Alexander L 80 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Nice photos. Shame, don't think there'd be any way I'd be able to find this place. Link to post Share on other sites
echineko 1 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 It looks deserted. I never heard of it but I know neighbouring bigger place. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Having to wake up the ticket office lady from her sleep just cracked me up the most. can you imagine the surprise oin her face after waking her up for an SJ gathering there and her being confronted by a number of Gaij!! Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Really found that to be interesting muikabochi. There are I imagine still a fair few of places like this hanging on. A sad sight really and I am sure there are interesting stories behind each and every one. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Omoshiroi. Look forward to your next set, muikabochi-san. Link to post Share on other sites
Pillar of the community 0 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Open but looking closed. Can't imagine going to a ski resort and there being just 6 people there! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Great shots, muika. Like someone else said there must be some very interesting tales to tell. Link to post Share on other sites
Tazza 1 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Love the way you made all the photos look old too. If they keep on losing lots of money, why or how do they keep opening? Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Could a tax writeoff or one of a variety of ways of getting local government . How exactly does that work? I can't understand how something like that can be justified. Link to post Share on other sites
NECK 14 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Amazing photos! Looks almost like a 'Haikyo' ski resort. Reminds me of a trip I took to 'Russian Village' in Niigata a while back. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Could a tax writeoff or one of a variety of ways of getting local government . How exactly does that work? I can't understand how something like that can be justified. Corporation tax is very high so companies don't have much incentive to produce profits. With public money, there's very little accountability and you vote for "yoroshiku onegai shimasu" or "yoroshiku onegai shimasu". Running up debt also seems to be a national policy. It would be nice to think there is some rich old benefactor stumping up to keep this place running for old time's sake. I doubt there is such a happy story though, and even if there were, such money could be spent far more productively. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 I had to go over to Shiozawa today so took a few shots of the place from a distance Downhill road course aside, you can pretty much see it all here Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Muika, you're spoiling us!! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Found an interesting history of the area written by someone who runs/ran one of the lodges below the gelaende. Seems like the ski area first went bankrupt in 1976, and has been struggling ever since. (Hence no upgrades to equipment.) I suppose even a little income is better than none, so they continue. Also seem to be (or have been) some back country tours organized from there. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I suppose even a little income is better than none, so they continue. If it were one old lady in a shop in a deserted shopping arcade, that would be understandable, but a ski resort with three lifts running and groomed runs is going to have high running costs. All that electricity, two staff a lift, snowclearing/grooming etc. Based on the photos, I won't assume much is spent on maintenance (!) Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 They use this for maintenance Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I suppose even a little income is better than none, so they continue. If it were one old lady in a shop in a deserted shopping arcade, that would be understandable, but a ski resort with three lifts running and groomed runs is going to have high running costs. All that electricity, two staff a lift, snowclearing/grooming etc. Based on the photos, I won't assume much is spent on maintenance (!) I wouldn't be surprised if the lodge owners were doing the labor themselves. Though that wouldn't cover electricity and fuel, of course. Also found a trip report by someone who used to frequent the place regularly in the '80s, when it was relatively lively, and then visited again a few years ago. Said it was always considered a minor ski resort, but charming in its way with lodges dotted on and around the slope. Some of the lodges were accessed by chair lift in the winter. Apparently they had a ski school with some well-known teachers. When he went back, he asked an elderly skier he met there why he came, and he said it was for the "slow life" feeling, old-fashioned and uncrowded. I suppose they will have a few fans in that camp. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 SJ suggested it would be ok to post these links, so for anyone interested, here are the stories I mentioned above. The story of the lodge owner is here: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~futou/sub34.htm The story of the former regular is here: http://www.geocities.../skiing/08.html Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Interesting. I like how those pages are all 'mid-90's' as well. Would have been better with some flashing gifs up there. Link to post Share on other sites
lll 0 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I knew someone who used to have one of the lodge place at the slope there. They sold about 10 years ago when it was so quiet. I went skiing there a few times but it is very small. I like Maiko Kogen across the valley. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Love the pictures. Interesting story too. Link to post Share on other sites
snowglob 0 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Love the images, muikabochi. The color really fits too! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Ishiuchi Hanaoka (foreground) and Mt Granview (near the top), as seen from Ishiuchi Maruyama. That new gondola is a must! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 could be a prime opportunity to develop our "Teleport Lift" Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Definitely lots of potential. Link to post Share on other sites
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