Yuzawa Now: Friday 19th December 2025
- Dec 19, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this seas 97cm
Posted on Friday 19th December 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
Good morning from Yuzawa.
We had a kind of wet and drizzly day in town yesterday. Today should be much nicer and we start the day with clear blue skies (with a hint of thin cloud in places early on).
Some forecasts indicate that we might get some snow Sunday night, but with temps set to rise possibly up to around 14C in town during the day on Sunday, it doesn't seem likely (and might well be rain in town). Of course, I hope that snow will happen. Thankfully it should be getting colder again from Monday, and we can hope that Santa might bring us some snowy presents.
I will try not to dwell on the 'people are getting worried about the snow situation' thing over the coming days. But, of course, we will continue to bring you details of what is actually happening... good or bad or whatever. Just make sure you do the snow dance every morning, everyone! Or perhaps twice a day.
OK, so here's the latest ski area news from around the region:
Ishiuchi Maruyama is having a limited opening this morning. The Sunrise Express gondola, Kita Maruyama Family pair and Green lifts are scheduled to operate with two beginner runs available.
GALA Yuzawa plans to open 5 ski runs from tomorrow (Saturday).
The Tashiro area of Kagura and Muikamachi Hakkaisan also plan to be part open from tomorrow.
The town-level Yuzawa Park still appears intent on on opening its Number 7 lift tomorrow. (That was being said on Wednesday, so it is possible it might change).
Ipponsugi, Iwappara, Maiko Snow Resort, NASPA Ski Garden and Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort ski areas have all officially delayed opening.
At the time of this report, no specific news can be found regarding the possible opening of the town-level Nakazato Snow Wood tomorrow.
I'll be back tomorrow morning with the latest.
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Ski area information for Friday 19th December 2025
The information below is manually checked with official sources and updated for every report.
Please note that details can change quickly, especially at the beginning of the season, and official information may take a bit longer to update.
All information is subject to change.
GALA Yuzawa
Open for sightseeing only
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Gondola and one quad lift (for sightseeing only)
Courses scheduled to be open:
** SKI RUNS ARE CLOSED **
Only open for sightseeing and various snow activities
GALA Yuzawa plans to open for skiing and snowboarding tomorrow (20th December)
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Ishiuchi Maruyama
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by ski area):
?cm
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Sunrise Express gondola
Kita Maruyama Family pair lift
Green Lift
Courses scheduled to be open:
2 beginner runs
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Joetsu Kokusai
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by ski area):
40cm
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Nagamine quad (for transport)
Panorama quad
Panorama Number 2 romance
Panorama Number 3 romance
Courses scheduled to be open:
4 courses in the Panorama area
-----------------------
Kagura (via Mitsumata)
Part open
Official snow depth:
Top: 110cm
Base: 60cm
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Mitsumata Ropeway
Mitsumata Number 1 quad
Mitsumata Number 2 romance pair
Kagura Gondola
Kagura Number 1 quad
Courses scheduled to be open:
Kagura main slope
Kagura bypass
Giant
Technical
Panorama
Gondola
Gondola Line
Family
Taikai
Sunshine
----------------------------
Kandatsu Snow Resort
Part open
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
A Lift (pair)
C Lift (quad)
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Naeba
Part open
Official snow depth:
Top: 70cm
Base: 40cm
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Prince Number 2 Gondola
Number 4 romance pair
Number 4 quad
Number 5 quad
Takenokodaira romance
Courses scheduled to be open:
7 of 24 courses
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Yuzawa Kogen
Part open
Official snow depth:
Top: 30cm
Lifts scheduled to be operating:
Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway
Cosmos pair lift
Summit panorama lift
Courses scheduled to be open:
Cosmos
Kisuge (upper)
Panorama
Aoikeshi (ungroomed)
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Here are the planned opening dates for ski areas around Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma.
All dates are subject to change and will depend on snowfall.
Delayed (and will open as soon as there is enough snow):
Ipponsugi Snow Park
Iwappara
Maiko Snow Resort
NASPA Ski Garden
Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Saturday 20th December 2025:
GALA Yuzawa [* for skiing/snowboarding]
Kagura (Tashiro)
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Nakazato Snow Wood
Yuzawa Park
Wednesday 24th December 2025:
Muica Snow Resort
Thursday 25th December 2025:
Hakkai Sanroku
Chateau Shiozawa
Yuzawa Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Friday 19th December 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 97cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 7 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (on 12th December) November 2025 snowfall 12cm reported on 1 day December 2025 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 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.