REPORT

Due to intensive snowfall in Otari Village from around 3:00 p.m. yesterday, a section of National Route 148 from the Iwatake intersection to the Niigata prefectural border was shut down. The ski resort itself received 80 cm of new snow overnight, and the official base jumped all the way up to 230 cm. Even on the Wakaguri Central Slope (pictured), located on the lower portion of the resort, there was 40 to 50 cm of fluffy new snow piled up in the ungroomed areas.
[Wakaguri Central]

Due to the sudden, heavy snowfall, not only the No. 5, No. 10, and No. 11 lifts, but also the No. 1 and No. 3 lifts were closed all day. That just means that we’ll have to feast on powder on the Highway (pictured), Kamoshika, and Sky View courses tomorrow. The groomed Wakaguri Central, Wakakuri Forest, Satomi Central, Satomi Ridge, and Satomi Wakaguri Access courses were all in good condition with moderately firm powder snow surfaces.
[Wakaguri Central]

On the Satomi Slope, most of the people who got off the No. 8 pair seemed to head for the No. 9 pair boarding area. That meant that the Satomi Central Slope was surprisingly empty, and I was able to have my pick of lines. In the middle of the Satomi Wakaguri Access Line, I saw skiers enjoying the deep powder piled up on the steep, shortcut slope.
[Satomi Central]

I spoke with a group of five snowboarders from Tokyo (pictured), who told me, “We’ve all purchased Advance Discount Lift Ticket from Snownavi before.” They told me they skied at Hakunori and Cortina yesterday, and would ski at Wakaguri before heading over to Satomi later today. They added that next week they’d be in Madarao. The snow was still falling at 10:00 this morning, and the occasional strong winds were very cold.
[Wakaguri Central]

[Availability Information on 1/25 (Wed.)]
*Open Course(s) … Wakaguri Central, Wakaguri Forest, Satomi Central, Satomi Ridge, Satomi Wakaguri Access Line
*Available Lifts … No.4 Pair (8:30-) and totally 4 lifts.
*Lift Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY5,000, 6-12 y/o JPY3,500, Over 60 y/o JPY4,500
　
*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report

reported by Snownavi