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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

Utsukushinokuni

美しの国スキー場　長野県上田市

Utsukushinokuni was a ski area located in what used to be Takeshi Village in the central region of Nagano Prefecture. This ski area was only open for about 12 years, closing in 1998. Unlike most ski areas, the car park and facilities of Utsukushinokuni were located at the top of the ski slopes. It was largely used by locals and people staying in the nearby Utsukushinokuni Besso-chi holiday home area.

Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1986
Closed
 閉設		 1998
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,240m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,400m
Vertical
標高差		 160m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 36°
Number of courses
コース本数		 3
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 About 600m
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
Single 455m
The lift and facilities were removed sometime after 2009
Night skiing
ナイター設備
There was no night skiing

　

 Photographs

Taken in April 2021
写真撮影：2021年4月

Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）
Utsukushinokuni Ski Area（美しの国スキー場）

Further Information

  • The location of this ski area used to be known as Takeshi Village  武石村
    　
  • Takeshi Village became part of Ueda City in March 2006
    　
  • Utsukushinokuni Ski Area was built on a northern facing slope close to the 'besso' holiday home area of the same name  美しの国別荘地
    　
  • As this is a rather remote location, people based in the 'besso' area and locals were probably the main visitors to this ski area
    　
  • A bus from Ueda Station to Utsukushinokuni took about one hour
    　
  • The 50 vehicle car park, multi-purpose 'Rest House' building  美しの国レストハウス  and top of the ski lift were all located in a fairly cramped area at the top of the ski slopes
    　
  • Visitors skied down from that top area and got the ski lift back up to 'base'
    　
  • The one single lift had a mid-point where skiers could alight
    　
  • The ski runs came down on both sides of the lift in a simple layout
    　
  • Some artificial snow machines were used
    　
  • It appears that the ski area was last open in 1998
    　
  • It was then officially abandoned in 2009
    　
  • The ski lift, building and facilities were removed after that
    　
  • Trees and undergrowth now cover the top area and ski slopes
    　
  • The only remaining visible sign of what used to be is a large concrete foundation, presumably of the Rest House building
    　
  • The nearby Utsukushinokuni Besso-chi holiday home area is still operating
    　
  • Utsukushinokuni  美しの国  probably best translates into English as 'land of beauty'

Google Earth

Google Street View

Google Maps

Location
所在地

Close to the Utsukushinokuni holiday home area, about 15km off Route 153 and 30km to the south of central Ueda City.
About 30km from the Ueda Suginohara IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway.
About 29km from Ueda Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line.
上信越自動車道　上田菅平ICから的30km
北陸新幹線　上田駅から的 29km

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 March 2021
Last updated on 12th August 2022
2021年3月 作成　2022年8月12日 更新