The Rise and Fall of SSAWS
December 3, 2009 by Juergen Specht · Leave a Comment
SSAWS, then the first and largest indoor ski resort in the world, opened July 15th, 1993 in Minami-Funabashi in Chiba, Japan. I remember that I read about it in a German magazine and was utterly fascinated with this construction.
Little did I knew back then that just 10 years later I will stand in front of its remains and photograph its deconstruction.
The SSAWS sign in front of the ski dome, December 2003
Also known as Tokyo Ski Dome, SSAWS, which stood for Spring Summer Autumn Winter Snow was one of these megalomanic $400US million dollar ideas born in the Japanese bubble with an totally unrealistic business plan, which was supposed to break even in 2018.
The remains of SSAWS, December 2003
The building was more than 100 meter high and more than 500 meter long, hosting three ski slopes with a 80 meter drop and a total length of 500 meter and allowed to ski all year round. Alone the cooling costs were astronomic.
In September 30th, 2002 it closed down for good and after a lengthy planning period the demolishing of SSAWS started in Autumn 2003 leaving the whole area covered in fine white dust for months.
In December 2003 I began to photograph the already started demolition and came back 2 more times, whenever time allowed.
My first visit in December 2003
Even I lived already 4 years in Tokyo, I never made it into SSAWS, even I always wanted to go. It was quite a surprise as I heard from its closure in TV and missed my chance forever. The demolition started in September 2003, but it took me until December to make my first visit. SSAWS was already partly gone but the size still totally impressed me.
The sheer size of SSAWS was unbelievable. December 2003
The backside of SSAWS compared to a bus. December 2003
SSAWS seen from the street. December 2003
Looking up from the street. December 2003
SSAWS was more than 500meter long. December 2003
A closer look at the backside of SSAWS, which remained mainly intact. December 2003
The other side was already demolished. December 2003
Look into the inside of SSAWS. December 2003
View from Minami-Funabashi station. December 2003
My second visit in January 2004
Unfortunately I could not make it back until the end of January 2004 and the demolition was in full swing, with the roof removed. The entire area was covered in dust, which hopefully contained no asbestos.
The backside was still mostly intact. January 2004
I needed a fish-eye lens to get the entire building in the photo. January 2004
Most of the slopes and the roof was already removed. January 2004
Looking up from the still existing SSAWS sign. January 2004
The view from a nearby apartment house. January 2004
Most of the building is already gone. January 2004
From a different angle. January 2004
As seen from the back. January 2004
My third visit in March 2004
The work progressed in astonishing speed in February 2004 and as I came again, SSAWS was gone. Only a few poles and the foundation remained.
SSAWS is gone. View from the station. March 2004
View from the street. March 2004
Diggers removing the foundation. March 2004
You can still see the colored poles. March 2004
Overview of the construction site. March 2004
Overview of the construction site. March 2004
Immediately after the demolition of SSAWS was completed, they started to build Japan’s first IKEA at the same location. In April 24th, 2006 IKEA opened and since then attracted way more customers than SSAWS ever wished to attract.
SSAWS was the first of its kind, but not the last. This list shows that more indoor ski slopes exist, some even bigger than SSAWS and the most exotic, but smaller one is probably the one in Dubai.
