Wada Toge Ski Area Closed
Official name 和田峠スキー場
Nagano
Open 1977–1998
Wada Toge Ski Area was a small hill on Wada Pass, the high point of the old Nakasendo road, opened in 1977 by what was then Wada Village (now Nagawa) on leased national forest land. Its short beginner and intermediate runs started at about 1,500 m. Poor snow, a shrinking skiing population and awkward access led to its last season in 1998. The lift has since been removed, and from 2011 volunteers working with the town have planted thousands of larch and other trees to turn the old slopes back into forest.
History of Wada Toge Ski Area
- Opened
- 1977
- Closed
- 1998
- Operators
- Wada Village (now Nagawa Town), on leased national forest (1977-1998)
- Why it closed
- Poor snow, a falling number of skiers and poor transport access; operation stopped after the 1998 season.
- The site today
- Lift removed, only concrete footings and the old base building remain; since 2011 the slopes have been replanted (about 13,000 trees by 2014, mostly larch) by the NPO Mori no Lifestyle Kenkyujo and volunteers with the town's cooperation.