Kanayasan Ski Resort (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)/vol.21

2025.1.7

Slope guideskiing-ground2024SkiSki resortスキー発祥の地スノボソリLerch Festival Joetsu CityKanayayama

The birthplace of skiing in Japan! Historic ski resort is recommended for your skiing debut!

◆Operating period:January 12, 2025 to mid-March 2025 (tentative)

1.Features of slopes and courses
2.Events
3.Date

1.Features of slopes and courses

Five minutes by car from the Joetsu Takada IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. The “Kanayasan Ski Resort” is located just outside the city center of Takada, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.

It is also known as the “birthplace of skiing,” where skiing techniques were first introduced to Japan in earnest in 1911 by Major Theodor von Lerch, a soldier of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Symbol of  Kanayasan Bronze statue of Major Lerch

Although it is a very compact municipal-run slope, there are three gentle and steep courses for different levels, including a hard course for advanced skiers with a maximum slope of 27 degrees (50% intermediate / 50% advanced).

There is also a free sledding area by the slopes. Families with children can use this area with peace of mind. On weekends, you can hear the lively voices of children. If the weather is fine, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Takata Plain from the top of the mountain. Please be sure to enjoy the snow-covered cityscape as well.

Every Saturday, elementary and junior high school students residing in Joetsu City can get free lift tickets by showing “Joetsu City Children’s Day Passport”. This is a great opportunity for your children to practice skiing or make their skiing debut. In addition, the “Lerch Festival,” held on February 1 and 2, is a major winter event held to pass on Major Lerch’s great achievements to future generations, and attracts many people from within and outside of the prefecture. Various events and food stalls offering local delicacies are scheduled for both days. Please enjoy the event with your family and friends.

2.Events

Lerch Festival – 114th anniversary of the birth of skiing in Japan – Poster

Lerch Festival – 114th anniversary of the birth of skiing in Japan
■Date and time: February 1 (Sat) 12:00 – 19:30, February 2 (Sun) 9:00 – 15:00, 2025
■Saturday, 1st Main Event Details:
・Australian beer and food booths
・Stage events
・Snowmobile experience
・Torchlight torchlight slide
・Musical starmine launch, etc.
■Sunday, 2nd Main event details:
・Single stick skiing lessons
・Australian beer and food booths
・Snowmobile experience
・Family fun events, etc.
・Local food stalls will be open on both days.

Children’s Day for Skiing
■Date: January 19, February 16, and March 16, 2025 (third Sunday of each month)
■Content: Free lift ticket for elementary school students
*Not available when the ski area is not open due to snow conditions.

3.Date

■Address: 595-2 Onuki, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
■Sales period: January 12, 2025 to mid-March 2025
■Hours of operation: 9:00-16:30
■Fees: Single lift ticket: Adults (high school students and older)/210 yen, Children (junior high school students and younger)/160 yen
　　　　 11-lift tickets: Adults (high school students and older)/2100 yen, Children (junior high school students and younger)/1600 yen
*Every Saturday, show your “Joetsu City Children’s Day Passport” and elementary and junior high school students residing in Joetsu City get free lift access!
Rental service is not available.