Development of a Ski-Tourist Region in Katashina-mura, Gunma Prefecture

DOI Web Site Web Site 6 Citations

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 群馬県片品村におけるスキー観光地域の形成
  • グンマケン カタシナムラ ニ オケル スキー カンコウ チイキ ノ ケイセイ

Search this article

Abstract

Ski grounds have been proliferating since 1950 in Japan. While many new ski grounds were established, the majority of existing ones were enlarged and renewed. These developments caused remarkable changes in the snowy regions. This study attempts to examine the processes involved in the development of a ski-tourist region. A ski-tourist region defined in this study is a region which contains skiing facilities and the surrounding areas where many regional elements are closely related to the ski grounds.<br> The development form of ski resorts have greatly changed around 1980. While single-chair lifts, traditional ryokan, and minshuku-style inns dominated ski-tourist regions until the 1970s, newly established ski-tourist regions are equipped with modern lifts, restaurants, and hotels. Existing ski-tourist regions were also modernized. This study analyzes the changes in the existing ski-tourist regions, and examines the historical relations between skiing facilities and forestland utilization as well as the occupational structure of the surrounding areas.<br> This study investigates the case of Katashina-mura, 130 kilometers north of Tokyo, which experienced a rapid structural change through an increase in the numbers of skiers during the 1980s.<br> The findings of this study are as follows:<br> 1. The people of this area traditionally combined subsistence farming with livestock, sericulture, and charcoal-making. Communal and national forestland around the settlement were the sites of these activities. The forestland provided the people with grass for fertilizer and feed, charcoal, and firewood. However, the traditional style of forestland utilization gradually disappeared in the 1960 s.<br> 2. Eight ski resorts were established in the period between 1962 and 1979, mainly on communal and national forestland. They were developed by outside capital, not by local people. Each ski ground had a few ski lifts in the 1970s.<br> The residents in surrounding regions began to open inns, especially minshuku, during the 1970s, to lodge skiers. Moreover, new working opportunities came into existence in winter at the ski grounds. The residents combined working for the ski tourist industry in winter with agriculture, forestry, and construction work in other seasons.<br> 3. Since 1980, new facilities have been built at the ski resorts, including two-chair lifts, modern resting places, and hotels. The increase in the number of two-chair lifts has expanded the capacity for skiers on the ski grounds. The number of skiers was considerably increased, especially that of day tourists from the Tokyo metropolitan area on weekends after the construction of an expressway.<br> Many pensions have been opened in the surrounding region since 1980 to meet the various tastes of tourists. The demand for temporary workers at the ski grounds was increased by the enlargement of their facilities. The workers were from outside Katashina-mura. However, skiing became one of the important industries in Katashina-mura.<br> 4. Accessibility from the Tokyo metropolitan area and the forestland ownership of the ski grounds were closely related to the development of a ski-tourism region in Katashina-mura in the 1980s. With improved accessibility from Tokyo, the developers could invest in the construction of new buildings. Since the national forestland in Katashina-mura has been designated a forest recreation area, furthermore, ski grounds could be expanded into the forestland.<br> The ski-tourist region in Katashina-mura changed remarkably in the 1980s with improved accessibility from Tokyo, and responded to the demands of skiers by the expanding the capacity of skiing facilities and various types of accommodation.

Journal

Citations (6)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top