Myoko Now: Tuesday 19th November 2024
- Nov 19, 2024
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 8cm
Posted on Tuesday 19th November 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
I was waiting for our first wet, heavy November snow to start our reports for the new season. The 15th is always the target for getting the trees tied up, bamboo wands out so we know where to plow (or, more realistically, where not to plow) and snow tires on. Got everything done except the snow tires, but that's getting done along with a brake job in a few more days. The road isn't too bad anyway; there's snow on it but nice lanes down to asphalt, so a strong 4WD vehicle can manage....
OK, the highlights for the coming season. The new gondola at Akakan is the most visible change. Instead of the venerable (old) white units the local kids affectionately called the onigiri (rice balls), we have sparkling red cabins with the retro lettering Akakan uses. And which we appreciate—remember that the hotel and ski area opened in 1937, and has firmly embraced its history and status as one of the oldest ski resorts in Japan. See, we're not just a generic resort with lots of cookie-cutter condominiums and chain restaurants at the base. Speaking of which....
The widely reported massive investment which, depending on which news outlet was reporting it, was going to turn Myoko into the next 1) Aspen 2) Whistler/Backcomb 3) pick your favorite European mega-resort. US$12 billion? $20 billion? Property has been acquired, no doubt, but no five-star hotel chain has signed up yet, nor has any work begun on the sewage work that would have to be done in advance. Rumor is that a lot of the effort was not so much on the ski hill side (not that we couldn't use some investment/improvement) and more on the real estate development front. I know many readers have been concerned about this, and we also would hate to lose the Japanese-ness that is part of the attraction here. I know that's what brought me here 400 years ago or so.... We will keep you posted on the changes as they occur. Or don't.
Akakura Kanko:
Planned opening December 14
Akakura Onsen:
Planned opening December 14
Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick:
Planned opening December 14
Myoko Suginohara:
Planned opening December 21
Kyukamura RunRun:
Planned opening December 21
Seki Onsen:
Planned opening late December
Tangram Madarao Tokyu Resort:
Planned opening December 21
Madarao Mountain Resort:
Planned opening December 14
Lotte Arai Resort:
Planned opening December 14
Kurohime Kogen Snow Park:
Planned opening December 21
Myoko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Tuesday 19th November 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 8cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 1 day Most snowfall observed in 1 day 8cm (19th November) November 2024 snowfall 8cm reported on 1 day |
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.