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] During 2003-2016, the resort was 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] Since 2016, the resort has been managed by the Asia Gate Holdings Co., Ltd.[35] In 2005 and 2016, giant slalom races of the National Sports Festival of Japan were held in Appi Kogen.[36][37]

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][38] 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).[39] Lift service includes 2 gondolas, 14 chair lifts including 3 high-speed quad lifts, and 2 surface lifts.[40] The resort is also family-friendly, with a kid's ski area, child care service, snow play areas, and a petting zoo.[41] 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.[42] CNN International ranked Appi Kogen the best ski resort in Asia.[2]

Lifts

Appi Kogen has 18 lifts which include two gondolas (Appi Gondola and Sailer Gondola), three high-speed detachable quad chairlifts (Central First Quad, Sailer Quad, and Vista Quad), two surface lifts, and eleven double chairlifts.[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.[43][44] LPGA of Japan Tour tournaments were held in 1984-88 and 1991-92.[45][46][47] 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.[48][49]

Other attractions

The ski resort is home to many concerts.[50] 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.[51][52][53][54][55]

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.[56] The 78 m (256 ft) tall Hotel Appi Grand Tower, opened in 1988, is the symbol of the resort.[57][58]

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. ↑ "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.
  36. ↑ "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.
  37. ↑ "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.
  38. ↑ Sierra Ski News. February 2006
  39. ↑ "Appi's snowy joys await seekers of late-season thrills - The Japan Times". The Japan Times.
  40. ↑ "Ski lifts Appi Kogen". Skiresort.info.
  41. ↑ "Time Out Hong Kong - Travel - Asia's best ski resorts". Time Out Hong Kong.
  42. ↑ "Appi Kogen". Powderhounds.com.
  43. ↑ "安比高原ゴルフクラブ". Golf Course Ranking Club.
  44. ↑ 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
  45. ↑ "【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）.
  46. ↑ "【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）.
  47. ↑ "【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）.
  48. ↑ "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）.
  49. ↑ "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）.
  50. ↑ "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）.
  51. ↑ "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.
  52. ↑ "吹雪のゲレンデが熱く、9回目のAPPI JAZZY SPORT閉幕". Natalie.
  53. ↑ "Kaela Kimura Interview". Excite Japan Co., Ltd.
  54. ↑ "MONKEY MAJIK主催の野外フェス〈APPI MUSIC JAM'07 MONKEY MAJIK+FRIENDS〉が開催". TOWER RECORDS ONLINE.
  55. ↑ "LIVE HISTORY". upfront agency.
  56. ↑ "Hotels near Appi Kogen Ski Resort". Expedia.
  57. ↑ "Hotel APPI Grand - Accommodations - APPI Resort - Ski, Snowboard, Hotel and More!".
  58. ↑ "ホテル安比グランド　タワー館". ANA Tour.
  59. ↑ Hachimantai City Website- On the road to becoming a wonderful city
  60. ↑ Hachimantai City Website- Mayoral Discussion
  61. ↑ "「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

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