Photo/Illutration Artificial snow is used at the Manza Onsen ski resort to prepare for the start of the ski season. (Ayano Nakazawa)

TSUMAGOI, Gunma Prefecture—Thieves have done tremendous damage to a popular ski resort here as part of a rash of thefts of copper transmission wiring around the nation recently due in part to the global spike in copper prices.

The Manza Onsen ski resort is known for its high quality, powdery snow and was a filming location for a 1987 movie that sparked a skiing boom.

The resort has remained a popular winter destination with about 60,000 visitors to its ski slopes last year.

But this year, the resort will only be able to open two of its 14 ski runs since only one of five ski lifts is operable.

According to Gunma prefectural police, resort employees were preparing for the start of skiing season in late September when they noticed copper cables and wiring, tools and faucets had been stolen.

Heavy damage had been done to the electrical equipment used to operate the ski lifts and building walls had been damaged so the thieves could access the copper cables inside.

Prefectural police investigated the site on Sept. 24 and 25, taking photos of the damage and conducting forensic investigations.

But the following morning, an employee found even more significant damage to the ski run itself. The ground around the rest house had been dug up and underground cables stolen.

Prefectural police said that total confirmed damage from the thefts came to at least 3 million yen ($19,000).

One police official said, “The damage was so extensive that we worried the resort would be unable to resume business.”

The volume of metal stolen meant that trucks had to have been driven onto the ski slope and a team of thieves had to have worked together to carry away the loot.

Prefectural police said similar theft of copper cables had also occurred at other ski resorts that were not yet open.

Moreover, the northern Kanto region, including Gunma, Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures, has been hit by a rash of thefts of copper wiring and cables.

In Gunma, solar power stations have been especially targeted. Between January and November, 1,111 cases of such theft have been reported, an increase of 106 cases over the same period in 2023.

Because the limited operations at the Manza Onsen ski resort will lead to a decrease in demand for overnight accommodations, the neighboring Manza Kogen Hotel will not open between Jan. 5 and March 22.

However, the nearby Manza Prince Hotel, also operated by Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc., will remain open.

A company official said it was difficult to calculate the amount lost due to reduced business opportunities.

Yet even with the reduced number of ski lifts and runs, Manza Onsen ski resort will be in business between Dec. 21 and March 23, much like any other year.

One company official said, “We are truly sorry to all guests who were looking forward to the opening of the ski season because we will have to reduce operations.”

But the official said they could not remain pessimistic and were discussing ways that visitors other than skiers could enjoy the closed slopes.

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