Yuzawa Now: Friday 17th March 2023
- Mar 17, 2023
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this seas 795cm
Posted on Friday 17th March 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
It is a really murky and grey kind of morning, and a bit damp too. It's forecast to be a mostly cloudy day. Kagura have posted some photos from the top of their ski area and it looks quite clear up there above the clouds.
Precipitation is due overnight tonight though and into tomorrow... and it might even snow down to town level. Let's see. For those planning a weekend trip, Sunday is looking likely to be sunny once again.
The stats that were posted in the report yesterday are here on the report today (for those who might have missed it).
Also, the list lower down the page now includes more information regarding what remains open and planned closing dates. That information there will be checked (with official sources) and updated every morning.
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Anyone who has been in Yuzawa recently knows that this season has been generally busier than it has been for a while.
Before corona hit, the number of people using the ski areas in Yuzawa Town was around 2.4 million. (Think of that as ski lift tickets sold). That number dropped to about 1.6 million during the 2019-2020 season and just over 1 million during the 2020-2021 season. The numbers were up last year, back to around 1.5 million.
As of the end of February 2023, the total number of people coming this season was 1,283,250.
Here's how that statistic breaks down by ski area:
Naeba: 273,040
Iwappara: 216,800
GALA Yuzawa: 167,520
Kandatsu Snow Resort: 161,700
Kagura: 136,200
Yuzawa Nakazato: 128,880
NASPA Ski Garden: 72,170
Yuzawa Kogen: 56,530
Nakazato Snow Wood: 45,690
Yuzawa Park: 21,470
Ipponsugi: 3,240
At the same point last year (up to the end of February), the number was 1,020,080, so this year's number is an increase of 263,170 - about 25%.
Naeba was the ski area that enjoyed the most significant increase. Last year the corresponding number at the end of February was 177,060 visitors (with a season total of 252,540).
The number of visitors from overseas has been very noticeable too and it feels like Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand have been particularly well represented!
Like other regions, a staff shortage has faced some businesses this year as they try to cope with demand. Still, hopefully, that will be a temporary one... and it is undoubtedly a better problem to face than a lack of visitors.
Anyway, it is great to see more people around again and, all being well, everything should be well and truly back to normal next season!
(Regular heavy snow too, please!)
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Ski area information for Friday 17th March 2023
Ski areas in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma region (listed in alphabetical order).
The information below is manually checked with official sources and updated every morning.
All ski area operations and planned closing dates are subject to change.
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GALA Yuzawa
Official snow depth: 210cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 7th May 2023
Notes:
All areas of GALA Yuzawa remain open.
The Ropeway connecting GALA Yuzawa with Yuzawa Kogen should be open until Sunday 19th March.
The lift connection between GALA Yuzawa and Ishiuchi Maruyama should be open until Sunday 26th March.
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Official snow depth: 155cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
Ishiuchi Maruyama remains mostly open.
Night skiing has now ended for the season.
The lift connection between Ishiuchi Maruyama and GALA Yuzawa should be open until Sunday 26th March.
Iwappara
Official snow depth: 90cm
Notes:
Iwappara remains mostly open.
Night skiing until 7:00pm.
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Joetsu Kokusai
Official snow depth: 150cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
Night skiing until 9:00pm.
12 lifts are operating and 17 courses are open.
The Atema car park and three pair lifts, as well as the Osawa area, are now closed for the season.
Kagura
Official snow depth: 320cm (top), 220cm (base)
Planned closing dates:
Tashiro Ropeway & Tashiro Area: Sunday 7th May 2023
Mitsumata Ropeway & Kagura Area: Sunday 21st May 2023
Notes:
All areas of Kagura remain open.
The Dragondola (connecting the Tashiro Area of Kagura with Naeba) plans to be open until 26th March.
Kandatsu Snow Resort
Official snow depth: 200cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 16th April 2023
Notes:
Kandatsu remains open as normal.
The D quad lift only operates on weekends and holidays.
Long night skiing (until 2am) on Fridays and Saturdays and nights before holidays plans to continue until 1st April.
Maiko Snow Resort
Official snow depth: 180cm (top), 70cm (lower)
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
All three areas of Maiko remain open.
9 lifts operating.
Night skiing has now ended for the season.
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Official snow depth: 220cm (top), 110cm (base)
Planned closing date: Sunday 26th March 2023
Notes:
All areas of Kagura remain open.
The top pair lift is closed due to a mechanical issue.
Naeba
Official snow depth: 200cm (top), 110cm (base)
Planned closing date: Sunday 9th April 2023
Notes:
Night skiing until 8:30pm plans to continue until 25th March.
Currently, the Number 2 Gondola and seven lifts are operating.
The Dragondola (connecting Naeba and the Tashiro Area of Kagura) also plans to be open until 26th March.
NASPA Ski Garden
Official snow depth: 135cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
NASPA remains open as normal.
Yuzawa Kogen
Official snow depth: 170cm (top); 100cm (base)
Planned closing date: Sunday 26th March 2023
Notes:
Yuzawa Kogen remains mostly open, though the Cosmos pair lift and downhill Komakusa Course are closed.
The Ropeway connecting Yuzawa Kogen with GALA Yuzawa should be open until Sunday 19th March.
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Official snow depth: 155cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
Number 1, 2, 3 and 5 lifts remain open
Yuzawa Park
Official snow depth: 120cm
Planned closing date: Sunday 2nd April 2023
Notes:
Number 1, 7 and 8 remain open
Yuzawa Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Friday 17th March 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 795cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 51 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 51cm (5th January) November 2022 snowfall 0cm December 2022 snowfall 123cm reported on 14 days January 2023 snowfall 437cm reported on 20 days February 2023 snowfall 224cm reported on 15 days March 2023 snowfall 11cm reported on 2 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.