Yuzawa Now: Monday 18th December 2017
- Dec 18, 2017
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 34cm
Snowfall at base this season 143cm
Posted on Monday 18th December 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
It snowed throughout the day yesterday and heavily at times. Result: an additional 34cm of snow measured since my last report.
Kagura are reporting... actually, it doesn't look like they are reporting fresh snowfall this morning (I hope that's not a new policy!)
Maiko Snow Resort are reporting 20cm since yesterday evening.
This morning the sun is out and there are beautiful clear blue skies above Yuzawa making everything look pretty spectacular. What a fantastic morning it should be to be out skiing or boarding.
Still waiting on opening info from Iwappara.
Hope some of you can get to enjoy today.
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Currently open in Yuzawa (official snow depths where available):
Monday 18th December 2017
GALA Yuzawa
GALA Yuzawa opens for the season from this morning.
6 lifts are operating and 7 courses (Central and Northern Areas) are open. The sledding area is also open.
- 130cm
Kagura
Almost all of Kagura is open.
- Kagura area: 180cm
- Mitsumata area: 120cm
- Tashiro area: 140cm
Kandatsu Kogen
Kandatsu Kogen is open
- 120cm
Maiko Snow Resort
Maiko Snow Resort is open with the Gondola and two Okusoeji lifts operating and 7 courses in that top area available.
Nighta operations are scheduled to begin from 28th December.
- Top: 120cm
- Base: 60cm
Muica Snow Resort
Muica Snow Resort is open with all lifts operating.
- 100cm
Naeba
A large part of Naeba is now open.
- Base: 70cm
Yuzawa Park
Yuzawa Park is part open with the Number 7 and Number 1 lifts operating.
- 50cm
Joetsu Kokusai
- 110cm
Joetsu Kokusai is part open from this morning.
The area in front of the main base hotel as well as the lower part of the Atema area are open - 12 courses in total.
Yuzawa Kogen
Yuzawa Kogen is - even the town-level Nunoba Family lift apparently is moving.
- Top: 120cm
- Base: 60cm
Yuzawa Nakazato
- 50cm
The Number 1 high speed lift as well as Number 2 and 3 lifts are operating.
Courses open are the Panorama course, Joyful course and Number 3 romance course.
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Other planned opening dates for ski resorts in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma:
Iwappara
Iwappara is not opening just yet - waiting for more snow.
Thursday 21st December 2017
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Friday 22nd December 2017
NASPA Ski Garden
Saturday 23rd December 2017
Ipponsugi
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Yuzawa Now 2017-2018 season |
Data as of Monday 18th December 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 143cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 12 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 54cm (14th December) November 2017 snowfall 14cm reported on 3 days December 2017 snowfall 129cm 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.