Overview
Kuriko International Ski & Resort was a ski area in Itaya, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Set around the Kuriko Pass on the border between Yamagata and Fukushima, it was once enjoyed as a place for winter sports that made the most of the snow and mountain scenery. Owing to light snowfall and difficulty securing funds for lift maintenance and vehicle renewal, it has been closed since the 2016 season. It is not currently in operation, and the site retains a quiet mountain landscape.
Highlights
- ●Mountain scenery spreading across the border-straddling Kuriko Pass area
- ●The site of a ski area once opened in Itaya, Yonezawa
- ●A place that tells the story of a closure since the 2016 season
- ●A setting where you can sense the history of the strategic Kuriko Pass
History
Kuriko International Ski & Resort was opened in Itaya, Yonezawa City, and supported winter sports in the region. However, due to light snowfall, reputational damage following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, and difficulty raising funds for lift maintenance and vehicle renewal, it closed from the 2016 season. As of 2018 there were prospects of bringing in outside capital, with plans to reopen from fiscal 2019 after repairs to facilities, but no concrete progress has followed since.
Access
The resort was located in Itaya, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, at roughly 37.83 degrees north latitude and 140.26 degrees east longitude, in the mountains of Kuriko Pass on the Yamagata-Fukushima border. As it is currently closed and the facilities are not operating, the surrounding area now serves more as a destination for hiking and observing nature. Before visiting, confirm road conditions and whether entry is permitted through the latest official information.
Best season
It once centered on the winter ski season, but during the present closure there is no operation as a snow resort. To enjoy the mountain nature of the Kuriko Pass area, early summer through autumn, when the slopes are dressed in fresh green and autumn colors, offers the finest scenery. As the pass road can face severe winter weather, plan carefully with the season and road conditions in mind.
Map
37.8278, 140.2611 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Start from central Yonezawa and head toward Itaya and Kuriko Pass
- 2Enjoy the mountain scenery of the Kuriko Pass area from the car window or a lookout
- 3Reflect on the pass's nature and history near the former resort site (confirm whether entry is allowed)
- 4Return to Yonezawa and close the trip with local flavors such as Yonezawa beef
Did you know?
💡 Kuriko Pass is known as a key crossing linking Yamagata and Fukushima, and traversing it has a long history of road-cutting work. The fact that the resort's closure is attributed not only to light snow but also to reputational damage after the nuclear accident reflects one facet of the era through which Tohoku's tourist sites have passed.
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