SnowJapan
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Number 7 lift at Marunuma Kogen to sit out the 2023-2024 season
The Number 7 single lift at Marunuma Kogen in Katashina (Gunma) will be closed during the upcoming season, along with the Gold Course and Gold connecting runs.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/gunma/katashina/marunuma-kogen -
Two ski lifts to operate at Suhara during the 2023-2024 season
Suhara in Uonuma City (Niigata Prefecture) has announced that their lower pair lift will not be operating during the 2023-2024 season. That means that there are effectively now two lifts operating at Suhara, a quad and a pair.
This lift closure does not affect available terrain at the ski area.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/niigata/uonuma/suhara -
New name and changes at Ipponsugi in Yuzawa
Ipponsugi in Yuzawa is a small ski area close to Echigo Yuzawa Station in Niigata Prefecture.
There are a few changes for the 2023-2024 season:
New name: Ipponsugi Snow Park
Ski lift closed: the pair lift will not be operating
New snow escalator: instead, a covered snow escalator (magic carpet) will be usedSki area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/niigata/yuzawa/ipponsugi -
New pair lift at Ishiuchi Maruyama
There have been a lot of changes and additions at Ishiuchi Maruyama (Niigata) in recent years, and this year is no exception as they have built a new 2-person ski lift.
The new lift is close to the Sunrise Express gondola, and it covers the lower section of the Chuo area.
The ski area has not yet updated the official website with details. We will update our page (below) when more confirmed details are available.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/niigata/minamiuonuma/ishiuchi-maruyama -
Quad lift at Palcall Tsumagoi Resort taken off 2023-2024 season official course map
The quad lift in the lower section of the Baragi Area of the ski resort has been removed from the official course map for the 2023-2024 season, so presumably it will not be operating.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/gunma/tsumagoi/pallcall-tsumagoi-resort -
Top lift at Muikamachi Hakkaisan to re-open for 2023-2024 season
The top pair lift at Muikamachi Hakkaisan in Minamiuonuma (Niigata) had to close last season due to damage caused by a snow slide.
Without that lift operating you had to take the main Ropeway from base to get to the top of the ski area.
The good news is that the lift will be up and running for the 2023-2024 season.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/niigata/minamiuonuma/muikamachi-hakkaisan -
SnowJapanHistory.com takes a look back at ski areas from Japan's past.
Ariston Hotel Tomoe Ski Area
アリストンホテルともえスキー場
Hakodate City, Hokkaido
北海道函館市https://www.snowjapanhistory.com/hokkaido-hakodate-ariston-hotel-tomoe
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Added 26th October 2023:
Ariston Hotel Tomoe, Hakodate, Hokkaido
https://www.snowjapanhistory.com/hokkaido-hakodate-ariston-hotel-tomoe
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Snow Park Yeti extends opening record to 25 years
Snow Park Yeti (Susuno City, Shizuoka Prefecture) opens this morning for the 2023-2024 season. It is the 25th year in a row that Snow Park Yeti has been the first ski area in Japan to open. However, it was going to be a close race this year, with Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort installing brand new machines and hoping to open this weekend. Unfortunately, they have encountered some issues with the devices and delayed opening.
The snow at Snow Park Yeti may not be natural and coming from the skies, but it's always good to see this news as we look forward to winter.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/shizuoka/susono/snow-park-yeti -
Snow Park Yeti extends opening record to 25 years
Snow Park Yeti (Susuno City, Shizuoka Prefecture) opens this morning for the 2023-2024 season. It is the 25th year in a row that Snow Park Yeti has been the first ski area in Japan to open. However, it was going to be a close race this year, with Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort installing brand new machines and hoping to open this weekend. Unfortunately, they have encountered some issues with the devices and delayed opening.
The snow at Snow Park Yeti may not be natural and coming from the skies, but it's always good to see this news as we look forward to winter.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/shizuoka/susono/snow-park-yetiUpcoming ski area openings
Here are the planned opening dates for the next bunch of ski areas to open:
Karuizawa Prince Hotel (Wednesday 1st November 2023)
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/karuizawa/karuizawa-prince-hotel
Sayama (Friday 3rd November 2023)
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/saitama/tokorozawa/sayama
Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama (Friday 3rd November 2023)
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/yamanouchi/shiga-kogen-yokoteyama
Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort (delayed from 21st October; new date unconfirmed)
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/ueda/sugadaira-kogen-snow-resortPlease note that none of the above will likely open with any natural snow involved.
The majority of ski areas around Japan open in mid-to-late December, but there are still quite a few that open in late November and early December.
Planned opening dates of ski areas around Japan
Visit the individual ski area pages on SnowJapan (such as the ones above) for planned updates for all ski areas throughout Japan.
That data is gradually being checked and updated every day.
What are 'planned opening dates'?
Our explanation of 'planned opening dates':
https://www.snowjapan.com/guides/about/about-season-datesSki area opening dates in 2022 and 2021
Most ski areas open around the same time each season... or they at least plan to.
To check the actual opening dates of almost every ski area throughout Japan in recent seasons, take a look at our interactive charts:
2022-2023 season:
https://www.snowjapan.com/guides/graphs/japanese-ski-areas-opening-closing-dates-2022-20232021-2022 season:
https://www.snowjapan.com/guides/graphs/japanese-ski-areas-opening-closing-dates-2021-2022That data is also displayed on each individual ski area page within SnowJapan.
More general information on the Japanese ski season:
https://www.snowjapan.com/guides/the-japan-skiing-experience/the-ski-season-in-japanOther ski area news
For other news from ski areas around Japan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/community/index.php?/topic/26921-japanese-ski-area-news-2023/Our daily Now reports will start to appear from November.
It's still very early, but here's to a great season!
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Ski lift to re-open at Kashimayari Skijo Family Park
The number 5 pair lift at Kashimayari Skijo Family Park in Nagano Prefecture will be re-opening for the 2023-2024 season.
That means there should be two quads and three pairs operating at the ski area this coming season.
Kashimayari Skijo Family Park
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/omachi/hakuba-valley-kashimayari -
Echo Valley will not be opening during the 2023-2024 season
Echo Valley in Nagano Prefecture has announced that it will not be opening for the 2023-2024 season.
It has been closed since the 2020-2021 season.
Echo Valley
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/nagawa/echo-valley -
Updated with more information and photos from June 2023
https://www.snowjapanhistory.com/toyama-nanto-snow-valley-toga
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Lotte Arai Resort now officially known as ARAI SNOW RESORT
The ski area at Lotte Arai Resort in Niigata was known by the same name.... Lotte Arai Resort.
From this season, the ski area will officially be known as ARAI SNOW RESORT.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/niigata/myoko/lotte-arai-resort -
Our Niseko Now reporter is starting to wake up from hibernation and posted a message.
The report isn't appearing on the Niseko Now section of the site yet (for complicated technical reasons), so it is being posted here...
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NISEKO NOW
Tuesday 17th October 2023Hello, and good morning from Niseko. It's been a while!
It's Tuesday, 17th October 2023, and I am just about starting to slowy emerge from my annual hibernation. I'm just glad I didn't melt away in the silly heat of the summer! All intact, I think.
I am happy to report that it is now lovely and cool - even cold by some people's standards - and the first sprinklings of snow have been reported on the mountains. There was some over on Mt Yotei just over a week ago, and this morning, I can see the first visible snow on our very own Annupuri range here. I probably say this every year, but it's pretty mad how quickly it seems to (and does) change.
Very exciting. 🙂
Before we get too excited, though, let me point out that we are about six and a half weeks away from the planned opening dates of the ski areas. They all plan to open at the beginning of December.
In the meantime, we still have a lot of autumn to enjoy, so let's do that as we remain, or at least try to remain, patient.
I will be with you daily once the ski lifts open and getting into gear with regular reports in the lead-up to that. So I'll see you again soon!
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily-snow-weather-reports/Niseko-Now
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Our Niseko Now reporter is starting to wake up from hibernation and posted a message.
The report isn't appearing on the Niseko Now section of the site yet (for complicated technical reasons), so it is being posted here...
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NISEKO NOW
Tuesday 17th October 2023Hello, and good morning from Niseko. It's been a while!
It's Tuesday, 17th October 2023, and I am just about starting to slowy emerge from my annual hibernation. I'm just glad I didn't melt away in the silly heat of the summer! All intact, I think.
I am happy to report that it is now lovely and cool - even cold by some people's standards - and the first sprinklings of snow have been reported on the mountains. There was some over on Mt Yotei just over a week ago, and this morning, I can see the first visible snow on our very own Annupuri range here. I probably say this every year, but it's pretty mad how quickly it seems to (and does) change.
Very exciting. 🙂
Before we get too excited, though, let me point out that we are about six and a half weeks away from the planned opening dates of the ski areas. They all plan to open at the beginning of December.
In the meantime, we still have a lot of autumn to enjoy, so let's do that as we remain, or at least try to remain, patient.
I will be with you daily once the ski lifts open and getting into gear with regular reports in the lead-up to that. So I'll see you again soon!
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily-snow-weather-reports/Niseko-Now
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GRANSNOW Okuibuki installs 'ice crusher' snow making machine(s)
GRANSNOW Okuibuki in Shiga Prefecture have announced their use of Italian-made 'ice crusher' machine(s), enabling them to produce up to 100 tons of snow a day.
It's particularly interesting in that this ski area boasts about the large amount of snow that the region receives, even calling it 'world's largest snowfall'...
At the time of writing, they have not yet announced their planned opening date for this season. Perhaps they are aiming to open before the usual 'mid-December' opening date?
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/shiga/maibara/gransnow-okuibuki -
Snow Park Yeti confirms planned opening date of 21st October 2023
Snow Park Yeti is often the first ski area to open in Japan every season. Here are the dates it opened in recent years:
6th October 2017
19th October 2018
25th October 2019
30th October 2020
22nd October 2021
21st October 2021The ski areas has confirmed that it plans to open for the 2023-2024 season on Friday 20th October 2023.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/shizuoka/susono/snow-park-yeti -
New 'pulse gondola' at Kusatsu Onsen
A new 'pulse gondola' is going to be opening this coming winter season at Kusatsu Onsen ski area in Gunma Prefecture.
The new 460m lift, starting at the base of the ski area, is currently nearing completion.
Details to follow on the below page in the coming weeks.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/gunma/kusatsu/kusatsu-onsen -
SnowJapanHistory.com takes a look back at ski areas from Japan's past.
Koeji Ski Area
越路スキー場
Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture
岐阜県奥州市https://www.snowjapanhistory.com/iwate-oshu-koeji
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Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort opening postponed
Following on from the news that Sugadaira planned to open on 21st October 2023....
The opening has been delayed due to some technical issue with the new machines they have installed. It sounds like they are now hoping to be able to open 'in mid-November'.
Ski area information on SnowJapan:
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nagano/ueda/sugadaira-kogen-snow-resort -
Niki Chomin will not be opening during the 2023-2024 season... but it will be back
The small Niki Chomin ski area in Hokkaido will not be opening for the 2023-2024 season.
The ski area is 40 years old this year and is are planning on re-opening with new upgraded facilities in time for the 2025 season.
Niki Chomin
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/hokkaido/niki/niki-chomin -
An explanation about ski area 'planned opening dates'
Please be sure to read this:
https://www.snowjapan.com/guides/about/about-season-dates
SnowJapanHistory.com updates
in SnowJapanHistory
Posted
Added 4th November 2023:
Mitsubo, Asahi, Toyama
https://www.snowjapanhistory.com/toyama-asahi-mitsubo