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

Motoshirane &



Shirane Kazan




Ropeway

Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture

本白根ゲレンデ・白根火山ロープウェー
（草津国際スキー場）
群馬県草津町

Kusatsu Onsen is a ski area in Kusatsu Town in the western region of Gunma Prefecture. It is still operating in 2024. The ski area dates back to 1914 and has a long history. Until 2018, it was known Kusatsu Kokusai and was much larger than the current ski area. The top section of Kusatsu Kokusai, known as Motoshirane, was permanently closed in 2018 due to a nearby volcanic eruption and subsequent damage to facilities. The now-closed top section includes a gondola lift (somewhat confusingly called Shirane Kazan Ropeway) and, at one time, up to four ski lifts.

Photographs

Taken in May 2024
写真撮影：2024年5月

[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）

Photographs

Taken in January 2009
写真撮影：2009年1月

[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）
[Motoshirane & Shirane Kazan Ropeway] Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area (Gunma)　白根火山ロープウェー・本白根（群馬県草津町）

Information

  • Kusatsu Onsen is a famous onsen hot spring resort in the western region of Gunma Prefecture, close to the border with Nagano Prefecture
    　
  • The ski area is one of the 'classic' Japanese ski resorts, with a long - and somewhat complicated - history dating back to 1914
    　
  • The lower Tenguyama area 天狗山 opened to the public in 1935, and one of the first ski lifts open to the Japanese public was installed in 1948
    　
  • Over the years, in guidebooks dating back to the 1970s, the ski area was known under different names, including Kusatsu Ski Area 草津スキー場, Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area 草津温泉スキー場 and Kusatsu-Shirane Ski Area 草津・白根スキー場
    　
  • In the 1970s, the whole was described as consisting of  'five connected ski areas’:
    　
  • Tenguyama 天狗山
    　
  • Onariyama 御成山（おなりやま）
    　
  • Sesshou 殺生（せっしょう）
    　
  • Ainomine 逢ノ峰　（あいのみね）
    　
  • Motoshirane 本白根
    　
  • In 1960, the 2,400m Shirane Kazan Ropeway 白根火山ロープウェイ opened in the top section of the ski area
    　
  • Rather than just two large cabins (like most lifts known as 'Ropeways' in Japan), it was actually a gondola-style lift with many individual cabins, each holding up to 6 people
    　
  • It was open throughout the year for sightseeing
    　
  • In 1977, the facility was renamed Shirane Kazan Gondola 白根火山ゴンドラ
    　
  • In 1988, it went back to being Shirane Kazan Ropeway
    　
  • It is unclear precisely what the changes/upgrades were along the way and why the name was changed multiple times!
    　
  • With the 1998 Nagano Olympics in mind, apparently, in 1991, a new separate gondola link connecting Kusatsu and Shibutoge ski area in nearby Shiga Kogen was proposed (though it never happened)
    　
  • In 1995, the ski area became known as Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Area 草津国際スキー場
    　
  • At one time, the area at the top of the gondola consisted of four ski lifts: Motoshirane Number 1 pair (330m), Motoshirane Number 2 pair (372m), Motoshrane Number 3 (328m) and Ainomine pair (215m)
    　
  • Some guidebooks also show a simple surface pony lift up next to the Number 2 lift
    　
  • The Motoshirane Number 3 lift seems to have been closed (and removed) a long time ago, and the Ainomine romance lift was last open in 2013
    　
  • From the top area, you could ski back down an 8000m course to the Tenguyama base of the ski area
    　
  • Unfortunately, in January 2018, there was a large volcanic eruption nearby that resulted in one fatality and some injuries
    　
  • The eruption also caused damage to lift facilities in the upper Motoshirane area
    　
  • After that incident, the decision was made to permanently close the Ropeway along with the top section of the ski area
    　
  • The ski area has, however, remained open on a smaller scale, with seven ski lifts now operating (a new 'pulse gondola', two quad lifts and four pair lifts) in areas named Tenguyama, Family, Onariyama and Aobayama
    　
  • It was also renamed to Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area in April 2018
    　
  • In 2024, the supporting towers of the gondola lift largely remain in place
    　
  • Unfortunately, due to ongoing worries of volcano activity, car parking and walking around the Motoshirane area is not permitted, so it was not possible to see any of the ski lift remains on a visit in May 2024
    　
  • More information on the current Kusatsu Onsen can be found on SnowJapan here
    　
  • Please also see the related resources on SnowJapanHistory:
    　
  • Asahiyama Gelande (Manza Onsen)
    　
  • Kumaike Gelande (Manza Onsen)
    　
  • Manza Ropeway (Manza Onsen)

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Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

The base station of Shirane Kazan Ropeway was located by the side of Route 292.
The stretch of Route 292 above that point is closed during the winter season.
Access to the gondola was via the ski lifts of Kusatsu Onsen Ski Area.
About 58km from the Shibukawa Ikaho IC exit of the Kanetsu Expressway.
About 15km from Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station on the Agatsuma line.
関越自動車道　渋川伊香保ICから的58km
吾妻線　長野原草津口駅から的15km

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 Gunma Prefecture

This page was created in May 2024
Last updated on 15th May 2024
2024年5月 作成 　2024年5月15日 更新