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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

Niseko Iwanai Kokusai

Iwanai Town, Hokkaido

ニセコいわない国際スキー場　北海道岩内町

Niseko Iwanai Kokusai was a ski area on the northern slopes of Iwanai-dake in the town of the same name in Hokkaido. It opened in 1980 and has seen many changes in operations and names over the years. Over its lifetime, there has been one quad lift, two pair lifts and five single lifts - though not all operated simultaneously. One ski lift and CAT tours are still operating at the location, now known as IWANAI RESORT.

Opened
開設		 1980
Closed
 閉設		 Still operating as IWANAI RESORT
Base elevation
標高最低		 210m
Top elevation
標高最高		 880m
Vertical
標高差		 670m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 33°
Number of courses
コース本数		 8
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 3,200m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 200% beginner
50% intermediate
20% advanced
[2001 guidebook]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 8 lifts (at one time)
Quad 1355m
Pair 703m (still operating)
Pair 827m
Single 597m
Single 607m
Single 981m
Single 749m
Single 439m
Unused ski lifts remain in place
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at this ski area at one time

Further Information

  • Over the years, this ski area has experienced many significant changes in operations - and many different names!
    　
  • Iwanai Ski Area いわないスキー場 opened on the northern slopes of Iwanai-dake in 1980
    　
  • The ski area is about 20km (directly; over 30km by road) north-west of the famous ski areas in Kutchan Town and Niseko Town
    　
  • The slopes offer beautiful views overlooking Iwanai Town and bay
    　
  • For a while, Iwanai was operating with one pair lift and five single lifts (all but the quad lift and pair lift shown in blue in the above image)
    　
  • After a management change in 1989, it was known as Niseko West Valley Iwanai Kokusai Ski Area ニセコウエストバレーいわない国際スキー場
    　
  • ...though at the same time, it was also introduced as Niseko West Valley Iwanai Ski Area ニセコウエストバレーいわないスキー場 in some guidebooks
    　
  • The 1355m Niseko West Valley quad lift opened in 1990, and in that season, about 125,000 people visited the ski area
    　
  • In 1998, another change in management saw the name change to Queensland Iwanai Kokusai Ski Area クイーンズランドいわない国際スキー場
    　
  • In 2001, there was another change in management, and the quad lift, along with three lifts, closed
    　
  • It is unclear exactly when in the timeline various lifts closed, but the lifts shown in pink and yellow in the above image were the first to be abandoned
    　
  • The single lift shown in yellow might have closed when the quad lift opened
    　
  • From 2002, it was known as Niseko Iwanai Kokusai Ski Area ニセコいわない国際スキー場
    　
  • （Though at the same time introduced as Niseko Iwanai Ski Area ニセコいわないスキー場 in some guidebooks)
    　
  • Only the Center lift (shown in blue in the above image) has remained open since then
    　
  • For a few years, four lifts (blue and white) remained on official course maps but did not operate
    　
  • The three lifts disappeared from course maps, leaving just the pair lift
    　
  • Since 2017, the ski area has been known as IWANAI RESORT (only written in English and in capital letters)
    　
  • The 700m pair lift is still open with three official ski runs with mostly gentle gradients between 15-17 degrees
    　
  • CAT ski tours are also held at the location
    　
  • More information on IWANAI Resort on SnowJapan here
    　
  • While researching, this fun fact was discovered: Iwanai Town's mascot is Tamamaru たら丸
    　
  • Tamamaru is an 'anthropomorphic Alaska pollack' and always carries asparagus as a weapon!

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Location
所在地

South of the town centre, about 5.5km from the Route 229 and Route 276 roads running through the town.
About 7km from Kozawa Station on the Hakodate Honsen line.
函館本線　小沢駅から的7km

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 Hokkaido

This page was created in June 2024
Last updated on 9th September 2024
2024年5月 作成　2024年9月8日 更新