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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

Maplehill Ski Resort

Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture

メイプルヒルスキーリゾート 
栃木県日光市

Maplehill Ski Resort was one of three connected ski areas located north-western slopes of Keichozan in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. The resorts were found off the Nichien Toll Road - also known as the Nichien Momiji Line - to the north of Kinugawa. Maplehill and Keichozan were owned by the same company and shared lift tickets, but both closed in 2001 and abandoned facilities remain. Edelweiss Ski Resort is still operating in 2020.

Maplehill Ski Resort(メイプルヒルスキーリゾート)
Opened
開設
1989
Closed
2001
Base elevation
標高最低
1,200m
Top elevation
標高最高
1,480m
Vertical
標高差
280m
Steepest slope
最大斜度
28°
Number of courses
コース本数
9
Longest run
最長滑走距離
2,000m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級
45% beginner
25% intermediate
20% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード
60% / 40% [2001]
Maplehill & Keichozan
Ski lifts
リフト本数
4 lifts
Quad 1,455m
Pair 916m
Pair 629m
Pair 629m
All lifts have been removed
Niight skiing
ナイター設備
There was night skiing on part of the lower slopes

Photograph

Taken in August 2020
写真撮影:2020年8月

Further Information

  • The same company owned and operated Maplehill Ski Resort and the connecting Keichozan ski resort
     
  • More information on Keichozan here
     
  • While keeping individual names, they seemed to come as a pair in most respects and one lift ticket covered the two resorts
     
  • Edelweiss Ski Resort was also connected and is still operating
     
  • Keichozan was the oldest of the three ski hills to open, in 1961
     
  • At one time single-ride coupons usable at all three hills were available, but there were no joint one-day or other lift tickets at all three
     
  • Keichozan closed at the same time as Maplehill when the parent company went bankrupt
     
  • Maplehill opened at 6:30am on weekends and holidays and at 7:30am on weekdays
     
  • The ski lifts have all been removed
     
  • However, various buildings and facilities in poor condition still remain in place
     
  • There is a large chained 'Welcome' gate on the road approaching the resort base
     
  • It is as though the ski resort was abandoned at short notice and since then nature has slowly taken control
     
  • Somewhat sad and... eerie
     
  • Publishing photographs of the old abandoned facilities on this site does not seem appropriate
     
  • The photographs above are of the main gate and the course layout (taken at the base of neighbouring Keichozan)

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Location
所在地

Located just off the Nichien Toll Road, also known as Momiji Line in Nikko City.
About 14km to the north of the Fujiwara Toll Booth.
About 14.5km from Ryuokyo Station on the Aizu Kinugawa line.
会津鬼怒川線 龍王峡駅から的14.5km

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

Edelweiss Ski Resort  エーデルワイススキーリゾート  2.5km
Hunter Mountain Shiobara  ハンターマウンテン塩原  5km
All currently operating ski areas in Tochigi Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 11th August 2020
2020年5月 作成 2020年8月11日 更新