Okurayama Olympic Ski Jump

Hello! Pink Ninja in action here! lol

Wondering where this pink ninja was in action?

And of course..with blue ninja along rite? hehe

We were in Okurayama Olympic Ski Jump. See the deeeeppp slope behind us? This is the main ski jump used in the 1972 Winter Olympic Games, hosting the 90 meter Large Hill events. 

Okay..a better shot of Okurayama Olympic Ski Jump without the 2 ninjas blocking the view

This is the escalator to reach the bottom hill of the ski jump

The ticket booth

This place is a prime training facility for Nordic events, and athletes ranging from World Cup participants to high school students can regularly be seen flying off the hill. Unless there is a major event underway, anybody can take the chairlift to the top of the ski jump where one can enjoy the same view the ski jumpers see when sitting on the plank preparing to fly in the sky. Well..and also provided weather is good for the chairlift to be in operation, which unfortunately lady luck is not on our side that day that the chair lift operation is suspended due to heavy wind. 

The chair lift pricing: 500 yen for adult, 300 yen for child

So our tour had to change the schedule to  visit The Sapporo Winter Sports Museum instead. Its located at the bottom of the jump hill and one cool thing is..its complete with a ski jump simulator which you can pretend be a pro ski jumper! 

Entrance of Sapporo Winter Sports Museum

Okay okay..before talking about what you can do in the museum, lemme brief you a bit on the background of this ski jump place. The Okurayama hill was originally built in 1931 using private budget of 50,000 yen, with the personal assistance of Yasuhito (Crown Prince Chichibu, the then Emperor's younger brother). It was a smaller facility, a 60 meter class jump about the same as the current medium hill. The stadium was then donated to the City of Sapporo as part of on-going government sponsored program to encourage participation in sports and the development of athletes capable of competing internationally. A few months after opening it was named Okura by the Mayor (also the Chairman of the Sapporo Ski Association).


It was completely redeveloped at a cost of 770,000,000 yen for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, the first time the games were held outside Europe or the USA. The new facility was named Okurayama, and became one of what was then only a handful of 90 meter class jumping hills in the world with a 110 meter K point and room for 50,000 spectators. 

Back to the Sapporo Winter Sport Museum..

The museum features the Exhibit Zone, where visitors can view valuable documents from the Olympics and other competitions as well as historical materials related to winter sports. There's also the Sensation/Experience Zone, where you can learn more about competitions through game simulations, and the Competition Information Zone, which provides information about game rules, the latest equipment, and athletes. The museum is the perfect place to see, touch, experience, and feel the fun and wonder of winter sports.

There are 3 levels in this museum

Basically we din walk much around the other few levels except direct go down to Sensation Zone where we can directly experience the simulations there. 

Entrance Fees:

• Adult: 600 yen
• Groups (15 or more ppl) : 540 yen
• Junior high school age or younger: FREE

NOTE: The 1F Experience Zone is free, but may be closed at certain times.

Boyfie, the pro ski jumper!

See...boyfie is really v pro ski jumper in his cool suit!

Vroom..boyfie driving the bobsleigh

The lady taught boyfie..in order to stop spinning..u must curve ur bum out! :-P

Must show a shot of us together at the ski jump place before end the post :-P

How to get here?

Address: 1274 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0958 

1. Take the Tozai subway line to get to Maruyama Koen station. Take the JR bus (line 14) headed for Miyanomori Kyogijyo and exit at Okurayama Kyogijyo Iriguchi. It is about a 10 minute walk uphill from the bus stop. It cost about 200 yen and there is are 2 buses every hour.
2. There is a 200 yen shuttle bus (JR Burari Sapporo Kanko Bus) operating periodically every hour from JR Sapporo Station and the Okurayama Ski Jump. The journey is about 45 min. The bus can be used free of charge by Japan Rail Pass holders.
3. Taxis cost about 1200 yen from Maruyama Koen station.

The Subway line to here

Okurayama Ski Jump Observatory
Hours:    

• 8:30 to 18:00 (May to October) 
• 9:00 to 17:00 (November to April)

From June to September, open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays
Closed: April 1 to 15
Admission: 500 yen round trip chairlift ticket

Sapporo Winter Sports Museum
Hours:    

• 9:00 to 18:00 (May to October)
• 9:30 to 17:00 (November to April)

From June to September, open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays
Closed:    No closing days
Admission:  600 yen
English: Minimal

Website on the Okurayama Olympic Ski Jump:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5308.html
http://gosapporo.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/okurayama/ 

Website on Sapporo Winter Sports Musuem:
http://www.sapporo-dc.co.jp/eng/okurayama/museum/

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.