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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

Gorin Kogen

Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture

ごりん高原スキー場　長野県山ノ内町

Gorin Kogen was a ski area located on the north-western slopes of Mt Gorin, to the west of the famous Shiga Kogen area in Nagano Prefecture. Access to the slopes was via the 101-person Yudanaka Ropeway from the Yudanaka Onsen hot spring area of Yamanouchi Town. The summit station of the Ropeway was effectively the base of the ski area and a 6-person Gondola continued up to the top of the mountain. At one time there were plans to connect Gorin Kogen with the Yakebitaiyama area of Shiga Kogen. Gorin Kogen was mostly suited to beginners and intermediate level skiers and snowboarders with fairly gentle slopes. All the lifts and facilities have now been removed.

Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Opened
開設		 1987
Closed
 閉設		 March 2007
Base elevation
標高最低		 1,000m
Top elevation
標高最高		 1,500m
Vertical
標高差		 500m
Steepest slope
最大斜度		 30°
Number of courses
コース本数		 5
Longest run
最長滑走距離		 3,200m
Skill level
初級・中級・上級		 20% beginner
60% intermediate
20% advanced
Ski / board
スキー・ボード		 62% / 38% [2001]
Ski lifts
リフト本数		 3 lifts
Ropeway 3,156m
Gondola 2,457m
Pair 412m
All lifts have been removed
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

Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）
Gorin Kogen Ski Area（ごりん高原スキー場）

Further Information

  • The elevation of the base Yudanaka Onsen  湯田中温泉  hot spring town area of Yamanouchi town is around 650m
    　
  • The 101-person capacity Yudonaka Ropeway  湯田中ロープウェイ  went from the town area to the base of the ski area
    　
  • At 3,156m in length, it was the longest Ropeway of its type in Japan
    　
  • The base of the Gondola lift was close to the top of the Ropeway in a connecting building
    　
  • The mostly gentle ski courses of Gorin Kogen were serviced by the 6-person Gondola and pair lift
    　
  • There was no downhill course back to Yudanaka Onsen
    　
  • The pinpoint on the below map shows the top point of the Ropeway
    　
  • None of the ski area could be seen from town level
    　
  • At one time there were plans to connect Gorin Kogen with the Yakebitaiyama  焼額山スキー場  ski area of Shiga Kogen with a gondola lift
    　
  • The idea was to make Gorin Kogen another second 'entry point' for Shiga Kogen
    　
  • One problem with that idea was thought to be the very small car park by the Ropeway base station - it only held about 30 cars
    　
  • A ski area course map and bus stop sign remain to this day by the side of the car park
    　
  • Gorin Kogen was owned and operated by the Prince Group
    　
  • Some unused gondola cabins from the Prince-owned Myoko Suginohara  妙高杉ノ原スキー場  ski area were used as changing rooms and a place to rest
    　
  • The Ropeway used to operate outside of the winter months for sightseeing
    　
  • All lifts and facilities have been removed and the mountain has been returned to nature
    　
  • Gorin Kogen was sometimes known as Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Gorin Kogen  湯田中渋温泉ごりん高原スキー場
    　
  • The word 'Ropeway' is usually written in katakana as ロープウェイ  but the Prince Group have always named their Ropeway lifts as ロープウェー
    　
  • The 25m Sekai Heiwa Kannon  平和観音  bronze statue is located next to where the Ropeway base station used to be
    　
  • There is also a small park featuring many sakura cherry blossom trees

Google Earth

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Location
所在地

The base Ropeway station was located just over 1km off Route 292 in the Yudanaka Onsen area of Yamanouchi Town.
About 12.5km from the Shinshu Nakano IC exit of the Joshinetsu Expressway.
About 1km from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano line (private railway).
上信越自動車道　信州中野ICから的12.5km
長野電鉄長野線　湯田中駅から的1km

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

Yomase Onsen 　よませ温泉　7km
Ryuoo Ski Park 　竜王スキーパーク　10km
Shiga Kogen resorts 　志賀高原　13+km
All currently operating ski areas in Nagano Prefecture

This page was created in May 2020
Last updated on 2nd August 2020
2020年5月 作成　2020年8月2日 更新