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Myoko Now: Friday 4th December 2020

  • Dec 4, 2020
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata


New snowfall at base 12cm
Snowfall at base this season 13cm

Posted on Friday 4th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.


OK, we got some real snow overnight, so it's time to report.


I actually woke up very early, thinking it might be the day for the first plowing of the season (and I could hear the big machines out there somewhere, although they still haven't cleared the road leading directly up from highway 18 to Akakan (it's a city road though, vs. the prefectural road that heads up from further south up to the access to Ikenotaira, and on to the base of Akakan and to Akakura). We got 12cm here at the base level, and it's good and heavy and wet but that's what we expect this time of year. Not nearly enough to slide on, although sometimes we get clever yahoos who decide to hike up before the season starts. Bad idea (there are metal plates and pipes and all kind of interesting things out there to grind into, and you make a fall and it is going to hurt and no patrol to drag you off). I recommend the local approach: embrace patience, for when it is good, it is very good, and that's a better way to start the season.


Don't know if this will hold, but the temperatures don't look like they'll go up to the 10°C we had yesterday, and snow is forecast again at least around Tuesday. So maybe Akakura Onsen might even get its Dec. 12 opening (but that's always a bit iffy).


Relax! It will come! Embrace that patience and you will be rewarded with snow worth jumping into, not onto!


Your opening information:


Akakura Kanko Dec. 19

Akakura Onsen Dec. 12

Ikenotaira Onsen Dec. 19

Myoko Suginohara Dec. 26

Lotte Arai Dec. 12

Seki Onsen Dec. 19

Kyukamura Myoko RunRun Dec. 19

Myoko Ski Park Closed this season



Myoko Now 2020-2021 season

Data as of Friday 4th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 13cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 2 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 12cm (4th December) November 2020 snowfall 1cm reported on 1 day December 2020 snowfall 12cm 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.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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