Good morning from Yuzawa where there has just been a dusting of snow overnight and light snow is falling now in the Ishiuchi area just to the north of central Yuzawa (where I am posting from this morning).

Once again it looks like light snow on and off is what we can expect today with a high of around +1C later on.

After today the next snowfall is due around Friday when hopefully we might be able to get a decent refresh in before the weekend.

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Below are the official snow depth numbers were from some of the larger resorts on 1st February 2015 (last season).

Official snow depths are definitely not the best measure of snowfall and/or gaining an understanding of how a season is measuring up - some resorts move theirs around more than others, some arguably over-report and some also arguably under-report. But the numbers each year are being put out there by the same resorts and so are comparable with the numbers posted from this season, and so maybe of interest:

GALA Yuzawa: 410cm
Ishiuchi Maruyama: 360cm
Iwappara: 265cm
Joetsu Kokusai: 230cm
Kagura: 340cm
Kandatsu Kogen: 340cm
Maiko Snow Resort:340cm (upper); 270cm (lower)
Naeba: 260cm
NASPA Ski Garden: 305cm
Yuzawa Kogen: 320cm (Kogen)
Yuzawa Nakazato: 225cm

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And as promised, here are official snowfall records from Yuzawa Town, as published by Niigata Prefecture.

Check out the one day last season when over 1m of snowfall was recorded in one day! And the 9 days when 51-100cm of fresh snow fell. It brings back memories of some serious snow shovelling as well as some superb conditions on the slopes! You'll also notice that 7 seasons ago was a pretty lean season as well.

No comparable numbers are available for this season yet and I think it might be spring before they are - but we'll keep an eye open for those and come back to the numbers in the future.

2014-2015 season (last season):

23 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
20 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
16 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
9 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
1 day with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 105cm (!)
Peak snow depth: 333cm

2013-2014 season:

31 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
24 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
15 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
3 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 76cm
Peak snow depth: 290cm

2012-2013 season:

22 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
23 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
18 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
6 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 75cm
Peak snow depth: 310cm

2011-2012 season:

22 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
19 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
16 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
12 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 70cm
Peak snow depth: 305cm

2010-2011 season:

31 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
15 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
15 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
8 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 75cm
Peak snow depth: 270cm

2009-2010 season:

31 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
16 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
7 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
7 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 96cm
Peak snow depth: 255cm

2008-2009 season:

28 days with 1-10cm of snowfall recorded
15 days with 11-30cm of snowfall recorded
5 days with 31-50cm of snowfall recorded
3 days with 51-100cm of snowfall recorded
0 days with over 100cm of snowfall recorded

Most snowfall in one day: 56cm
Peak snow depth: 148cm

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Resort official snow depths (Tuesday 2nd February 2016) and any specific news at time of writing:

All resorts in the area are either mostly or fully open.
And updates for 2nd Feb not available at time of writing.

Resorts in Yuzawa:

GALA Yuzawa
170cm

Ishiuchi Maruyama
120cm

Iwappara
105cm

Joetsu Kokusai
140cm

Kagura
140cm (Mitsumata)
170cm (Tashiro)
200cm (Kagura)

Kandatsu Kogen
110-160cm

Maiko Snow Resort
160cm (upper)
60cm (lower)

Muikamachi Hakkaisan
150cm

Naeba
110cm

NASPA Ski Garden
105cm

Yuzawa Kogen
140cm

Yuzawa Nakazato
85cm

Yuzawa Park
85cm

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'Nighta' (floodlit night operations)

Details of the 'nighta' operations at ski and snowboards resorts around Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma.

Ishiuchi Maruyama
Open daily until 8:50pm (until 20th March).
The Chuo No 1 and Chuo No 2 lifts are open daily.
The Kanko No 1, Kanko No 2, Kanko No 3, Hatsukaishi Entrance lift, Hatsukaishi No 2 pair lifts are open on weekends and holidays.
The basic charge is 2000 yen but various tickets are available.

Iwappara
Open daily until 9pm on Saturdays and until 8pm on weekdays and Sundays (until 21st March).
The charge is 1500 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children and seniors.

Joetsu Kokusai
Open daily until 9pm (until 21st March).
The charge is 1500 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children and seniors.
On weekdays the area in front of the main hotel is open - a larger area (including Osawa and Atema) is open on weekends.

Kandatsu Kogen
Open from 6pm until 4am on Fridays, Saturdays and evenings before holidays through 26th March.
Open from 4:30pm until 11pm on weekdays until 24th March.
Various tickets are available starting at 2000 yen for adults, 1700 yen for seniors and 1000 yen for children.

Maiko Snow Resort
Open daily with the Maiko Center quad lift operating from 4pm until 8pm.
The charge is 500 yen for everyone.

Naeba
Open daily until 27th March.
From 4pm until 8:30pm on weekdays and Sundays (2000 yen); until 9pm every Saturday and on 20th March (3000 yen).
'All Night' opening is planned for Saturday 26th March when Naeba will be open from 10pm until 5am.

NASPA Ski Garden
Extended opening until 6pm (Number 1 lift) on Saturdays until 27th February.
There is no special ticket available just for the extended time.

Yuzawa Nakazato
Open on Saturdays from 5pm until 8:30pm (until 12th March).
Tickets are 1500 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children and seniors.

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List of ski resorts in Yuzawa town
List of ski resorts in Minamiuonuma City

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Iwappara 6 day snow and weather forecast
NASPA Ski Garden 6 day snow and weather forecast
Kagura 6 day snow and weather forecast