Yuzawa Now: Monday 26th December 2022
- Dec 26, 2022
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Yuzawa & Minamiuonuma region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 34cm
Snowfall at base this seas 74cm
Posted on Monday 26th December 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Yuzawa Now report can be found here.
This is more like it! At last, overnight we have had the kind of snowfall that we know and love.
Here is how much snow is being reported by ski areas that report such things:
- Kagura: 40cm
- Maiko Snow Resort: 35cm
Our measurement is 34cm. There's less to the north at our measuring point in Minamiuonuma (just over 20cm).
It didn't feel like it was going to happen again yesterday. It was snowing on and off during the day but not really amounting to much. Happily there was decent snow from late night and early morning. Now what we would really like is... lots more.
This fresh snow means more ski areas are now able to open up, and there is a lot of information to take in this morning. The list below has been updated and will be double-checked over the next few hours to make sure everything is correct.
The only two ski areas that are not yet open are Ipponsugi and Mt Granview. They both plan to open on 28th December.
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About the season so far
Note:
The below was written yesterday, before the good snowfall we received overnight. It all still applies, of course, but just goes to show that things can and do change quickly...
Thought it would be a good time to make a few comments about the early season, especially with more than a few people asking questions.
It has been such an odd (and probably unique) start to the season in this particular region. Unlike several years ago when we struggled with snowfall, there is plenty of snow in some nearby areas this year. Parts of central and northern Niigata Prefecture, and as close as the north area of Minamiuonuma, have seen some heavy snowfall. Even record snowfall in some places. (I was going to say 'enjoyed some heavy snowfall', but snow is not welcome in some of those places).
So it has been really strange watching that happen while it hasn't been snowing much here at all, or certainly not in the amounts we expect and are used to. Instead, the snow clouds have seemed strangely reluctant to deliver the goods, giving our area a pass. And indeed, forecasts have often been wrong, too, with the weather tricking them with their abnormal behaviour.
Thanks to that snowfall just to our north, ski areas like Muikamachi Hakkaisan could open as planned, which is great. However, as you know from these reports, ski areas here in Yuzawa and south Minamiuonuma have been struggling.
It is important to emphasise that even with an uncharacteristically slow start, ski areas are now opening. Kagura (weather permitting) is pretty much fully open. We cover such details in the report every day.
And hopefully, we will soon get into regular service and enjoy a season of consistent and heavy snowfall. Of course, we look forward to getting out in deep snow ourselves (and even the required shovelling). But we are also looking forward to being able to post reports that convey the excitement it always brings!
SnowJapan is not here to bring you hype and/or misleading reports to tell you what you might want to hear. That means you can tell when we're genuinely excited. Check the Yuzawa Now reports from the second half of December last year for a good dose of that!
When the snow in Yuzawa gets into gear, it really is something to behold. May that be very soon.
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Ski area information for Monday 26th December 2022
Ski areas in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma region (listed in alphabetical order).
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 weather conditions and subject to change.
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GALA Yuzawa
Lifts & courses:
6 lifts operating (Gondola, Coach pair, Barouche quad, Sociable quad, Phaeton pair, Victoria quad)
All of the Central Area is open
Part of the Northern Area is open (Broadway, Swan)
Official snow depth:
80cm
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Ishiuchi Maruyama
Lifts & courses:
6 lifts operating (Sunrise Express, Tyrol triple, Summit quad, Kanko Number 2 and 3 Express, Kitamaruyama Family pair)
9 courses open
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Iwappara
Lifts & courses:
3 lifts operating (Chuo quad, Number 2 pair, Number 3 pair)
6 courses open
Official snow depth:
50cm
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Joetsu Kokusai
Lifts & courses:
12 lifts operating
12 courses open
The area in front of the hotel and Nagamine 1 and 3 courses are open for night skiing until 9:00pm
Official snow depth:
80cm (top)
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Kagura
Lifts & courses:
Kagura is now usually mostly open, but some restricted operations today due to weather
Both Ropeways are open
12 lifts operating
16 out of 32 courses open
Official snow depth:
100cm (top)
60cm (base)
Snowfall reported by the ski area since yesterday:
40cm
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Kandatsu Snow Resort
Lifts & courses:
3 lifts operating (A, B and C)
6 courses open
Official snow depth:
75cm
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Maiko Snow Resort
Lifts & courses:
4 lifts operating (Maiko Gondola, Okusoechi quad, Okusoechi pair, Maiko Center quad)
9 courses open (top Okusoechi area via Gondola and part of Maiko Area)
Official snow depth:
120cm (top)
40cm (base)
Snowfall reported by the ski area since yesterday:
35cm
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Muikamachi Hakkaisan
Lifts & courses:
3 of 4 lifts operating (the top pair lift is only open on weekends and holidays)
All courses open
Official snow depth:
160cm (top)
40cm (base)
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Naeba
Lifts:
8 lifts operating (all except Number 1 gondola, Number 8 high speed, Daishamen pair and Takenokoyama pair)
11 of 24 courses open
The Number 5 high speed lift is open for night skiing until 8:30pm
Official snow depth:
70cm (top)
30cm (base)
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NASPA Ski Garden
Lifts & courses:
3 lifts operating (Number 3, 4 and 5)
3 courses open (F, G and H courses)
Official snow depth:
85cm
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Yuzawa Kogen
Lifts & courses:
4 lifts operating (Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway, Kogen Express, Cosmos, Summit Panorama)
4 courses open
Official snow depth:
60cm (top)
20cm (base)
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Yuzawa Nakazato Snow Resort
Lifts & courses:
2 lifts operating (Number 2, Number 3)
2 courses open (Joyful, Smile)
Official snow depth:
40cm
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Yuzawa Park
Lifts & courses:
1 lifts operating (Number 7)
1 course open (Beginner)
Official snow depth:
50cm
Yuzawa Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Monday 26th December 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 74cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 10 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 34cm (26th December) November 2022 snowfall 0cm December 2022 snowfall 74cm reported on 10 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.