Yuzawa Now: Monday 21st December 2015
- Dec 21, 2015
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 23, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 19cm
Posted on Monday 21st December 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
Yesterday turned into a beauty of a day.
All of the cloud had disappeared by mid to late morning leaving us with bright blue skies and the sun shining down on us. It was perfect Sunday weather for mid-winter; it felt great, but I think that we would all prefer a blizzard that delivers lots of snow right now.
I was over at Maiko with a few friends yesterday where the upper slopes were open for the first time this season. It was fun and there were quite a few people out, but it's very clear that there isn't much snow around - new gear is definitely not recommended! The photos today are from yesterday and they probably speak for themselves. Lots of bushes on show and things popping up out of the snow on the courses themselves. Patrol were busy putting sticks in the ground in some places where there was no snow. Like I said though, it was fun and the quality of the snow that was there was actually pretty decent.
This morning it's back to cloudy and overcast skies above the region. Today is going to warm up a bit more with a high of about 9 degrees expected later in town. It's probably going to rain as well, though we can probably hold out for snow higher up. Up until around Thursday it's likely to be something like a mix of cloud, sun at times and perhaps rain at times. Hopefully not much of that last one.
The good news is that the strong cold front is still due to be here starting around Friday. It's still looking good for decent snowfall down to town. Fingers crossed.
Resort operations look like they will be the same today as yesterday with a new addition to mention - Joetsu Kokusai, where it seems the Panorama courses over in the North Zone are open.
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Resorts that are now at least part open (Monday 21st December 2015) - subject to change:
Kagura
A large part of Kagura Mitsumata is now open with natural snow - basically most areas up to and including the main Kagura runs are skiable.
(Mitsumata Family course and Chibbiko area; Kagura main gelende, Giant, Technical, Panorama and Gondola courses).
A decent part of Kagura Tashiro is also now open - up to the Tashiro Number 1 high speed lift.
(Tashiro Ladies course, Shirakaba course, Tashiro Alyeska course, Tashiroko course, Number 1 high speed connecting course, Skyline course).
Note that the connecting courses between the main Kagura area and the Tashiro areas are not yet open.
Naeba
Lower Number 4 and 5 courses are open with the help of artificial snow and the upper Takenokodaira course is open (natural snow).
GALA Yuzawa
GALA Yuzawa is open - the Melody and Entertainment courses in the main Central Area are open.
Maiko Snow Resort
The Gondola takes you up to the Okusoeji area where the two lifts will be operating and 6 courses open.
Okusoeji RanRan, GuiGui, RunRun, SuiSui, RakuRaku and SanSan courses open.
Joetsu Kokusai
Panorama quad and two pair lifts open with the Panorama courses in the North Area open.
Muikamachi Hakkaisan
The Technical course and Rakuraku A courses open with just two pair lifts operating (one to get to the open area).
Resorts on standby to open as soon as there is enough snow to open:
Ipponsugi
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Iwappara
Kagura (Tashiro)
Kandatsu Kogen
Ludens Yuzawa
Muikamachi Ski Resort
Nakazato Snow Wood
NASPA Ski Garden
Yuzawa Nakazato
Yuzawa Park
Yuzawa Kogen
Planning to open on Thursday 24th December:
Chateau Shiozawa
Planning to open on Friday 25th December:
Hakkaisanroku
Planning to open on Saturday 26th December:
Itsukamachi
Ishiuchi Hanaoka
Mt Granview
Yuzawa Now 2015-2016 season |
Data as of Monday 21st December 2015 Total snowfall at base so far 19cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 2 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 15cm (18th December) November 2015 snowfall 0cm December 2015 snowfall 19cm 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.