Nozawa Onsen and Iiyama area in Nagano prefecture is one of the best ski areas in Japan and ski/snowboard enthusiasts should check out.
Where is Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen area?
The Nozawa Onsen and Iiyama area is located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture and falls under the Shinetsu region of Japan.With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) in March, 2015, access to Iiyama City from Tokyo and Osaka has become easier.
Nozawa Onsen Village is a well known hot spring resort, and there are 13 facilities in the hot spring resort where visitors can take a day trip. Nozawa Onsen Village is also famous as a place to enjoy powder, as the average snowfall in winter is over 3 meters.
The History of Skiing and the Iiyama/Nozawa Onsen Area
Skiing was first introduced to Japan in 1911. In 1911, Major Theodor Ederl von Lerch, a military officer attached to the Austro-Hungarian legation in Takada City (now Joetsu City), Niigata Prefecture, gave the first ski instruction in Japan to army researchers of the Takada 13th Division.
-
-
History of Skiing : How Skiing was Introduced in Japan?
Skiing is a popular activity in Japan, and is now enjoyed by many people as a winter leisure activity. Many ski resorts have been built as leisure activities, and the economy revolves around them, including hotels, restaurants, and entertainment in Japan. Japan's natural environment provides high quality powder snow known as JAPOW (Japan Powder), which has attracted the attention of overseas ski enthusiasts to skiing in Japan. Skiing in Japan has also become a sporting event, and many Japanese skiers are now active in the sport. What was the trigger for the spread of skiing in Japan? The beginning of ...
続きを見る
The following year, in 1912, Major Lerch visited Japan again to teach skiing, and a gymnastics teacher from Iiyama Junior High School (now Iiyama Kita High School) from Nagano Prefecture also took part in the course to learn how to ski and spread it in the Iiyama area.
The skiing that was introduced in Iiyama was also adopted by the school in Nozawa Onsen, and from there it became known in the Nozawa Onsen area.
It can be said that the Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen areas were among the first in the history of the introduction of skiing in Japan.
5 skiing resorts in Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen area
Here are 5 skiing resorts in Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen area.
Madarao Mountain Resort
Mt. Madarao rises on the border between Nagano and Niigata prefectures. Spreading out on the northern slopes of Mt. Madarao is the Madarao Mountain Resort.
It is also known as the first place in Japan to host the World Cup freestyle skiing event.
The variety of tree-run courses is among the best in Japan, and the non-pressurized snow areas are located throughout the resort, attracting powder lovers.
More information : https://www.madarao.jp/en
Tangram Ski Circus
Tangram Ski Circus is located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, on Mt. Madarao. Located on the north-northwest slope of Mt. Madarao, a variety of courses have been set up with good views including Lake Nojiri and the mountains of Shinshu.
There are also a variety of powder zones and tree run courses.
More information : https://www.tangram.jp/ski/ski/
Togari Onsen Ski Resort
The new winter activity of riding a snow bike on the snow is available. There is also a banked slalom, which is good for enjoying the terrain.
More information : https://togari.jp/winter/en/
Sakae Club
Located in Sakae Village, right next to Iiyama City and Nozawa Onsen Village, this is a ski resort where powder lovers gather.
There is not much information in English on the official website, but blogs and SNS from skiers/snowboarders are a great source of information about the powder potential of the Sakae Club, making it a great ski resort for powder lover.
Website (Japanese only) : http://www.sakaeclub.jp/
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
Although the ski resort opened in 1924, it is a slope with a long history, with records of skiing in the area dating back to 1911, the year skiing was first introduced.
The maximum daily snowfall is 107cm (in 2010), and the snowfall at the top of the mountain is so heavy that the season's maximum snowfall sometimes exceeds 5m, so there is a high possibility of encountering the powder snow.
Nozawa Onsen also has a long history as a hot spring resort, and after snow, visitors can enjoy out-of-the-way hot springs in a traditional Japanese setting.
More information : https://en.nozawaski.com/
Reference : 長野県スキー発祥100年の歴史 (The 100-year history of skiing in Nagano Prefecture)
.jpg){kind=link}
