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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 Weiss

Kutchan Town, Hokkaido

ニセコワイススキー場　北海道倶知安町

Niseko Weiss was a ski area on the eastern slopes of Weisshorn, part of the Niseko mountain range, in the western region of Hokkaido. It opened in 1971 as Kokusetsu Niseko Weisshorn Ski Area, and at one time had five ski lifts operating. It downscaled to two lifts before closing in 2006. In recent years private CAT tours have been held on the slopes. There are big plans for a revival, including a gondola link from Niseko HANAZONO and new lifts.

Opened
開設		 1971
Closed
 閉設		 Last open in 2006
Base elevation
標高最低		 450m
Top elevation
標高最高		 925m
Vertical
標高差		 475m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 29°
Number of courses
コース本数		 10
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 40% beginner
50% intermediate
10% advanced
[2001 guidebook]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 5 lifts (at one time)
Single 757m
Single 619m
Single 733m
Single 563m
Single 434m
The lift remains in place... for now
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was no night skiing at Niseko Weiss

Further Information

  • This ski area opened in 1971
    　
  • Originally, it was called Kokusetsu Niseko Weisshorn Ski Area 国設ニセコワイスホルンスキー場
    　
  • It is unclear when the name became simply Niseko Weiss
    　
  • The ski area is on the eastern slopes of the 1045m Weisshorn ワイスホルン, part of the Niseko mountain range ニセコ連峰

  • The famous Niseko United ski areas of Kutchan Town and Niseko Town are all to the south, the closest being Niseko HANAZONO Resort (information on SnowJapan here)
    　
  • When the ski area opened, there were two ski lifts (the two lower lifts in the above image)
    　
  • By 1973, there were five ski lifts operating
    　
  • Operations had been scaled down by the early 2000s, with only the Number 1 and 2 lifts in the northern area operating and some CAT tours available in the top area
    　
  • Around that time, in some guidebooks, it was known as Niseko Weiss Snow Park ニセコワイススノーパーク
    　
  • A one-day lift ticket was 3,200 yen, and a season ticket was 38,000 yen
    　
  • The ski area closed in 2006 and nature had started to take over the slopes since then
    　
  • But that is not the end of the story
    　
  • Since closing, in recent years, various private CAT tours have been held at the location
    　
  • There are also plans for a revival, including a possible gondola lift linking the Niseko Weiss location with Niseko HANAZONO Resort, along with three new ski lifts at Niseko Weiss
    　
  • In a televised interview with a manager of Nihon Harmony Resort (operator of Hanazono), it was noted that the gentle (beginner) slopes of Niseko Weiss were particularly suitable for beginner lessons, with the growing Asian visitor market specifically in mind
    　
  • The timeline of developments has not been confirmed, so the story of a future 'Niseko Weiss' will be something to come back to later
    　
  • Perhaps it will make a return to SnowJapan in the coming years...

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Location
所在地

Off Prefecture Road 58 in the northern region of Kutchan Town.
About 8km from Kutchan Station on the Hakodate Honsen line.
函館本線　倶知安駅から的8km

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 7th July 2024
2024年6月 作成　2024年7月7日 更新