Myoko Now: Sunday 3rd December 2023
- Dec 3, 2023
- 2 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 62cm
Posted on Sunday 3rd December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
A weekend, pre-season update, following the official meeting of Akakura ski areas on the first, and a little more fresh snowfall (that is already disappearing a bit).
The biggest news for the coming season is that the much-rumored IC card-based gate system will be in place this season at Akakura Kanko, Akakura Onsen, Alpen Blick/Ikenotaira and Suginohara. No more showing your pass to the lifties; just on through (if you have a valid card). This also promises to reduce the long ticket lines, especially on Sunday mornings at Akakan, although a lot of the advanced functions, such as online reservations, will be phased in over this season and next.
Other than that, just a minor increase in lift tickets, and a new owner at Suginohara, although that news comes from the media, not the meeting. Sounds like there are big plans for this area, as anyone who has seen the articles in the business press will know (such as US$ billions in investment), but we'll see. There still are a lot of abandoned buildings around here from the end of the last big boom.
I have to admit there's been a pretty good cover of snow for this early in the season, which can make you think we're all set for the season openers on the 16th, but there is some warm weather and rain ahead in the coming week, so, as always, we'll just relax and wait—it always seems to come around, at least around Christmas.
Here are the planned opening dates for ski areas around Myoko. All are of course subject to change and depend on snowfall.
Friday 15th December 2023:
ARAI SNOW RESORT
Saturday 16th December 2023:
Akakura Kanko
Akakura Onsen
Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick
Saturday 23rd December 2023:
Myoko Suginohara
Myoko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Sunday 3rd December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 62cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 2 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 42cm (25th November) November 2023 snowfall 42cm reported on 1 day December 2023 snowfall 20cm 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.