Shiga Kogen Ropeway (Yamanouchi, Nagano)　志賀高原ロープウェイ（長野県山ノ内町）

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

Shiga Kogen

Ropeway

Shiga Kogen, Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture

志賀高原ロープウェイ　長野県山ノ内町志賀高原

Shiga Kogen Ropeway was a ropeway lift spanning the valley between the Hasuike and Hoppo Onsen areas of Shiga Kogen in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. The Ropeway opened in 1960, when it was an important means of transportation around the area, both for locals and tourists. Shiga Kogen Ropeway closed in 2011 after a decline in visitors and problems due to a strong earthquake in the northern region of Nagano. The old Ropeway cabins are on display within the old station building now known as Shiga Kogen Yama no eki. A new 'pulse gondola' connecting Hasuike with Giant Ski Area opened by the building in 2020.

Historic Aerial Photograph

Information on photographs and images used on this page can be found here

	
		Opened

		開設
		March 1960
	
		Closed

		閉設
		2011
	
		Elevation

		標高
		1500-1600m

Photographs

Taken in October 2024
写真撮影：2024年10月

Shiga Kogen Yama no eki

The old Ropeway cabins can now be found within the Shiga Kogen Yama no eki building in the Hasuike area.

Shiga Kogen Ropeway (Yamanouchi, Nagano)　志賀高原ロープウェイ（長野県山ノ内町）

Hoppo Onsen

The Hoppo Onsen station of the Shiga Kogen Ropeway was located across the valley from Hasuike.

Top of old single lift

The single-person lift connecting Hoppo Onsen Station with Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Area used to cross (above) Route 292 before ending close to the shrine.

Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola

The Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola opened in 2020. It is located next to the Shiga Kogen Yama no eki building.

Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola (Yamanouchi, Nagano)　志賀高原リゾートゴンドラ（長野県山ノ内町）

Further Information

 
	
		
				Shiga Kogen Ropeway opened on 13th 
					March 1960 as a year-round facility

　
It spanned the valley between Hasuike 
					蓮池 and Hoppo Onsen 発哺温泉 in the central section of 
					Shiga Kogen

　
It was 1470m in length, and the 
					journey took about 6 and a half minutes

　
The two cabins, Kodama こだま and 
					Yamabiko やまびこ, each had a capacity of 40 people

　
The Ropeway had four large supporting 
					towers - one on the Hasuike side and the other three on the 
					Hoppo Onsen side of the valley

　
At some points the cable cars crossed the 
					valley about 180m above the lowest point
　
When it opened, the roads around Shiga 
					Kogen were not as developed and convenient as they are in 
					the present day and were sometimes difficult to pass or 
					closed in winter

　
A single lift connected the Hoppo Onsen 
					Station with Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Area 高天ヶ原マンモススキー場 
					and other parts of Shiga Kogen

　
As such, the Ropeway was an important means of transportation within the Shiga Kogen 
					area - not only for skiing and sightseeing but also for 
					locals

　
In 1965, at the peak of its popularity, 
					about 450,000 people used the facility

　
In the years before closing, that number was down to 
					around 60,000 people
　
On 12th March 2011, the day after the 
					massive Tohoku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami 東日本大震災, 
					there was also a powerful earthquake in the northern region of 
					Nagano Prefecture 長野県北部地震

　
The Shiga Kogen Ropeway was scheduled to 
					open as usual for the summer season in 2011, but after 
					inspections, mechanical problems were discovered
　
With the decline in usage and the need for 
					maintenance work on the ageing facility, it was decided to cease operations
　
The old Hoppo Onsen station was 
					demolished in 2012

　
The closing and removal of the Ropeway 
					was a significant and emotional event for many, but it did 
					not actually affect the available skiing terrain at Shiga 
					Kogen

　
12 years later, the location of the old 
					Hoppo Onsen station is very overgrown, with only a small 
					approach ramp/road and foundation concrete remaining

　
The old single lift used to go over Route 
					292 before ending close to the base of the current 
					Takamagahara Number 2 triple lift and Takamagahara Shrine 
					高天ヶ原神社
　
That space is now flattened land, and the 
					line cutting through the trees where the ski lift used to 
					run is barely visible (even when you know where to look!)

　
Also in 2012, the old Hasuike station 
					building was re-purposed and re-opened as Shiga Kogen 
					Gateway Station 志賀高原ゲートウェイステーション

　
In 2018, the building was further 
					modernized, and it became known as Shiga Kogen Yama no eki 
					志賀高原 山の駅

　
Inside part of the building, the two old 
					cable cars and building structure have been maintained, and 
					the space acts as a small museum to commemorate the old 
					Ropeway

　
There is also a viewing point looking out 
					over the valley towards Happo Onsen, along with displays of various 
					information and old photographs of the Ropeway in action 
					over the decades

　
It is worth visiting if you are 
					interested in this website and in Shiga Kogen!
　
In 2020, a new 'pulse gondola' called 
					Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola 志賀高原リゾートゴンドラ opened by 
					the side of the Shiga Kogen Yama no eki building

　
That short lift goes down to the base of
					Giant Ski Area ジャイアントスキー場 and Hoppo Bunadaira Ski Area 発哺ブナ平スキー場

　
The Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola, 
					Bunadaira Gondola ブナ平ゴンドラ and Higashitateyama Gondola 
					東館山ゴンドラ lifts now take people from Hasuike to the top of 
					Higashitateyama

　
All three gondola lifts operate during 
					the ski season, of course, but also for much of the summer 
					and autumn season when they are together known as Shiga 
					Kogen Golden Line 志賀高原ゴールデンライン

		
	

Google Earth

Hasuike (Shiga Kogen Yama no eki) in the foreground, looking across to Hoppo Onsen

Hoppo Onsen in the foreground, looking across to Hasuike (Shiga Kogen Yama no eki)

Shiga Kogen Ropeway Hoppo Onsen Station in the foreground, Takamagahara Mammoth Ski Area at the top

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Located in the central section of Shiga Kogen in Nagano Prefecture.
About 24.5km from the Shinshu Nakano IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway.
About 13.5km from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano (private) line.
上信越自動車道　信州中野ICから的24.5km
長野電鉄長野線　湯田中駅から的13.5km

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 Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in September 2024
Last updated on 9th October 2024
2024年9月作成　2024年10月9日更新

Opened 開設	March 1960
Closed 閉設	2011
Elevation 標高	1500-1600m