Yuzawa Now: Wednesday 17th February 2021
- Feb 17, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 26, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 21cm
Snowfall at base this seas 990cm
Posted on Wednesday 17th February 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
I think we were expecting more snow than we got yesterday - it didn't really happen during the daytime. There was even some blue skies and sun; at times, in places. Snow started later in the evening and this morning there's just over 20cm measured on the ground. Ski areas are reporting similar numbers:
Kagura: 30cm
Iwappara: 20cm
Maiko Snow Resort: 20cm
Ishiuchi Maruyama: 20cm
That probably gives you a good idea of how much fresh snow there is out there this morning.
It is snowing (lightly) now and should be through today and tomorrow. Heavier snowfall due tonight. So there should be a few more days of decent numbers in these reports.
Clearer skies are due again over the weekend; perhaps on Friday too.
Good news from Joetsu Kokusai - they will be opening their Active Zone (Osawa) area on Saturday and Sunday.
Two courses at Maiko Snow Resort are closed to the general public today due to a competition being held on them.
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GALA Yuzawa
All courses open
Official snow depth:
320cm
Ishiuchi Maruyama
All areas open
Official snow depth:
Mid: 280cm
Iwappara
The Number 2 pair lift only is open today
Official snow depth:
235cm
Joetsu Kokusai
3 lifts and 9 courses in the main Nagamine and Panorama areas open
Official snow depth:
280cm
Kagura
Should be open as normal
Official snow depth:
Top: 330cm
Base: 280cm
Kandatsu Snow Resort
Normal weekday operations (D lift and 2 courses closed)
Official snow depth:
240cm
Maiko Snow Resort
All areas open - Dolphin & Champion courses closed to general public for competition
Official snow depth:
Top: 310cm
Base: 180cm
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Currently closed
NASPA Ski Garden
All courses apart from Course C open
Official snow depth:
250cm
Naeba
6 lifts (including Number 2 Gondola) and 14 courses open
Official snow depth:
Top: 180cm
Base: 150cm
Yuzawa Kogen
Both base and Kogen areas open
Official snow depth:
Top: 320cm
Base: 240cm
Yuzawa Nakazato
Number 1, 2, 3 and 5 lifts operating
Official snow depth:
225cm
Yuzawa Park
Closed on weekdays this week
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Various announced changes to operations at ski areas. Most of these temporary changes are due to the current 'state of emergency' announced in urban areas.
GALA Yuzawa:
All courses are scheduled to be open every day. On weekdays the Sociable lift will be closed for the time being.
Ishiuchi Maruyama:
On weekdays, the Green Lift and Chuo triple lifts are closed for the time being.
Iwappara:
On weekdays, only the Number 2 pair lift in the central area of Iwappara is open. This change is planned until the 'state of emergency' ends.
Base to summit areas are open on weekends.
The central to top area will be open on Friday 12th and Monday 22nd February.
Joetsu Kokusai:
On weekdays the main area in front of the hotel and (at least part of) Panorama area are open. The Atema and Osawa areas are closed for the time being.
Muikamachi Hakkaisan:
Currently closed with no confirmed re-opening date.
NASPA Ski Garden:
All lifts and courses are open on weekends. The Number 2 and 3 lifts are rested on weekdays (when all courses but C will be open). This change is planned until 7th March.
Yuzawa Park:
Closed on the following dates:
Monday 15th - Friday 19th; Wednesday 24th - Thursday 25th February
Monday 1st; Tuesday 9th - Friday 12th; Monday 15th - Tuesday 16th March
Yuzawa Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Wednesday 17th February 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 990cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 37 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 96cm (16th December) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 453cm reported on 13 days January 2021 snowfall 355cm reported on 15 days February 2021 snowfall 182cm reported on 9 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Yuzawa. 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.