Myoko Now: Monday 3rd April 2023
- Apr 3, 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 1021cm
Posted on Monday 3rd April 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
We're down to just two resorts open on weekdays (Akakan and Lotte Arai), with Seki Onsen opening again on the weekend, and (maybe) part of Akakura Onsen.
It's been an unusual season in many ways. We did see the return of international tourism, not to pre-covid levels yet, but there a lot of people did come and visit, despite pretty high airfare and the inconvenience (for European travelers in particular) of much longer flights due to the situation in Eastern Europe. So thanks to them for coming to visit!
Pretty low snow levels in January meant it was a tough to get out in the backcountry. Just a note to future visitors: don't expect to be able to get out in the backcountry until maybe mid-January, even in a good snow year. There's no real Alpine terrain here, so you need a lot of snow to cover all the small trees, vines and stuff that make up our summer jungle (and this is true for many of Japan's great backcountry destinations). It's not a problem in the resorts, of course - but even for the resorts, think Christmas Day to really be sure the runs will be open and all the lifts running.
There's been more international investment in the area, too, with two of the resorts now owned by non-Japanese companies, although the actual running of the areas was still handled by the existing domestic teams. Let's see what develops in the coming seasons; the main thing is that things are changing, as always. Hopefully (as I've often mentioned this season) they will be more proactive in using their websites to get information out earlier. The city does have a page that collects information, too, but many people will go directly to the resort's page first (why look at everything if you want to get specific information?), so they really should update their own site first. But many don't. And that is the end of that rant for the season.
And there's still skiing available, and I think spring is a great time to get out and enjoy a good slide. White snow and new green leaves; suntans and cold beverages.....
Akakura Kanko:
120cm, 7°
Myokokogen Sky Cable gondola and Hotel No. 3 lift
Scheduled closing: May 7
Akakura Onsen:
Closed (Kumado may open on the weekend?)
Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick
Closed
Myoko Suginohara:
Closed
Seki Onsen:
Closed until the weekend
Scheduled closing: April 9
Kyukamura RunRun:
Closed?
Tangram Madarao Tokyu Resort:
Closed
Madarao Mountain Resort:
Closed
Lotte Arai Resort
274cm, 10°
Arai Gondola and Zendana lift only
Scheduled closing: May 14
Kurohime Kogen Snow Park
Closed
Myoko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Monday 3rd April 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 1021cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 66cm (21st February) November 2022 snowfall 0cm December 2022 snowfall 134cm reported on 19 days January 2023 snowfall 491cm reported on 19 days February 2023 snowfall 371cm reported on 15 days March 2023 snowfall 25cm reported on 3 days April 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.