REPORT

Thanks to the heavy snow that began falling the night before last, Tsugaike Mountain Resort opened today, 11/30 (Sat), the same day as last year! The officially announced base of 126cm, however, was significantly higher than last year’s 103cm. Although it was only by a few hours, opening at 8:00 a.m. meant that Tsugaike was the first resort in the HAKUBA VALLEY to open this season, just beating out Goryu and Hakuba Happo-One!
[Han-no-ki]

Today I spoke with a skier from Matsumoto, who told me, “I love your site! I was planning to go to Shiga Kogen today, but after seeing the heavy snowfall yesterday and the information about Tsugaike opening, I came here since I have a season pass.” The area alongside the Han-no-ki High Speed Pair Lift (pictured) had light new snow covering a moderately firm, groomed powder snow base, and was the perfect place to go for my first run of the season!
[Han-no-ki]

Thanks to the deep base, there was no exposed or protruding vegetation. The strong wind had scattered dead leaves and branches across the slope, but it didn’t affect the skiing. When I pushed my 110cm ski pole down into the ungroomed part of the run under the Han-no-ki High Speed Pair Lift, it got buried up to the grip, and when I skied through the same area, the fluffy feeling got me even more excited!
[Han-no-ki]

A member of the ski patrol told me they needed “on or two more snowfalls” before the Tsuga-no-mori Slope is ready to open. Currently, the best place to go for food or to take a rest is Kitchen Tsuga-no-Mori (pictured, photo from yesterday). The turnout of visitors was fast today, and as of 9:30, the west side of the central parking lot was full, and the east side was almost full.
[Han-no-ki]

[Tsugaike Kogen Details on 11/30 (Sat.)]
*Available Courses … Han-no-ki
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00〜), Han-no-ki High Speed Pair
*Fees … Early Season 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY5,500, Elementary School Students JPY3,400 (until 12/13)

*Good Deal! Advance Ticket (Sales Period until 12/22)
Adult 1 Day Ticket JPY7,500 → JPY5,500!
6-12 y/o 1 Day Ticket JPY4,400 → JPY3,400!
Adult 1 Day Ticket + Lunch Ticket JPY1,000 = JPY8,500 → JPY6,300!
6-12 y/o 1 Day Ticket + Lunch Ticket JPY1,000 = JPY5,400 → JPY4,200!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi