REPORT

The ski resort was temporarily closed from 12/15 (Fri.) to 12/17 (Sun.) due to the melting snow and warm weather that first began on 12/8 (Fri.). Thankfully, the return of cold temperatures and fresh snowfall yesterday enabled the resort to reopen the Yamabiko D Course (pictured) today, 12/18 (Mon.)! The upper half of the ski area was covered in rime ice, and that combined with the thin fog layer of fog made for a mystical atmosphere.
[Yamabiko D Course]

The Yamabiko D Course (pictured) had been groomed to its entire width, and featured around 3cm of fresh, dry snow on top of a moderately firm powder snow surface up top that hardened slightly lower down (and perfect for skiing!!!). I did notice one area with exposed underbrush around where the slope became steeper at the end of the run.
[Yamabiko D Course]

I spoke with a group from Hamamatsu, Nagano, Iiyama and Kijimadaira. The lady on the far right (pictured) told me, “I enjoy coming to Nozawa Onsen because I always have friends here! The man standing second from the left added, “Last time, I boarded right in front of a Snownavi reporter on the Yamabiko A Course, but my photo didn’t make it into the report, so apparently I wasn’t good enough (lol.)” The snow machines were cranking out snow at full power on Yamabiko D.
[Yamabiko D Course]

I observed beginners practicing and families sledding on the Kokenashi Slope (pictured), which was open for lessons. I had a chat with a resort staff member and was originally told, “We didn’t get much accumulation overnight… so I guess we’ll have to wait for the next system moving in on 12/21 (Thurs.). In that case, we are planning to open only the Yamabiko D course tomorrow as well.” But
when I saw the staff member again around 1:00 p.m., they had a more optimistic tone, “The snow is coming down hard right now. Check our SNS for further information on course expansion.”
[Uenotaira Slope]

　
[Nozawa Onsen Availability Information on 12/18 (Mon)]
*Avaiiable Courses … Yamabiko Area D
*Available Lifts … Nagasaka Gondola (8:30 -), Yamabiko No.2 Four, Yu Road
*Fees … Adult JPY4,900, Senior JPY3,900, Under 15 y/o JPY2,900
　
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reported by Snownavi