Yuzawa Now: Wednesday 1st April 2026
- Apr 1
- 3 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 917cm
Posted on Wednesday 1st April 2026 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
We even got some spells of sun yesterday and while it was windy and rainy at times, perhaps not quite as much as forecasts told us to expect.
Today weather should be improved - less windy - but still grey and cloudy and rainy at times. Clearer skies are currently due on Friday.
The ski areas that closed for the season over the last few days did really well to be able to remain open as long as they did. (Even if some were really hanging on by the smallest of threads!) That was all thanks to the relatively low temps for much of March.
Joetsu Kokusai ski area, north of Yuzawa in Minamiuonuma, decided that it couldn't continue any longer and is now closed for the season.
The ski areas that were closed yesterday due to the horrid weather all (seem to be) back open this morning.
The next big question, for a nerdy type like me anyway, is... will Kandatsu, Gala and Kagura be able to open as long as they originally planned.
As part of some ongoing work - new version of SnowJapan coming later this year (more on that next month) - I've been looking at snow depth data these last few days.
Official snow depth at Kandatsu Snow Resort as of 31st March:
2026: 100cm
2025: 280cm
Official snow depth at GALA Yuzawa as of 31st March:
2026: 140cm
2025: 320cm
Official snow depth at Kagura as of 31st March:
2026: 300cm
2025: 450cm
Official snow depth data is certainly not perfect, but it acts as a guide and the annual data is comparable for each ski area.
Clearly, we have much less snow than we had at this point last year. Going back further, it's not quite the lowest ever, but on the low side.
The remaining ski areas are going to struggle to remain open until their original planned dates. In particular, Gala hanging on until Golden Week (late April) currently feels unlikely.
Anyway, I will keep you posted in these reports!
(The last of the snow in my garden disappeared by 1pm yesterday. A commemorative ceremony was held).
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GALA Yuzawa
Official snow depth (reported by ski area):
140cm
Notes:
Part open (Central Area and the main part of the Northern Area)
The planned closing date is Wednesday 6th May
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Ishiuchi Maruyama
Official snow depth (reported by ski area):
80cm
Notes:
Part open
The planned closing date is Sunday 5th April
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Kagura
Official snow depth:
Top: 300cm
Base: 220cm
Notes:
The planned closing date is Sunday 17th May (Kagura via Mitsumata Ropeway)
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Kandatsu Snow Resort
Official snow depth:
100cm
Notes:
Part open
The planned closing date is Sunday 19th April
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Naeba
Official snow depth:
Top: 110cm
Base: 40cm
Notes:
Part open
The planned closing date is Sunday 5th April
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Yuzawa Kogen
Official snow depth:
Top: 130cm
Base: 60cm
Notes:
Part open
The planned closing date is Sunday 5th April
----------------------------
All other ski areas in the Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma region have now closed.
Yuzawa Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Wednesday 1st April 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 917cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 52 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 68cm (on 25th January) November 2025 snowfall 12cm reported on 1 day December 2025 snowfall 144cm reported on 9 days January 2026 snowfall 595cm reported on 23 days February 2026 snowfall 132cm reported on 13 days March 2026 snowfall 34cm reported on 6 days April 2026 snowfall 0cm |
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.