Category Archives: Ski and Snowboard

“Winter sports in Kochi?” No. We’re not kidding. Ready to hit the slopes?

Slide into 2011: Winter Sports (nearly) On Your Doorstep

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A guide to three of Shikoku’s best slopes
Dashi Shimada

Sol-FA Oda ski field (Ehime)

  • This is the best Ski field in Shikoku
  • I recommend this one if you are keen on winter sports!
  • Longest run 1200m
  • It is enjoyable from beginners to experts.
  • It has some sweets kickers, rail and box items for free style runs. And there’s a Kid’s park and food court at the bottom of the slopes.
  • You need stud less(snow tires) tyres or chains on your car for snow on the road, there is no public transportation to get there.
  • Directions
It takes about 3 hours from Kochi to SOL-FA ODA
Take national route(NR) 33 from Kochi city
After one and half hours, passing though Hidaka-town, Ochi-town, Niyodogawa-town you reach to Ehime prefecture you still need to keep going on NR33 for more 30 minuets. Turn left at the traffic lights onto NR380 at Ochiai. From this place you might need chains. After a while you will go through a tunnel and some sharp turns then you will reach to small town called Oda.  Turn left at the local convenience store Apple. Now you are on the prefecture road(PR) 52. After 5minuits, there is a shrine on the left.  Turn right at that corner. Drive up sharp corners for about 20 minutes and you will get there. (There are many steep drops by the road so if you don’t feel comfortable about snow conditios, put on chains beforehand for your safety.)
  • Cost

Parking 1000yen
Day ticket 4000yen
Rental board or Skis 3500yen, Outfit 3500yen
Accommodation 3800yen for just staying the night,
6300yen inc breakfast and dinner.
parking fee applies, Photos
Call for reservation TEL 0892-52-3232

  • Details

TEL 0892-52-3232
web http://www.sol-fa.com/index.html
Map: ＳＯＬ－ＦＡ
You can check the current road conditions here

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Ikawa ski field (Tokushima)

  • Ikawa has two lifts and five main courses. They are easy and fun to run.
  • Longest run 840m,
  • Kids park, food court.

There is not much going on for extreme boarders. But beginners and  intermediates can enjoy the mountain shape and work on their skills. You can see Seto inland sea when the weather is nice. It tends to be packed with people on the weekend. You have to drive up kind of steep and narrow mountain road to get there. Don’t forget to bring chains for your car. Avoid to get too close to the edge of the narrow mountain road when it is snowy.

  • Directions

It takes about 2.5 hours from Kochi city.
From Kochi, get on the highway toward to Tokushima city. Get off the at Ikegawa-Ikeda IC. After you pay your toll, turn right at the first traffic light. Now Yoshino river is on your left hand side. After 4.5km driving, you will find Tsuji station on your left hand side. Still stick on the same road for 300m from the station. Turn right toward to prefecture road 140 then soon you will pass through a tunnel. You are 20km away from the ski field at this point. Just follow the Japanese sign for Ikawa ski field like this”井川スキー場” on this country-side road. You might need chains for the mountain road.

  • Cost

One day ticket 8:30-16:30 3500yen
Night ticket 17:30-22:00 2000yen
Rental boards 3500yen、Outfit 2500yen
Accommodation 12000yen for 4 person Log style lodge. No meal inc
800yen plus per person. 500yen discount from day pass for users. Photos
Call for reservation TEL0883-78-3003

  • Details

TEL 0883-78-3003
web http://www.ikawaski.jp/index.html
Map: Ikawa
You can check snow condition here(JP)

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Kuma ski field (Ehime)

  • This is one of busy ski fields in Shikoku, but it is the easiest field to access in Shikoku.
  • Good for beginners for both winter sports and driving in snow.
  • Three courses, kids park, beginner slope.
  • Longest run 600m.
  • The lift is quite fast and it can carry up many people in a short time.
  • It tends to get spotted icy parts and get busy on weekends.
  • Cafe is nice and warm.
  • Directions

Total destination takes 2hours from Kochi City
Take national route 33 toward to Ehime from Kochi after about 2 hours you will pass kuma-kogen-town just before Misaka pass. 4km from Kuma-kogen-town,  half-way up the Misaka pass, you will see the sign of the ski field”久万スキーランド”　on your right hand side. Turn right up there into the mountain. After 10 minuets you will be there. If you can’t go up the mountain road due to the snow conditions, just hitch or call 0892-21-0100 for someone to pick you up.

  • Cost

Entry 1000yen
Time pass 2h 2500yen, 4h 3000yen, 8h 4000
Rental broads 3000yen
Accommodation n/a
Photos and snow conditions here
Course guide here

  • Details

TEL 0892-21-0100
MAP Kuma


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