General message from SnowJapan (added 20th April 2020):

--- Read message here

---

Original report:

Good morning from Yuzawa.

Yesterday ended up being the last day of the season for Kagura - and therefore the region. So that's it for 2019-2020.

---

Covering the winter season through these reports is always a long (and tiring) process - usually every day from late November through early May. But for the most part, it is a lot of fun. That's because usually there is consistent snow falling and excellent snow conditions to enjoy. It's always really exciting to share the news.

This season has definitely felt different (and that's before coronavirus). It really has felt like a challenge at times. Words like 'hope', 'mild', 'warm', 'warmer than usual' and 'rain' have had to be used way too much for our liking. Probably yours too!

Locals and long-timers have been pretty shocked to see bare slopes around town in January and lower areas struggling to open through the season. It's just not what we expect - this is Snow Country!

In recent years we have had seasons with less snow than average, but perhaps the big difference this year was that we didn't get that decent early base to build on. On top of that, having to use those words mentioned above so much has not helped.

That's not to say that there was no fun to be had. Of course there have been good times. There were some times when we suddenly got a decent amount and enjoyed conditions more like we expect. And believe it or not, not everyone is here for deep. If you visited Yuzawa this winter, I hope you enjoyed good conditions when you were here. If you didn't get to enjoy the best of conditions, I hope that you still enjoyed other aspects of your visit - the town, the people, the food, etc.

Looking towards the 2020-2021 winter season, I think everyone would be extremely happy to just get back to 'normal'. It has been said in other reports, but it is true: normal is good. Really good!

Let's hope that the coronavirus situation can vastly improve come autumn and we can soon begin to hear brighter news. The tourism industry is certainly hurting at the moment, including in Yuzawa.

It would make us so happy to be able to enjoy a positive build up and start to the next winter season. Followed by a classic Yuzawa winter with large walls of snow piled up by the side of the roads, digging out the car in a morning and the need to be shovelling snow regularly. That would be great. (Yes, even the shovelling snow bit!)

In the meantime, thank you for reading the reports. Please take care, stay safe and see you later in the year.

I will leave you (below) with some images of the kind of snow we love and expect, in this place we love.

Here's to seeing some of that next season!

:)