The aim of this study was to create an original method in sport sociology concerned with the ski area development in Japan. At first, the general research tendencies for tourist geography (tourism) were reviewd in this country. In 1960\u27s, Y. Koike described the purpose, the method and the objects of tourist geography. He pointed out that the purpose of tourism was to clarify the region itself as the total body by explaining of its personality and its spatial arrangement. In 1970\u27s, influenced by the structual-functional theory, J. Yamamura described the central viewpoint of the geographical researches. He said that the point of view was drawn by grasping the substance of the tourist regions. In 1980\u27s, H. Ishii insisted on the significance of historical perspective for the tourism studies. Second, the several studies on ski area were reviewed. They were described on the point of geographical concern and each had the special issue of the features related to the region. Third, the researches on the development of ski area and lodging facilities (minshuku) were reviewd for the next step. H. Ishii compared the minshuku in ski area with it in the seaside recreational zone. S. Shirasaka reported the characteristics of the change about the several major ski areas in Japan. In the geographical researches, it was sought to describe the region as a total bady. Of course they included social issues, but more social viewpoint must be required for the sociological study. Especially, it is nessecery to resarch from the standpoint of dwellers in ski area, because the developments influence directly on them
