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

Wakui

Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture

涌井スキー場　長野県中野市

Wakui was a ski area located in what was then Toyota Village in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. Toyota became part of Nakano City in 2005. This ski area apparently first opened with a rope tow lift but changed to a troika sledge before closing in the late 1960’s. There is no remaining evidence of a ski slope ever being in this location.

snowjapanhistory-wakui-1965.jpg
Opened
開設		 1963
Closed
 閉設		 1968
Base elevation
標高最低		 About 780m
Top elevation
標高最高		 About 815m
Vertical
標高差		 About 35m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 Unknown
Number of courses
コース本数		 1
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 500m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 Unknown
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 Unknown
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 1 lift
Troika 450m
No evidence of a ski area remains
Night skiing
ナイター設備
There was no night skiing

Photographs

Taken in April 2020
写真撮影：2020年4月

Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）

‘The other side’ & Furuma Station

Taken in October 2024
写真撮影：2024年10月

Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）
Wakui Ski Area (Nakano, Nagano)　涌井スキー場（長野県中野市）

Further Information

  • Wakui Ski Area opened in 1963 and closed in 1968
    　
  • Wakui is the name of the neighbourhood and used to be part of Toyota Village  豊田村 
    　
  • Toyota Village became part of Nakano City 中野市 on 1st April 2005
    　
  • The location is close to the border with Shinano Town 信濃町
    　
  • Apparently, this ski area first opened with a rope tow lift, but that was replaced by a sledge-like system that held about 8 people
    　
  • It referred to itself (on a leaflet from when it was open) as being an 'undeveloped ski area' 「未開のスキー場です」
    　
  • There are rice fields and farming land in this location
    　
  • ....and no evidence of this ever being a ski slope
    　
  • The exact location of the old ski area is still a little unclear but thought to be behind a few buildings just off the road
    　
  • It may have extended further up the hill, making it visible from 'the other side' of a bank of trees (see 'the other side' photo above)
    　
  • On two visits to the location, in 2020 and 2024, no one was around the neighbourhood to ask questions
    　
  • The ski area used to be mentioned on an 'local tourist attractions' sign on the platform of Furuma Station 古間駅, about 7km to the west on the Kita Shinano line 北しなの線
    　
  • When visited in October 2024, that old sign had been replaced

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Location
所在地

Just off Prefecture Road 96 in the Wakui neighbourhood of Nakano City, to the south west of central Iiyama City.
About 5km from the Toyota Iiyama IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway.
Just over 12km from Iiyama Station on the Iiyama line.
上信越自動車道　豊田飯山ICから的5km
北陸新幹線　飯山線　飯山駅から的 12km

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

Madarao Mountain Resort 　斑尾高原　7.5km
Tangram Ski Circus 　戸狩温泉　12km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in August 2024
Last updated on 14th November 2024
2024年8月 作成　2024年11月14日 更新