Myoko Now: Monday 13th November 2023
- Nov 13, 2023
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 0cm
Posted on Monday 13th November 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
The snow made it all the way down to base level at Akakan this morning, and again in the afternoon, so it seems like a good time to give a little preview of the coming season.
It’s always fun to see the first November snow. We don’t expect it to last, but it has that smell, that look…. The fun is coming soon. One thing we haven’t had in a few years are the November falls that come down heavy and wet and pretty deep, taking down a lot of tree branches and catching people off-guard and without snow tires. Which I guess I should miss, apart from the free tree trimming.
Not a lot going on in pre-season Myoko, to be honest. Looks like a small increase in lift ticket prices (but, especially for people coming into the country with currency that’s much stronger this year against the yen, the price is probably the same or even lower than last year). Akakura Kanko has done a lot of cosmetic work around the gondola house, including a new artificial waterfall area just to the right of the lift entry, although I don’t know if the water will be flowing during winter. This being Myoko, it would probably be buried even if the water were flowing (please see most local streams and rivers).
There has been a lot of talk about the new IC-card-based lift ticket system. Instead of rumors, I’ll report back after the area meeting on December 1, when the two Akakura resorts go over the coming season.
Now, just for some practical information. I get a lot of mail from people who are coming in early-mid December; there are others who are looking to go for a backcountry trip before the start of the new year. Here’s my advice after, let’s just say, multiple decades here. I’m happy if we get a white Christmas; so many times it seems like the snow just won’t fall, but it almost always falls in time for the lifts to open just in time for that Yuletide joy. The resorts usually schedule the opening for mid-December, and they often make it, but be ready for a bit of a wait. Maybe do a little smelt fishing on Lake Nojiri.
For backcountry, I wish everyone could visit during summer and see what a jungle we actually are here. There is no treeline here; the giant Ermon’s birches that grow at the higher altitudes reach all the way up to the peak of Mt. Myoko. Until enough snow falls to cover the vines and bend down the saplings, it’s almost impossible to ski through the forests. And it’s all forest.
So that’s where we are now. I will write again once the official information about operations come out in a few weeks. So until then, wax the skis, watch some movies, get some exercise and get ready for the time when the snow actually comes in quantity.
Myoko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Monday 13th November 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 0cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 0 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 0cm November 2023 snowfall 0cm |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Myoko. 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.