Jump to content

Appi Kogen Ski Resort

Coordinates: 40°00′07″N 140°58′12″E / 40.002°N 140.970°E / 40.002; 140.970
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by InternetArchiveBot (talk | contribs) at 18:44, 19 June 2020 (Rescuing 6 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.1). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Appi Kogen Ski Resort
A view from top of Mt. Maemori
A view from top of Mt. Maemori
LocationHachimantai, Iwate, Japan
Vertical   828 m (2,717 ft)
Top elevation1,328 m (4,357 ft)
Base elevation   500 m (1,640 ft)[1]
Skiable area282 ha (697 acres)[2]
Trails21
30% easiest
40% more difficult
30% most difficult[1]
Longest run5.5 km (3.4 mi)[3]
Lift system16 (2 gondola lifts, 3 high-speed quad chairlifts, and 11 pair chairlifts)[4][5]
Lift capacity28,000/hr[6]
Terrain parks2[7][8]
Snowfall1,200 cm (470 in)[9]
SnowmakingYes
Night skiing4pm-8pm (December–March)[10]
WebsiteAppi Resort
Hotel Appi Grand main building (right) and tower (left)
A view from Sailer Gondola
Upper Second Slopes First Run and Vista Quad
Karugamo Run and Appi Hills Shirakaba-No-Mori 3
Otaka Run
A view from Appi Gondola
Mt. Nishimori and Yamabato Run
Shirakaba Run and Central Quad Lift
A view from Appi Gondola

The Appi Kogen Ski Resort (安比高原スキー場, Appi Kogen Sukī-jō) is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, operated by Iwate Hotel & Resort, adjacent to the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.[1][11][12] The resort is most famous for its ski slopes, but it also has a guest ranch, golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields, sports clubs, hot springs (onsen), and other amenities.[13][14][15][16] The resort is 50 minutes from Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen by non-stop express bus.[17] This station is approximately 496.5 km (308.5 mi) (2 hr 10 min) from Tokyo Station.[18][19][20] By car, it is about 30-50 minute drive from the city of Morioka, 15 min from Matsuo-Hachimantai IC on the Tōhoku Expressway, or 20 min from Ashiro IC on the Tohoku Expwy.[21][22]

History

The development of the resort was led by Hiromasa Ezoe, a Japanese entrepreneur and the founder of the advertising and human resources company Recruit.[23][24] The name of this area, Appi, is derived from the Ainu language word, meaning "a place where one can live in peace" (Kogen means heights or highlands in Japanese).[25] The construction began in 1970s and the ski area was opened in December, 1981, with four chair lifts.[26] The 'Sailer' area expansion was designed by Toni Sailer, an Austrian alpine ski racer and actor.[27] The Hotel Appi Grand opened in 1985, and the Appi Hills Shirakaba-No-Mori 3 (formerly the Appi Grand Villa 3) opened in 1991.[28][29] In 1992, the ski resort attracted 1.5 million visitors in a year.[13] The Hotel Appi Grand Annex opened in 1996.[30] Soccer fields opened in 1998.[13][31] During 2003-2016, the resort was managed by the Kamori Kanko Group.[32][33] In 2014, a memorial to Hiromasa Ezoe, the founder of the resort who had died in February 2013, was erected at the resort.[34][35] Since 2016, the resort has been managed by the Asia Gate Holdings Co., Ltd.[36] In 2005 and 2016, giant slalom races of the National Sports Festival of Japan were held in Appi Kogen.[37][38]

Skiing

The ski resort expands on two mountains, Mt. Maemori and Mt. Nishimori, with 21 trails, and a total trail length of 45.1 kilometres (28 mi) for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.[9] It is the largest ski resort operated by a single company in Japan, with an average run of 2.1 km (1.3 mi), Japan’s longest average.[3][9][39] The maximum slope is 34° on the Second Sailer Run A; the longest run is 5.5 km (3.4 mi) and the vertical drop is 828 m (2,717 ft).[40] Lift service includes 2 gondolas and 14 chair lifts including 3 high-speed quad lifts and 11 double chairlifts.[41] The resort is also family-friendly, with a kid's ski area, child care service, snow play areas, and a petting zoo.[42] The winter ski season in Appi stretches over 5 months from December to early May. Nighttime skiing is available most nights; skiing and snowboarding lesson programs are available.[43] CNN International ranked Appi Kogen the best ski resort in Asia.[2]

Lifts

Appi Kogen has 16 lifts, including two gondolas (Appi Gondola and Sailer Gondola), three high-speed detachable quad chairlifts (Central First Quad, Sailer Quad, and Vista Quad), and eleven double chairlifts.[5][4]
Lift Name Capacity per Lift Length Capacity per Hour Notes
Appi Gondola 8 2820 m 2000
Central Quad 4 954 m 2000 with bubble
Central First Lift 2 1037 m 1000
Central Second Lift 2 969 m 1000
Central Third Lift A 2 773 m 1000
Central Third Lift B 2 773 m 1000
Central Fourth Lift 2 664 m 1000
Central Fifth lift 2 1254 m 1000
Central Sixth Lift 2 901 m 1000
Nishimori Lift 2 652 m 1000
Sailer Gondola 8 3494 m 2400
Sailer Quad 4 2143 m 2400 with bubble
Sailer First Lift 2 1351 m 1000
Sailer Second Lift 2 1511 m 1000
Vista Quad 4 1988 m 2400 with bubble
Sailer Connection Lift 2 1288 m 1000

Golf courses

The Appi Kogen Golf Club has 4 courses, namely Hachimantai Course, Towada Course, Ryugamori Course, and Iwatesan Course, 36 holes in total, opened in 1978.[44][45] LPGA of Japan Tour tournaments were held in 1984-88 and 1991-92.[46][47][48] The Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup on the LPGA of Japan Tour was held in the Appi Kogen Golf Club in September 2017.[49][50]

Other attractions

The ski resort is home to many concerts.[51] A-Nation (2002), Dreams Come True (band) (2003), Glay (1998), Kaela Kimura (2005), Kome Kome Club (1992), L'Arc-en-Ciel (1999), Masayoshi Yamazaki (2000), Monkey Majik (2008), Morning Musume (2001), Mr. Children (1995), Sharam Q (1996), SMAP (2001), and Tube (band) (1994) held concerts in the resort.[52][53][54][55][56]

Hotels

There are 8 hotels, including the Hotel Appi Grand, the Hotel Appi Grand Tower, the Appi Hills Shirakaba-No-Mori 1-3 (formerly the Appi Grand Villa 1-3), and the Appi Kogen Onsen Hotel 1-3 (formerly the Appi Grand Annex 1-3). There are also B&Bs.[57] The 78 m (256 ft) tall Hotel Appi Grand Tower, opened in 1988, is the symbol of the resort.[58][59]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Iwate: ski resort elevation differences". skiresort.info.
  2. ^ a b Sanskrity Sinha (2 December 2010). "Skiing: world's best places to glide over snow". International Business Times.
  3. ^ a b "10 top ski resorts to visit this winter". CNN.
  4. ^ a b "コース&リフトガイド". IWATE HOTEL & RESORT INC.
  5. ^ a b "Ski lifts Appi Kogen". skiresort.info.
  6. ^ Advertisement Program- Appi Resort (Japanese)
  7. ^ "Snow Park - Snow Resort - APPI Resort - Ski, Snowboard, Hotel and More!". Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
  8. ^ "国内最大級のスキー場・積雪情報サイト SURF&SNOW". Gurunavi, Inc.
  9. ^ a b c "Appi Kogen". skijapan.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  10. ^ "Appi Kogen - Hachimantai City - Iwate Prefecture - Resort Spotlight - Japan ski and snowboard resorts - SnowJapan". snowjapan.com.
  11. ^ "A Trip to Iwate - Location Information - Activities". Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site.
  12. ^ "Five of Asia's top ski resorts". CNN.
  13. ^ a b c "〈中〉安比の山と生きる". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞).
  14. ^ "訪日客の消費額4兆円へ 政府行動計画". Nikkei.com(日経新聞).
  15. ^ "入場無料!岩手県八幡平市「安比高原牧場」でニジマス釣りや極上バター作りを楽しもう!". asoview!(アソビュー). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  16. ^ "一藤木貴大が単複優勝 [第67回北信越テニス選手権]". THE TENNIS DAILY.
  17. ^ "Time Out Shanghai- Asia's best ski resorts". Time Out Shanghai.
  18. ^ "JR-EAST Train Reservation". JR East.
  19. ^ "Ten things you have to know about skiing in Japan". NineMSN. Archived from the original on 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  20. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism- High-speed railways network in Japan
  21. ^ "Appi Kogen Travel - By car - Appi Kogen (Hachimantai) ski resort travel guide - Iwate Prefecture - SnowJapan". SnowJapan.
  22. ^ "We stood in shock as the roar of the earthquake surrounded us". Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. ^ "「安比」築いた青年社員". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞).
  24. ^ "50歳でプロに転身 異色のゴルファー・徳永雅洋(上)". Nikkei.com(日経新聞).
  25. ^ "いわての景勝地(高原)". Iwate Prefecture (岩手県).
  26. ^ "降雪願い安全祈願祭 安比高原スキー場 来月5日オープン". IWANICHI ONLINE(岩手日日新聞). Archived from the original on 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  27. ^ a b "時事ドットコム:世界スキーヤー名鑑 トニー・ザイラー(M)". 時事ドットコム.
  28. ^ "ホテル安比グランド". ANA Tour. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  29. ^ "安比グランドヴィラ 3". ANA Tour. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  30. ^ "安比グランドアネックス". ANA Tour. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  31. ^ "東北復興大会に12チーム参加/サッカー". nikkansports.com(日刊スポーツ).
  32. ^ "株式会社岩手ホテルアンドリゾートの株式譲渡に関するお知らせ". Recruit Holdings. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  33. ^ "加森観光、王滝村のスキー場運営から撤退へ 入場者減で". Nikkei.com(日経新聞).
  34. ^ "「リクルート上場に想う」". INTERWOOS.CO.Ltd.
  35. ^ "Ezoe, leading figure in Recruit scandal, dies at 76". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  36. ^ "アジアゲートHD、新たに設立した孫会社を通じて岩手ホテルアンドリゾートへ投資". M&A Times.
  37. ^ "第60回国民体育大会冬季大会スキー競技会・バイアスロン競技会". IWATE KOKUTAI 2005.
  38. ^ "希望郷いわて国体冬季大会実施競技 ジャイアントスラローム". The 71st National Sports Festival Iwate Prefecture preparation committee. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  39. ^ "Sierra Ski News. February 2006" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  40. ^ "Appi's snowy joys await seekers of late-season thrills - The Japan Times". The Japan Times.
  41. ^ "Ski lifts Appi Kogen". Skiresort.info.
  42. ^ "Time Out Hong Kong - Travel - Asia's best ski resorts". Time Out Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  43. ^ "Appi Kogen". Powderhounds.com.
  44. ^ "安比高原ゴルフクラブ". Golf Course Ranking Club.
  45. ^ Ian Cross, Pilot Productions, Adventure Golf: From Fairways to Fun Days--Attractions on and Off the World's Most Remarkable Golf Courses , Globe Pequot, 2005, p.136
  46. ^ "【1984】リクルートとらばーゆカップゴルフトーナメント". The Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (一般社団法人日本女子プロゴルフ協会).
  47. ^ "【1987】安比高原レディース". The Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (一般社団法人日本女子プロゴルフ協会).
  48. ^ "【1991】安比高原レディース". The Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (一般社団法人日本女子プロゴルフ協会).
  49. ^ "日本女子プロゴルフ、安比GCで開催 17年、復興支援". ,IWATE NIPPO WEB NEWS(岩手日報). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  50. ^ "第50回 日本女子プロゴルフ選手権大会コニカミノルタ杯 開催コース決定のお知らせ". The Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan (一般社団法人日本女子プロゴルフ協会).
  51. ^ "雪と音楽の祭典「APPI JAZZY SPORT」開催迫る-「仲間」をテーマに". Radio Morioka Corporation (盛岡経済新聞).
  52. ^ "会場公演検索 - ライブ・セットリスト情報サービス【 LiveFans (ライブファンズ) 】". livefans.jp.
  53. ^ "吹雪のゲレンデが熱く、9回目のAPPI JAZZY SPORT閉幕". Natalie.
  54. ^ "Kaela Kimura Interview". Excite Japan Co., Ltd.
  55. ^ "MONKEY MAJIK主催の野外フェス〈APPI MUSIC JAM'07 MONKEY MAJIK+FRIENDS〉が開催". TOWER RECORDS ONLINE.
  56. ^ "LIVE HISTORY". upfront agency. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  57. ^ "Hotels near Appi Kogen Ski Resort". Expedia.
  58. ^ "Hotel APPI Grand - Accommodations - APPI Resort - Ski, Snowboard, Hotel and More!". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
  59. ^ "ホテル安比グランド タワー館". ANA Tour. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  60. ^ Hachimantai City Website- On the road to becoming a wonderful city
  61. ^ Hachimantai City Website- Mayoral Discussion
  62. ^ "「白銀は招くよ!」「銀嶺の王者」のトニー・ザイラー氏逝く". Eiga.com.

40°00′07″N 140°58′12″E / 40.002°N 140.970°E / 40.002; 140.970