Popular Post muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted January 15, 2012 Mid-morning here and the clouds had cleared and the sun came out. Time to go out for a few hours, we thought, and were debating whether to go to Maiko or Ishiuchi Maruyama. But we decided to have a bit of an adventure and check out a small place here in Minamiuonuma called "Mt Granview". Previously known as Sports Shinko Ishiuchi and before that as Yamato. Let's rebranding! It can be found between Ishiuchi Maruyama and Joetsu Kokusai and sort of opposite from Maiko: http://www.snowjapan...hp?resortNo=247 Neither of us had ever been to this place, and while we knew it was a small place we thought it might be fun to check out. So that's what we did. And what an experience! It was like going back in time or something. So we turn up at the small car park and there are 2 -- two! -- other cars there. No kidding. This is a Sunday at 11am in peak season. Anyway, this is the ticket office: The lady in there was asleep when we went to get our tickets! We actually had to wake her up! Anyway, you need to get a single lift that takes you up to the 'resort area', ie. the slopes. A very curious set up, but there was some lovely scenes of houses and buildings, many of which seem abandoned, almost buried on snow. Up at the top of that lift and you arrive at what is the base of the resort. Here's the gelende map. You might notice the name on there is Sports Shinko Ishiuchi (the name before it became Mt Granview). There's a few lifts on that map as well that don't move now.... Anyway here's the main course: Other than the lift to take you to base, Mt Granview basically consists of 2 single lifts and basically one course with a few detours. There's a few other abandoned lifts, and as you will see on the photos here, a fair few old buildings as well. The lifties were all guys probably in their 60's and 70's. I'm not sure if there was a "patrol" or not but I sure didn't see one, I very much doubt it. In fact, apart from myself and my lady friend, we counted 4 other people. Yes, four people. So there were 6 people at the resort today. Anyway here's some more images from this place. Muikamachi town in the background in this one: Ishiuchi Maruyama in the background, right (and Kandatsu Kogen as well centre) Hairy lifts! Public rest place. Hmm, no thanks! Ski School, looked like it was boarded up. As you can perhaps see, it was originally called Yamato Ski Jo. Then it was Sports Shinko Ishiuchi. No mention of the current name on the signs. Skiing back down to base, lots of buildings that seem in a pretty dangerous condition: Temple at the base: It was certainly a "different" experience! I felt kind of sad really, made me wonder if there was ever a time when a place like this was busy and/or popular. The staff looked very bored and dejected. It's hard to imagine how a place like this can survive. The snow was decent but heavier than I thought it would be today after what we got yesterday, so a bit disappointed there. By the time we finished up, it was snowing quite heavily. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
norcal 5 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Nice pics! Just curious, how much does that place charge for a lift ticket? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks. We had a few coupons to use and so didn't pay, which I almost felt guilty about actually. But I see that it is 3500 yen for a day or 2500 yen for a half day. Season ticket 10500 yen! They say on their website that they have 7 lifts which is a bit naughty really because there's no way at least 3 of them are operating! Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 ghost resort. weird Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 That bit about having to wake up the ticket office lady was funny. Amazing how places like this survive. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Nice retro shots. Are you back in current time, muika? Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Great photos once again Muika season ticket sounds good if you were local Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Could a tax writeoff or one of a variety of ways of getting local government money. Alternatively it may be on public land and they stay open to put off paying the cost of removing the lifts. With the Japanese population headed seriously downward, we'll only see more modern ruins like the ones in the photos. From the number of buildings there, it looks like must have been relatively busy once. I don't think you can say that about that place at Madarao that opened in 2000. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Great shots and you've given me new impetus to try new places. How many courses are there and what difficulty are they? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Great shots and you've given me new impetus to try new places. How many courses are there and what difficulty are they? Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Love those muikabochi. I don't think I even knew about this place! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 They might say there's however many courses but it's basically one course, a detour round for the bottom bit, and the course back down to the car park which is basically a winding road. What you see on the fourth photo near the top is almost half of the resort. None of it difficult, beginner - lower intermediate. They seem to be telling porkies about lifts too. There were 3 single lifts moving today, all the others seemed either dead or totally submerged in snow. I can't think of any way to recommend it other than for trying something new after checking out everywhere else, or checking out the retro vibe! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Very interesting muika. 6 people in total at a skijo for a day. That's pretty desperate. Wonder how many staff?! Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 0 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Great photos - love the colour style for this setting! Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Wonder how many people turn up weekdays! Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 That's brilliant Muika! & I love the photos! i guess it would be worth going there after a decent amount of snowfall, knowing that you're probably going to get lots of untracked pow to play in even if the courses aren't much to write home about! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 This place is now on my must-visit list. Perhaps an SJ gathering could be arranged? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 That's brilliant Muika! & I love the photos! i guess it would be worth going there after a decent amount of snowfall, knowing that you're probably going to get lots of untracked pow to play in even if the courses aren't much to write home about! I suppose there is that Mick. Thing is, weekdays pretty much everywhere is really quiet. Maiko across the way usually offers tons of untouched, and is way bigger. I suppose on a weekend maybe.... Clutching for straws here! Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I'm sure the owners are grateful for your help! Actually, come to think of it, you might now be their only form of marketing!! This place is now on my must-visit list. Perhaps an SJ gathering could be arranged? Now there's an idea! Let's go before it closes forever!!!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Having to wake up the ticket office lady from her sleep just cracked me up the most. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 & just imagine how she felt when she saw it was a gaijin!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 Oops I forgot this one Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Awesome stuff. Those lifts look 'hairy' in more than one way! Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 That was really interesting, muikabochi, and great images as well. Looks really weird with all those collapsed buildings up there, looks like a half-dead but still open walking wounded skijo! Would be interesting to hear more of the story. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Love the pics Muika. The theme fits the scenery. Looks like WWII era photos. You can almost hear.....Carpe.....Carpe Diem, boys........coming from the derelect buildings... ala Dead Poets. Spooky. Link to post Share on other sites
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