Appi Kogen Ski Resort

Appi Kogen Ski Resort

A view from top of Mt. Maemori
Location Hachimantai, Iwate, Japan
Vertical    828 m (2,717 ft)
Top elevation 1,328 m (4,357 ft)
Base elevation    500 m (1,640 ft)[1]
Skiable area 282 ha (697 acres)[2]
Runs 21
30% easiest
40% more difficult
30% most difficult[1]
Longest run 5.5 km (3.4 mi)[3]
Lift system 18 (2 gondola lifts, 3 high-speed quad chairlifts, 2 surface lifts and 11 pair chairlifts)[4]
Lift capacity 28,000/hr[5]
Terrain parks 2[6][7]
Snowfall 1,200 cm (470 in)[8]
Snowmaking Yes
Night skiing 4pm-8pm (December–March)[9]
Website Appi Resort
Hotel Appi Grand main building (right) and tower (left)
A view from Sailer Gondola
Upper Second Slopes First Run and Vista Quad

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][10][11] 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 others.[12][13][14][15] The resort is 50 minutes from Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen by non-stop express bus.[16] This station is approximately 496.5 km (308.5 mi) (2 hr 10 min) from Tokyo Station.[17][18][19] 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.[20][21]

History

The development of the resort was led by Hiromasa Ezoe, a Japanese entrepreneur and the founder of Recruit (company).[22][23] 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).[24] The construction began in 1970s and the ski area was opened in December, 1981, with four chair lifts.[25] The 'Sailer' area expansion was designed by Toni Sailer, an Austrian alpine ski racer and actor.[26] The Hotel Appi Grand opened in 1985, and the Appi Grand Villa 3 opened in 1991.[27][28] In 1992, the ski resort attracted 1.5 million visitors in a year.[12] The Hotel Appi Grand Annex opened in 1996.[29] Soccer fields opened in 1998.[12][30] Since 2003, the resort has been managed by the Kamori Kanko Group.[31][32] In 2014, a memorial of Hiromasa Ezoe, the founder of the resort who died in February 2013, was erected in the resort.[33][34] In 2005 and 2016, giant slalom races of the National Sports Festival of Japan were held in Appi Kogen.[35][36]

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.[8] 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][8][37] 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).[38] Lift service includes 2 gondolas, 14 chair lifts including 3 high-speed quad lifts, and 2 surface lifts.[39] The resort is also family-friendly, with a kid's ski area, child care service, snow play areas, and a petting zoo.[40] 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.[41] CNN International ranked Appi Kogen the best ski resort in Asia.[2]

Lifts

The Lift System in the Appi Kogen Ski Resort [4]
Lift Name Capacity per Lift Length Capacity per Hour Notes
Appi Gondola 8 2820 m 2000
Central First Quad 4 954 m 2000 with bubble
Central First Lift A 2 1037 m 1000
Central Second Lift A 2 700 m 1000
Central Second Lift B 2 1062 m 1000
Central Third Lift A 2 773 m 1000
Central Third Lift B 2 773 m 1000
Central Third Lift C 2 901 m 1000
Central Fourth Lift 2 664 m 1000
Schlepp Lift (button lift) 1 1022 m 800
T-bar Lift 2 1254 m 800
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.[42][43] LPGA of Japan Tour tournaments were held in 1984-88 and 1991-92.[44][45][46] The Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup on the LPGA of Japan Tour will be held in the Appi Kogen Golf Club in September 2017.[47][48]

Other attractions

The ski resort is home to many concerts.[49] 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.[50][51][52][53][54]

Hotels

There are 8 hotels, including the Hotel Appi Grand, the Hotel Appi Grand Tower, the Appi Grand Villa 1-3, and the Hotel Appi Grand Annex 1-3. There are also B&Bs.[55] The 78 m (256 ft) tall Hotel Appi Grand Tower, opened in 1988, is the symbol of the resort.[56][57]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Iwate: ski resort elevation differences". skiresort.info.
  2. 1 2 Sanskrity Sinha (2 December 2010). "Skiing: world’s best places to glide over snow". International Business Times.
  3. 1 2 "10 top ski resorts to visit this winter". CNN.
  4. 1 2 "Ski lifts Appi Kogen". skiresort.info.
  5. Advertisement Program- Appi Resort (Japanese)
  6. "Snow Park - Snow Resort - APPI Resort - Ski, Snowboard, Hotel and More!".
  7. "国内最大級のスキー場・積雪情報サイト SURF&SNOW". Gurunavi, Inc.
  8. 1 2 3 "Appi Kogen". skijapan.com.
  9. "Appi Kogen - Hachimantai City - Iwate Prefecture - Resort Spotlight - Japan ski and snowboard resorts - SnowJapan". snowjapan.com.
  10. "A Trip to Iwate - Location Information - Activities". Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site.
  11. "Five of Asia's top ski resorts". CNN.
  12. 1 2 3 "〈中〉安比の山と生きる". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞).
  13. "訪日客の消費額4兆円へ 政府行動計画". Nikkei.com(日経新聞).
  14. "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).
  15. "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.
  16. "Time Out Shanghai- Asia's best ski resorts". Time Out Shanghai.
  17. "JR-EAST Train Reservation". JR East.
  18. "Ten things you have to know about skiing in Japan". NineMSN.
  19. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism- High-speed railways network in Japan
  20. "Appi Kogen Travel - By car - Appi Kogen (Hachimantai) ski resort travel guide - Iwate Prefecture - SnowJapan". SnowJapan.
  21. "We stood in shock as the roar of the earthquake surrounded us". Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. "「安比」築いた青年社員". YOMIURI ONLINE(読売新聞).
  23. "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).
  24. "いわての景勝地(高原)". Iwate Prefecture (岩手県).
  25. "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).
  26. 1 2 "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.
  27. "ホテル安比グランド". ANA Tour.
  28. "安比グランドヴィラ 3". ANA Tour.
  29. "安比グランドアネックス". ANA Tour.
  30. "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).
  31. "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.
  32. "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).
  33. "「リクルート上場に想う」". INTERWOOS.CO.Ltd.
  34. "Ezoe, leading figure in Recruit scandal, dies at 76". The Asahi Shimbun.
  35. "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.
  36. "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.
  37. Sierra Ski News. February 2006
  38. "Appi's snowy joys await seekers of late-season thrills - The Japan Times". The Japan Times.
  39. "Ski lifts Appi Kogen". Skiresort.info.
  40. "Time Out Hong Kong - Travel - Asia’s best ski resorts". Time Out Hong Kong.
  41. "Appi Kogen". Powderhounds.com.
  42. "安比高原ゴルフクラブ". Golf Course Ranking Club.
  43. 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
  44. "【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).
  45. "【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).
  46. "【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).
  47. "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).
  48. "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).
  49. "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).
  50. "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.
  51. "吹雪のゲレンデが熱く、9回目のAPPI JAZZY SPORT閉幕". Natalie.
  52. "Kaela Kimura Interview". Excite Japan Co., Ltd.
  53. "MONKEY MAJIK主催の野外フェス〈APPI MUSIC JAM'07 MONKEY MAJIK+FRIENDS〉が開催". TOWER RECORDS ONLINE.
  54. "LIVE HISTORY". upfront agency.
  55. "Hotels near Appi Kogen Ski Resort". Expedia.
  56. "Hotel APPI Grand - Accommodations - APPI Resort - Ski, Snowboard, Hotel and More!".
  57. "ホテル安比グランド タワー館". ANA Tour.
  58. Hachimantai City Website- On the road to becoming a wonderful city
  59. Hachimantai City Website- Mayoral Discussion
  60. "「白銀は招くよ!」「銀嶺の王者」のトニー・ザイラー氏逝く". Eiga.com.

External links

Media related to Appi Kogen Ski Resort at Wikimedia Commons

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.