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

Shinanodaira

Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture

信濃平スキー場 長野県飯山市

Shinanodaira was a ski area located on the eastern slopes of Kuroiwayama and to the north of central Iiyama City in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. It was originally known as Kuroiwa and experienced a few different ski lift set ups during the years of operation before closing in 2001. There were fine views looking out towards Nozawa Onsen and Kita Shiga from the top area.

Shinanodaira Ski Area(信濃平スキー場)
Opened
開設
1963
Closed
2001
Base elevation
標高最低
350m
Top elevation
標高最高
750m
Vertical
標高差
400m
Steepest slope
最大斜度
38°
Number of courses
コース本数
8
Longest run
最長滑走距離
4,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級
30% beginner
40% intermediate
30% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード
40% / 60% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数
7 lifts during lifetime
Pair From 1966 (450m)
Pair From 1980
Pair From 1990
Single 1962-1989 (400m)
Single 1967-1998 (350m)
Single From 1967 (460m)
Single From 1972
All lifts have been removed
Night skiing
ナイター設備
There was night skiing at one time

Photographs

Taken in April 2020
写真撮影:2020年4月

Further Information

  • Shinanodaira was originally known as Kuroiwa  黒岩スキー場 
     
  • ...and possibly even Kuroiwayama  黒岩山スキー場  before that
     
  • The origins of this ski area date back to the late 1950's
     
  • Kuroiwayama is the name of the mountain
     
  • At first there were just a few simple tow lifts - the first ski lift was installed in 1962
     
  • An avalanche killed one worker and damaged a lift in March 1970
     
  • The name of the ski area was changed name to Shinanodaira in 1971
     
  • The history of ski lifts at Shinanodaira is rather complicated - see dates noted in the table above
     
  • From 1980 a 'sister ski area' tie-up with Grächen Ski Resort in Switzerland started
     
  • It involved an exchange of people including ski instructors and cooks
     
  • In 1985 there was a surface avalanche incident involving about 20 skiers with one fatality
     
  • In the last season of operation only 2 pair lifts and 2 single lifts were running
     
  • The ski lifts were all removed by 2009 but some abandoned buildings in the central area remain as of 2018
     
  • There is also an old ski course map on the side of one of the buildings
     
  • According to official statistics published by Iiyama City, in 1989 nearly 120,000 people visited Shinanodaira
     
  • In the last season of operation that number had dropped to just under 20,000 visitors
     
  • Road signs for Shinanodaira - including a skiing icon graphic - can still be found along Route 117
     
  • The Kamakura no Sato snow igloo festival  かまくらの里  is usually held close to the old base area from late January until late February

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

 

Location
所在地

About 4km off Route 117 to the north of the central region of Iiyama City.
About 14km from the Toyota Iiyama IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway.
Just over 3.5km from Shinano Taira Station and 4.5km from Togari Nozawa Onsen Station on the Iiyama line.
About 8km from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Iiyama line.
上信越自動車道 豊田飯山ICから的14km
飯山線 信濃平駅から的3.5km 戸狩野沢温泉駅から的4.5km
北陸新幹線 飯山線 飯山駅から的8km

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

Togari Onsen  戸狩温泉 5km
Nozawa Onsen 野沢温泉 12.5km
Kita Shinshu Kijimadaira 北信州木島平 13km
Madarao Mountain Resort  斑尾高原 14.5km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 12th August 2022
2020年5月 作成 2022年8月12日 更新