　1.5km
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