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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

Geihoku Kokusai

Kitahiroshima Town, Hiroshima Prefecture

芸北国際スキー場　広島県北広島町

Geihoku Kokusai is a ski area in what is now Kitahiroshima City in the western region of Hiroshima Prefecture. It opened in 1972. Geihoku Kokusai was one of the largest ski areas in western Japan and, for many years, had 10 ski lifts. In 1997 two pair lifts were replaced by the first six-person lift in Japan. The ski area went through several management changes. It was known as Pine Ridge Resorts Geihoku between 2004 and 2009 before reverting to the Geihoku Kokusai name. Last open for the 2019-2020 season, there has been no recent news regarding the future of the still-standing facilities.

Opened
開設		 1972
Closed
 閉設		 Last open in February 2020
Base elevation
標高最低		 705m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1126m
Vertical
標高差		 421m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 34°
Number of courses
コース本数		 13
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 40% beginner
50% intermediate
10% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 65% / 35% [2006]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 10 lifts
Triple 470m
Triple 470m
Pair 908m
Pair 650m
Pair 850m
Single 440m
Single 351m
Single 520m
Single 575m
Single 750m
Since the 2007-2008 season, configuration was as follows:
Six person lift 1,700m
Quad 800m
Triple 470m
Triple 470m
Pair 908m
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at Geihoku Kokusai

Further Information

  • Geihoki Kokusai was one of the largest ski areas in western Japan
    　
  • On opening in 1972, it was part of Geihoku Town 芸北町
    　
  • The ski area had three distinct areas as well as a 1.5km cross-country ski course
    　
  • The first to open was the north-facing Kokusai Area 国際エリア
    　
  • The other two areas were called Kakezu Area カケズエリア and Oohira Area おーひらエリア
    　
  • For many years 10 ski lifts were operating at Geihoku Kokusai (two triples, three pairs and five singles)
    　
  • The Kokusai Number 5 single lift disappeared from course maps from the 1996 season
    　
  • For the 1997-1998 season, the two pair lifts going to the summit were replaced by one 6-person lift called the Oohira Express
    　
  • Oohira Express was the only six-person lift in Japan for many years until the Sunrise Express サンライズエクスプレス gondola/6-person hybrid lift opened at Ishiuchi Maruyama 石打丸山 in Niigata Prefecture in 2018
    　
  • In the same season, the two single lifts in the Kokusai Area were replaced by a new quad lift called Kokusai Express 国際エクスプレス
    　
  • The ski area was sold in 2003
    　
  • It opened for the 2004 season as Pine Ridge Resorts Geihoku パインリッジリゾーツ芸北
    　
  • On 1st February 2005, Geihoku Town merged with three neighbouring towns to become Kitahiroshima Town
    　
  • The two Kakezu single lifts were last operating in 2007
    　
  • Pine Ridge Resorts went into financial difficulties and bankruptcy in 2009
    　
  • Another company took over, and the ski area once again became known as Geihoku Kokusai
    　
  • The Mac Earth group took over management of the ski area in 2012
    　
  • There was low snowfall during the 2019-2020 season, and the last day for the ski area was 24th February 2020
    　
  • The management company decided that opening for the 2020-2021 season would be too high a risk
    　
  • Since then, the ski area has not opened, and there hasn't been any significant news or rumours
    　
  • It is unclear if there is a chance of any re-opening in the future
    　
  • If there is any news, it will be reported here (and also on SnowJapan, www.snowjapan.com)
    　
  • And, of course, if the ski area ever re-opens, it will be re-listed on SnowJapan with full details
    　
  • In recent years, JNCC (Japan National Cross Country) 全日本クロスカントリー選手権 motorbike events have been held at the location
　

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Location
所在地

About 2km off Route 185 in the western region of Kitahiroshima Town in the western region of Hiroshima Prefecture.
About 33km from the Hamada IC exit of the Hamada Expressway and San-in Expressway.
浜田自動車道　浜田ICから的33km

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 Hiroshima Prefecture

This page was created in May 2023
Last updated on 12th June 2023
2023年5月 作成 　2023年6月12日 更新