Olympic Tracks

Interview with Daiki Kuriyama

At the end of March 2025, the Live Up Hakuba team visited Snow Harp to try cross-country skiing with Daiki Kuriyama. A Hakuba hometown hero, Daiki is a former member of the Japan National Cross-Country Ski Team and now serves as a local government official dedicated to promoting sports in Hakuba. We sat down with Daiki to learn more about Hakuba’s Olympic facilities and his vision for their future.

COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER AND WHAT REPRESENTING JAPAN MEANT TO YOU?

It’s been about ten years since I was on the national team. My results weren’t necessarily at the very top level of Japan, but still, having had the chance to represent my country and wear the rising sun on my uniform was very meaningful. Looking back now after retiring, I realize that being on a national team, no matter the sport, allows you to inspire and move
children and supporters alike. That’s something I value a lot.

YOU CURRENTLY WORK AT THE HAKUBA VILLAGE OFFICE. WHAT ARE YOUR DAILY DUTIES?

I’m part of the Lifelong Learning and Sports Division. It’s divided into two sections: sports and culture. I’m in charge of the sports side. Specifically, I manage facilities like the Ski Jump Stadium and other Olympic venues. I also plan programs that encourage Hakuba residents to stay active and healthy, as well as create opportunities for kids to enjoy moving their bodies.

PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT SNOW HARP. WHAT MAKES THE PLACE SO SPECIAL?

Snow Harp was built as the venue for cross-country skiing and Nordic Combined events during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. It’s used year-round. In summer, people use the grassy areas for activities like soccer, playing catch, or baseball. It’s basically like a large park. In winter, it becomes a place for cross-country skiing. We also host major competitions like the All-Japan Ski Championships. For those who have never tried cross-country skiing, we rent out all the equipment, so I really recommend giving it a try at least once when you come to Hakuba.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENJOY CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AT SNOW HARP?

The facility fee is 500 yen per day, and equipment rental is about 3,000 yen for the whole day.

THE HAKUBA SKI JUMP STADIUM IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SYMBOLS OF THE 1998 NAGANO OLYMPICS. HOW CAN TOURISTS EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THE SKI JUMP NOW?

Visitors can take a chair lift up the slope to the ski jump tower. The tower has four levels, from the first to the fourth floor. The fourth floor is an observation deck, and the second and third floors lead to the starting gates for the Large Hill and Normal Hill jumps. Visitors can go right up to where the athletes start and enjoy panoramic views over Hakuba Village. On some days, athletes are actually training, so you can watch them jump from above. It’s a pretty unique experience.

COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SUMMER EVENTS
YOU ORGANIZE AT THESE FACILITIES?

Yes. In summer, the jump stadium is still used for athlete training, but the village also organizes events. For example, this August we held a ‘Water Sports Festival’ for local and nearby children to play in the water. Then, on September 20, there was a music festival hosted by an outside company. These kinds of events bring in people who might not normally have an interest in ski jumping.

FINALLY, COULD YOU TELL US YOUR DREAMS OR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF FACILITIES LIKE THE HAKUBA SKI JUMP STADIUM AND SNOW HARP, AS WELL AS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY?

It’s been 27 years since the Nagano Olympics, and the number of visitors to these facilities has been gradually decreasing. To preserve them for future generations, I think it’s important that local residents develop a sense of attachment to these places. Until now, we’ve mainly focused on attracting tourists, but moving forward, I want to make these facilities more accessible and enjoyable for the
people who actually live here.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Olympic Tracks

Interview with Daiki Kuriyama

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