REPORT

Since our last report on 11/16 (Wed.), we endured an extended streak of warmer-than-usual weather. But finally as we’ve entered into December, the typical cold temperatures have returned, snow has fallen several times, and as of 12/7 (Wed.), that snow still remains accumulated on the upper part of the ski resort. Today, operation of the new, all-glass Nagasaka Gondola (pictured), which is equipped with cushioned leather seats for comfort and quietness, was being tested.
[Uenotaira]

Snow machines are operating daily on the Yamabiko D Course (pictured), which is typically the first run to open for the season. There is currently around 20cm of snow accumulated in the center of the course. Courses A and B have somewhere between 5 and 10cm, while the Kokenashi Slop has approximately 3 to 5cm, with neither of those areas having any artificial snow.
[Yamabiko D Course]

The snow that began falling around 7:00 this morning lasted only about an hour, and soon after more and more blue sky became visible as the strong westerly wind cleared the clouds away. Although snow had been forecasted for the last two evenings, there was no significant accumulation at Nozawa Onsen during that time.
[Yamabiko D Course]

I spoke with a staff member of the resort who told me, “We’re running the snow machines as much as we can to try and get the resort open, but unfortunately it looks like it’s going to be difficult to open this weekend. We really need to get a big dump of natural snow.” The Uenotaira Slope (pictured) now has around 3 to 10cm of snow.
[Uenotaira]

*The 2022-23 winter operation of Nozawa Onsen Ski Area is from Dec. 1, 2022 (Depends on snow) to May 7, 2023.

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi