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

Igaya

Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

いがやスキー場　長野県松本市

Igaya was a ski area located in the western region of Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture. Named after the Olympic skier Chiharu Igaya, this ski area opened in 1988. It offered gentle slopes that were mainly suited to beginners. It was also popular with snowboarders at a time when the nearby Norikura Kogen Onsen was skiers-only. Igaya was last open in 2013.

Ontake Ropeway Ski Area（御岳ロープウェイスキー場）
Opened
開設		 1988
Closed
 閉設		 Last open in 2013
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,290m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,370m
Vertical
標高差		 80m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 15°
Number of Courses
コース本数		 2
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 800m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 80% beginner
20% intermediate
0% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift
Pair About 700m
The lift remains in place
Night skiing
ナイター設備		 There was night skiing at Igaya

 Photographs

Taken in May 2022
写真撮影：2022年5月 

Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）
Igaya Ski Area（いがやスキー場）

Further Information

  • Igaya Ski Area opened in 1988 in what used to be Azumi Village  安曇村
    　
  • Azumi Village became part of Matsumoto City  松本市  in April 2005
    　
  • The alpine skier Chiharu Igaya  猪谷千春  practised skiing in this area when he was younger
    　
  • Mr Igaya went on to become the first Japanese medalist at a Winter Olympics
    　
  • He won the silver medal at the Slalom event at the 1956 Winter Olympics (Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy)
    　
  • Various ski guide books list this ski area under different names:
    　
  • Norikura Igaya  乗鞍猪谷スキー場
    　
  • Norikura Kogen Igaya  乗鞍高原いがやスキー場
    　
  • However, it was primarily written in hiragana characters and known as just Igaya Ski Area  いがやスキー場
    　
  • Igaya allowed snowboarding at a time when the nearby Norikura Kogen Onsen Ski Area  乗鞍高原温泉スキー場 did not
    　
  • At one time, it also offered a half pipe, so it was popular with snowboarders visiting the area
    　
  • Igaya was known to be quite busy on days when Norikura Kogen Onsen had to close due to strong winds
    　
  • The gentle slopes had an average gradient of less than 10 degrees
    　
  • In the early 1990s, about 30,000 people visited the ski area during a season
    　
  • In 2009 that was down to around 7000 people
    　
  • It was only on weekends and holidays from the 2009 season
    　
  • Igaya closed as an independent ski area in March 2011
    　
  • Fewer visitors to the area along with increased maintenance and operating costs were deemed as the reason for closing
    　
  • The following year it operated as part of Norikura Kogen Onsen
    　
  • For that season, it was known as Mt Norikura Snow Smile Area  Mt乗鞍スノースマイルエリア
    　
  • It has been closed since 2013, and the lift remains in place
    　
  • Since 2010 Norikura Kogen Onsen Ski Area has been known as Mt Norikura Snow Resort  Mt乗鞍スノーリゾート
    　
  • The Norikura BASE facility 乗鞍BASE (いがやレクリエーションランド）with various outdoor activities can now be found at the top of Igaya ski area

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Location
所在地

Just over 7km off Route 158 in the western region of Matsumoto City.
About 36km from Matsumoto IC on the Nagano Expressway.
About 24km from Shinshimashima Station on the Kamikochi line.
About 39km from Matsumoto Station on the Chuo Honsen line and Oito line.
長野自動車道　松本ICから的36km
上高地線　新島々駅から的24km
中央本線　大糸線　松本駅から的39km

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

Mt Norikura Snow Resort 　Mt乗鞍スノーリゾート　4km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in May 2021
Last updated on 29th June 2022
2021年5月 作成　2022年6月29日 更新