Myoko Now: Saturday 29th March 2014
- Mar 29, 2014
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 1103cm
Posted on Saturday 29th March 2014 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
Starting the last weekend with all the ski areas open; spring has really hit, and we're just watching the snow slowly retreat.
Lots of good snow out there, though, and nice weather to enjoy it today. Sunny, pleasant temperatures and just some very light breezes.
Tomorrow doesn't look so good, though, with rain, and maybe even a little snow late in the day, possible. I think you know when to go out....
About this season:
It's been a strange one, to be honest. It looked like we'd lose most of our snow a couple of times throughout the season, with warm weather, wind and rain, but then the snow always seemed to come back. There was good powder out there, for sure; it just never seemed very 'Myoko-y' (meaning days of snow falling so heavy you can't see).
Lots more international visitors this season, and they seemed to come from all over. Lots of Europeans - which surprised the locals - lots of Australians, of course, and no real troubles at all. Many people told me that they came here because they really wanted to visit Japan and enjoy the culture, not just ski (but they did want good deep snow, of course). Maybe that's why people were pretty respectful, friendly and nice. So a lot of change for us here, but not unpleasant change.
We also had a lot more people getting into trouble by skiing where they shouldn't, and it wasn't all the imports doing it, either. Plenty of Japanese riding off course and into the wrong places. I hope more people learn that sidecountry really is backcountry, in that you can get killed in an avalanche just off the lifts as easily as way out in the hills. Trees are just as hard, too.
Anyway, a kind of strange season, but a good one, and it's not completely over yet (see below).
Official info:
Akakura Kanko:
250cm
Spring operations: Currently all lifts except Champion No. 1 are operating. From this weekend the Myoko Kogen Sky Cable gondola and hotel No. 3 lift will stay open until May 6, or whenever the snow runs out. Spring rates from March 24 are adults ¥2,500, junior high students and seniors ¥2,000, kids ¥1,500.
Akakura Onsen:
170cm
Open until Sunday 30th March; no night skiing.
Ikenotaira:
160cm
Planning to stay open until Sunday 6th April.
Myoko Suginohara:
160cm
Back in the game until the 30th; gondola and No. 2 lifts operating.
Seki Onsen:
390cm
Says it hopes to stay open until mid-May—at least for Golden Week, snow allowing.
Myoko Ski Park:
225cm
Open until Sunday 6th April.
Myoko Kyukamura Runrun
245cm
Closing Monday, March 31.
Madarao
170cm
Tangram Ski Circus
155cm
Running the No. 3 lift only from March 31 until April 6.
Myoko Now 2013-2014 season |
Data as of Saturday 29th March 2014 Total snowfall at base so far 1103cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 61 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 60cm (10th January) November 2013 snowfall 20cm reported on 1 day December 2013 snowfall 219cm reported on 12 days January 2014 snowfall 377cm reported on 20 days February 2014 snowfall 242cm reported on 15 days March 2014 snowfall 245cm reported on 13 days |
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.