The Hakuba Olympic Museum

One of Hakuba’s most popular sight-seeing and historical spots to visit, the Olympic Ski Jump, is a massive structure which was host to over 45,000 spectators during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

History

Built in 1992, the stadium hosted both the ski jumping events and the Nordic Combined events during the 1998 winter games. Athletes participating from all over the world competed on the two different sized hills, the Normal Hill (318 m) and the Large Hill (385 m). The large hill team event is known as one of the most dramatic and highly emotional victories in Olympic history, as the Japanese team achieved a come from behind gold medal finish, outlasting heavy favorites Germany and Austria. Today, the stadium remains an active sports venue for training and competitions. The terrains slippery surface makes it usable year round for all ski jumping enthusiasts and competitors alike.

Museum

The Ski Jump has an on-site museum which is home to various Olympic memorabilia, such as authentic equipment, banners, and gear from the 1998 games. In order to access it, visitors must first go up the chair lift to the top of the tower, which is an experience itself. After you are done strolling through and taking in the ceremony’s history, catch the elevator up to the observation deck, where you will find some of the best views in all of the Hakuba Valley. You can also walk up a flight of stairs which brings you to the where the athletes descended, giving you a great point of view of what they had to face.

Directions