Good morning from Yuzawa.

The mountains looked spectacular yesterday morning. We enjoyed clear blue skies and sunshine for the morning. Beautiful. (Check the first image below, taken from GALA Yuzawa).

Around lunchtime some clouds started to form and it was more of a generally cloudy picture before the end of the day.

Overnight have had fresh snow and here is what is being reported by ski areas:

Maiko Snow Resort: 20cm
Iwappara: 15-25cm
Ishiuchi Maruyama: 10cm

(Unfortunately, Kagura and Naeba don't seem to be updating any snowfall information during their 'closed' period, so we can't keep a record of that).

Just measured 19cm, so that is what goes on the report this morning.

It is snowing still and it is windy... not crazy wind just now down in town, but enough to affect some lift operations and also visibility. In extreme contrast to yesterday morning, this morning it's hard to see much at all.

The current conditions mean that the GALA Yuzawa resort is closed for the day today due. The upper areas of Yuzawa Kogen and Maiko Snow Resort are also closed, and there may well be some other lift disruption this morning.

Things should be calmer by tomorrow and we're expecting more sun.

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Individual ski area information: Tuesday 19th January 2021
Information on a selection of the larger ski areas in the region, listed in alphabetical order.
Ski areas are now generally open as normal. Specific news and points of interest noted below.
All information is checked with official sources and updated manually every day. Subject to change.

GALA Yuzawa
Closed today due to weather conditions
Official snow depth:
290cm

Ishiuchi Maruyama
The top link with GALA Yuzawa is now open
Official snow depth:
Mid: 260cm
Base: 180cm

Iwappara
Mid to summit areas open
Official snow depth:
235cm

Joetsu Kokusai
7 courses open in the main Nagamine area
Official snow depth:
260cm

Kagura
Currently closed

Kandatsu Snow Resort
Open as normal
Official snow depth:
215cm

Maiko Snow Resort
Upper Okusoeji area closed today due to weather conditions
Official snow depth:
Top: 300cm
Base: 200cm

Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Currently closed

NASPA Ski Garden
All courses apart from C Course open
Official snow depth:
210cm

Naeba
Currently closed

Yuzawa Kogen
Top area and Ropeway closed today due to weather conditions
Official snow depth:
Top: 300cm
Base: 220cm

Yuzawa Nakazato
Number 1, 2 and 3 lifts operating
Official snow depth:
295cm

Yuzawa Park
Currently closed on weekdays

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Various changes to operations at various ski areas at the moment:

GALA Yuzawa:
The Sociable lift will be closed on weekdays for the time being, with slightly earlier closing times. These lift changes will not affect the ski runs that are open.

Kagura:
The Tashiro Area is closed 16th-17th January; all areas of Kagura will be closed from Monday 18th January until early February (no confirmed re-opening date)

Joetsu Kokusai:
The Atema and Osawa areas are currently closed for the time being (no confirmed re-opening date).

Muikamachi Hakkaisan:
Currently closed and will closed be until early February (no confirmed re-opening date).

Naeba:
Closed from Monday 18th January until early February (no confirmed re-opening date).

NASPA Ski Garden:
The Number 3 lift will be rested on weekends but all courses will remain available. The Number 2 and 3 lifts will be rested on weekdays, when the C course will be closed (all other courses open). This change is planned until 7th February.

Yuzawa Park:
Yuzawa Park will be closed Mondays through Thursdays until 19th February (though it will be open on Monday 25th January).


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Floodlit night skiing at ski areas in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma
Below are the general plans for night skiing during the 2020-2021 season - this information will be checked periodically for any major changes. All are subject to change at short notice.

Ishiuchi Maruyama
Time: 4:00pm until 8:30pm
Dates: Daily until 28th February; then 6th-7th, 13th-14th March 2021
Lifts: Sunrise Express, Tyrol triple, Kanko Number 3

Iwappara
Time: Until 7:00pm on weekdays; until 8:00pm on Saturdays
Dates: Adjusted to weekends only
Lifts: Number 2 and 3 pair lifts

Joetsu Kokusai
Time:5:00pm until 9:00pm
Dates: Adjusted to only on Saturdays until 7th Feb; unconfirmed beyond that
Lifts: In front of the base hotel and Nagamine

Kandatsu Snow Resort
Time: 6:00pm until 2:00am
Dates: Saturdays and nights before holidays until 3rd April 2021

Maiko Snow Resort
Time: 4:00pm until 8:00pm
Dates: Saturdays until 14th March 2021
Lifts: Maiko Center quad, Maiko Number 1 pair


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Other operating ski areas in the region:
- Chateau Shiozawa
- Hakkai Sanroku
- Ipponsugi
- Itsukamachi
- Mt Granview (usually weekends only)
- Muica Snow Resort


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Closed during the 2020-2021 winter season
- Ishiuchi Hanaoka