Hakuba Now: Wednesday 8th April 2020
- Apr 8, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Hakuba region of Nagano
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 221cm
Posted on Wednesday 8th April 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Hakuba Now report can be found here.
Good morning from Hakuba.
Out the sun is! It is a lovely morning. Less cloud than yesterday morning but we are on for another fine spring day.
But the huge news to report this morning is that yesterday was the last day of the season for Hakuba Happo-one. It is now closed. I will let them explain in their own words:
"With regard to the infectious disease caused by the New Coronavirus (COVID-19), we request the cooperation of our customers to assist in the prevention and spread of COVID-19. We will take the following measures to ensure the health and safety of our guests, employees and community.
Happo-one Ski Resort will close this season’s ski operation on Wednesday 8th April 2020.
An announcement from the Japanese Government declared a state of emergency concerning the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection.
There are many guests visiting our ski resort from wider areas such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Hyogo, etc.
Based on a revision of existing legislation in relation to influenza and infectious disease, a law has been enacted and The Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency.
The closure of the ski resort will be effective immediately from tomorrow Wednesday 8th April 2020."
Also, Tsugaike Kogen have announced that they will be closed at the end of today. So today (Wednesday) is the last day of the Tsugaike Kogen season.
Here is their message, complete with official use of the word 'bummed' (!):
"Unfortunately, due to Prime Minister Abe's State of Emergency Declaration last night, Tsugaike has decided, out of an abundance of caution, to close the resort for the season as of tomorrow. As such, today, Wednesday April 8th, is the last day of operation for both the ski resort, and the ropeway for accessing backcountry terrain.
We are just as bummed as anyone else, but these are unprecedented times that are being met with unprecedented measures. Thanks to everyone who came out this season, and we look forward to when things return to normal and the snows begin to fall again next season."
Even with the declaration from Tokyo yesterday, I was not expecting that. No doubt people have varying opinions on the subject but... those are big decisions. I have not heard of any ski area in Japan closing for this reason yet - perhaps Happo-one is the first to do this (updated: Tsugaike too); certainly there is a good chance that it is the first major one to do so.
As far as I can tell, Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 currently remain open. But I will of course keep an eye on that situation.
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Hakuba 47
All lifts apart from the lifts noted below are operating (planned):
- Pair Line D (usually only operates when Gondola not operating)
Courses open (planned):
- All main courses now open
- Restrictions on the winding lower course: beginners should take the gondola down
Official snow depth:
- Top: 170cm
- Base: 40cm
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Hakuba Goryu
Operating lifts (planned):
- Gondola, top Alps Number 1 and 3 pair lifts are operating
- Other lifts are now closed
Courses open (planned):
- All of the upper area (apart from Champion Expert) is open
- The lower Toomi run is still open
- The lower Iimori area is now closed
Official snow depth:
- Alps: 175cm
- Toomi: 40cm
- Iimori: -cm
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Tsugaike Kogen
Operating lifts (planned):
- Gondola
- Han-no-ki pair
- Other lifts now closed
- The top Tsuga-no-mori and Han-kou areas remain open
Official snow depth:
- Tsuga-no-mori (upper): 180cm
- Han-no-ki: 160cm
Hakuba Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Wednesday 8th April 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 221cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 40 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 16cm (5th January) November 2019 snowfall 4cm reported on 1 day December 2019 snowfall 28cm reported on 8 days January 2020 snowfall 70cm reported on 13 days February 2020 snowfall 73cm reported on 9 days March 2020 snowfall 46cm reported on 9 days April 2020 snowfall 0cm |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Hakuba. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.