This series will provide detailed and enthusiastic information on Japan's ski resorts from various perspectives. This time, we will look at the first part of the cable car, which is a major part of the lives of skiers and snowboarders
By the way, what does the "sou" in "kado" mean?
Chairlifts (also known as lifts), gondolas, and ropeways are collectively called "aerial roads." What is the "rope" in aerial roads, something we don't often see in our daily lives? It refers to a wire rope.
If a "railway" is a means of transportation that runs on iron tracks, then an aerial road is a means of transportation that moves a carrier suspended from a "rope" suspended in the air. Incidentally, so-called cable cars are also pulled by a cable, but they are treated as railways because they run on rails.
Japan's first passenger cableway was built in 1912 (Meiji 45) between the original Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai, Osaka, and the amusement park opposite, Luna Park. However, it was a simple structure with just one open passenger car, similar to the rides at amusement parks, going back and forth
The first example of a bridge at a ski resort in Japan was built in 1946 during the GHQ occupation. It was built at Mt. Moiwa in Sapporo, followed by Maruike Pond in Shiga Kogen, but both were for the exclusive use of the occupying forces
The first privately operated ski lift was built at what is now Kusatsu International in 1948. Lifts were then installed one after another at Akakura, Nozawa, Zao, and other ski resorts. After that, ropeways and gondolas also began to appear at ski resorts, and cable cars became an essential part of enjoying skiing
By the way, which manufacturers make and maintain cableways? Because they require a high level of specialization, there are only a select few manufacturers. Nippon Cable, which holds the largest market share, has a strong presence, followed by Anzen Suido, a long-established company founded in the Taisho era. There are also several other companies
Categorizing "Railways" Isn't Simple at All
Technically, there are three main classifications for cable cars. It can be a little confusing, but there aren't three types in total. There are three classifications, which are further subdivided
First, there are differences in how the carrier is supported and towed, then there are the types of running methods, and finally, whether people are carried in a box-shaped carrier or an open carrier.
From here, we will explain each of the three categories in detail.
① Classification by support and traction method
▶Single wire: Supported and pulled by a single rope
This is different from the "single track" of railways. Chairlifts and gondolas are mainly this type. A single rope serves both to support and pull the carriage, and it circulates. This rope is called a "stay rope." It does not matter whether it is a fixed circulation type (described below) or an automatic circulation type
▶Double track: Uses multiple ropes with different functions
Several ropes are used: "stay ropes" that support the carriage and "towing ropes" that pull it. As shown in the photo, it is the stay ropes that the wheels run on. This type of rope is the heaviest, and is never found in chairlifts or gondolas
▶Double single track The latest model is still rare
There are multiple ropes on both sides of the carrier, and they are all stay ropes that serve both to support and pull the carrier. Having multiple ropes makes it stable and resistant to crosswinds. Of these, ropes with two ropes wider than the carrier are also called "funitel."
② Classification by driving method
Fixed circulation type: The carriage and rope are fixed
As the name suggests, this type of gondola has carriages fixed to a rope and circulates. It is mainly used for chairlifts. Because they are fixed, all carriages basically move at the same speed. Because of its simple structure, this type is the easiest to maintain. However, there are a few types called "pulse gondolas" (currently under construction in Shiga Kogen ) that can periodically slow down or stop.
▶Automatic circulation system: A system that enables high speed
The carriage is attached to a rope while traveling between stations, but when it arrives at the station it automatically detaches from the rope and travels along a different lane. This detachment allows the carriage to slow down when passengers board or disembark, but allows it to speed up while traveling. This means it's easy to board and disembark, and it's fast
▶ Cross-propelled type Two carriages cross each other
This is known as the "bucket type." When one carriage rises, the other descends, and they pass each other at the midpoint. This type is mainly used for ropeways. Although it is not used for gondolas or chairlifts due to efficiency reasons, there are also cross-propelled gondolas in the world
▶Sliding type: Move by sliding on your own board
This is the name given to T-bar lifts and J-bar lifts, where skiers and snowboarders straddle a carrier or place it on their buttocks, moving with their boards in contact with the snow. However, these are quite rare in Japan
③Classification by carrier
▶Special ropeway: Carried by seats open to the outside
This category includes chairlifts, T-bar lifts, and J-bar lifts. Hooded lifts, which are covered but not enclosed, also fall into this category. T-bar and J-bar lifts are also called "schlepp lifts."
▶ Ordinary ropeway: Transported in a box-shaped carrier
A cableway with a box-shaped carriage that can be opened and closed. A medium-sized, circular carriage is usually called a "gondola," while a medium to large, cross-type carriage is usually called a "ropeway." However, there are some facilities, such as Marunuma Kogen, that call the former a ropeway
This is the type that is mainly found at Japanese ski resorts
The situation regarding cableways varies from country to country. For example, T-bars and J-bars, which are rare in Japan, are not uncommon in Europe and the US. As a result, there are types of cableways that can be found at ski resorts overseas but not in Japan. At the end of the first part, we will introduce the types of cableways that are actually in operation in Japan. They all fall into a combination of the above-mentioned ①, ②, and ③, so reading them while looking back will help you understand better
Single-track fixed-circulation chairlift
This type has the simplest structure. It is one of the most common chairlifts and is the most common in Japan. As it is a fixed circulation type, it cannot be made faster, so it is not suitable for long distances. Lifts with names such as "◎◎ high-speed lift" do not fall into this category
Single-track automatic circulation chairlift
Single track is the rule for chairlifts. This type of lift can operate at high speeds by slowing down when boarding and disembarking. Therefore, it is common for lifts that extend from the base to the middle of the mountain in one go, or lifts that span the main course. In some cases, a hooded carriage is also used
●Single-track special ropeway
Most cableways are installed in tourist destinations and amusement parks other than ski resorts, but this is the only one that is 99.99% exclusive to ski resorts (including grass ski resorts). As the name suggests, passengers slide down the slopes, and this type includes T-bar lifts and J-bar lifts
Single-track automatic circulation gondola
Most gondolas at Japanese ski resorts are single-track. Because they carry a large number of passengers and take time to board and disembark, an automatic circulating system is ideal. Niseko Village and Ishiuchi Maruyama also have "combination lifts" where a single-track automatic circulating gondola and a chairlift share a single rope
●Double single-track automatic circulating ordinary cableway (automatic circulating Funitel)
The key point is that although there are multiple ropes, they automatically circulate. The first ski resort in Japan to use this system was Zao Onsen in 2003. It was later installed at Tanigawadake Tenjindaira. Because it is a circulating system, it seems to fall into the category of a gondola, but both domestic locations are called "ropeways."
●Double-track crossing ropeway
It is physically difficult for a ropeway with a large, heavy carriage to be single-tracked or to operate in a circular pattern. Therefore, double-tracked, alternating-track systems are now the norm. This is why, on average, a ropeway operates about once every 20 to 30 minutes
To be continued in the second part
[Profile] Daisuke Mizorogi
He has been involved in skiing for over 20 years as a member of the BRAVOSKI editorial staff. He has been covering moguls since the 1990s and also has ample experience in the field of ski resort guides. He has also produced a number of unconventional projects that combine subculture with skiing, which are not found in existing ski magazines. He currently holds the title of "Showa culture researcher" and writes and edits in a variety of genres other than skiing. He is based in the most indoor position in the outdoor world and the most outdoor position in the indoor world.
d-mizorogi.com
Text/Daisuke Mizorogi
Editing/STEEP Editorial Department Edit/STEEP
Source: Re-edited from 2018 BRAVOSKI vol.2