Yuzawa Now: Friday 18th December 2015
- Dec 18, 2015
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 15cm
Posted on Friday 18th December 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
At last, we have snow in town!
Wet snow started falling in the morning yesterday down here in town though it wasn't sticking until the evening and by late night there was just over 10cm of lovely fresh snow on the ground. This morning there's a little more and so I'm going to log it as 15cm.
The Kagura resort is reporting 30cm of fresh snowfall so higher up on the mountain there has been a decent fall.
I was happy to be woken by the snow moving machines at 4am this morning. A good sound it surely is!
It is of course fantastic to see snow again... and it feels proper winter as well with a nice chill in the air. Right now it is about 2 degrees and snow has been holding off but it might be falling again especially this morning and then again overnight tonight into tomorrow.
It seems that this morning Kagura are planning to open their Giant Course and Technical Course if possible. And Tashiro is going to be open from tomorrow as well.
EVENING UPDATE:
There has been very light snow at times but mostly fairly clearer weather today with no new cm to report in town. It has stayed cold though which is good and there is some snow expected overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning. Areas around Yuzawa expecting up to 10cm according to the Niigata forecast.
The snow that we have received yesterday means that are going to be a few changes for the weekend though it wasn't enough for huge changes. Here is the information that I have been able to find this evening:
Kagura Mitsumata - will be mostly open from tomorrow (Saturday), from Mitsumata Ropeway through to Kagura Number 4 Romance pair lift.
Kagura Tashiro - will be part open from tomorrow (Saturday), from Tashiro Ropeway to Tashiro Number 1 high speed lift. No skiable connection between Kagura<>Tashiro.
GALA Yuzawa - will be part open tomorrow (Saturday), with the Melody and Entertainment courses planning to be open.
Muikamachi Hakkaisan - will be part open tomorrow (Saturday), with the Technical course and Rakuraku A course opening
Maiko Kogen Resort - not enough snow to open tomorrow (Saturday), but there is a slight chance of a part opening on Sunday depending on how much snow falls tonight.
Kandatsu Kogen - not enough snow to open tomorrow.
NASPA Ski Garden - has delayed opening until there is enough snow.
Ishiuchi Maruyama - has delayed opening until there is enough snow.
Yuzawa Kogen - has delayed opening until there is enough snow. The Ropeway is open for tourists (not skiers/snowboarders).
Yuzawa Nakazato - has delayed opening until there is enough snow.
That's about it for now. Currently it is unconfirmed what Naeba might have planned for tomorrow, but as things stand now the choice for the weekend is basically Kagura, GALA Yuzawa, Naeba and Muikamachi Hakkaisan. Kagura Mitsumata is easily offering the widest area but note that the connecting courses between Kagura and Tashiro will not yet be open.
We'll scan through all the information again tomorrow morning and report any further news.
Everyone would be very much helped if there were more snow tonight, that's for sure!
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Planned opening dates for resorts in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City (by date):
Currently part open:
Kagura
The main Kagura course area is open.
The Mitsumata area is currently being used as a connection to get to the open Kagura area.
Operating lifts are Mitsumata Ropeway, Mitsumata Number 1 lift, Mitsumata Number 3 lift, Kagura Gondola, Kagura Number 1 high speed quad and Kagura Number 1 romance lift (on Saturdays and holidays during this period). All but the latter two are used to get to the snow.
The Kagura Gondola needs to be taken to return back to the Mitsumata area.
Naeba
A few lower area courses area open.
From tomorrow:
GALA Yuzawa
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
On standby to open as soon as there is enough snow:
Ipponsugi
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Iwappara
Joetsu Kokusai
Kagura (Tashiro)
Kandatsu Kogen
Ludens Yuzawa
Maiko Snow Resort
Muikamachi Ski Resort
Nakazato Snow Wood
NASPA Ski Garden
Yuzawa Nakazato
Yuzawa Park
Yuzawa Kogen
Thursday 24th December:
chateau-shiozawa
Friday 25th December:
Hakkaisanroku
Saturday 26th December:
Itsukamachi
Ishiuchi Hanaoka
Mt Granview
Yuzawa Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Friday 18th December 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 15cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 1 day Most snowfall observed in 1 day 15cm (18th December) November 2015 snowfall 0cm December 2015 snowfall 15cm 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 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.