REPORT

The slopes are still white at Shiga Kogen. I spoke with three visitors from Shiga, Gifu, and Aichi prefectures (pictured), who told me, “Hey, Snownavi, we love your site! Our pre-boarding routine is to get a picture of our snowboards on the beautiful slope before starting out.” Today, 4/20 (Sat.), was a beautiful day for spring skiing with sunshine and a light westerly wind.
[Ichinose Family・Lower Front Slope]

In the morning, the upper portion of Ichinose Family’s Front Slope was groomed with a firm granular snow surface, while the lower portion of the Front Slope, along with the Panorama Course and Tengu Course, were groomed with moderately loose granular snow bases. I opted to head for another area above the clouds; Terakoya. In addition to the great views, there broad slopes (pictured) were easy to ski with groomed, loose granular snow conditions.
[Terakoya・Philosophy Course]

I had a conversation with a man from Kanagawa Prefecture (pictured, right) who told me he was a fan of Snownavi, and added, “The Front Slope was hard packed and tough to ski first thing this morning, but it loosened up just right and is a lot better now. I am the director of the PAL Sports Club for preschool children. I also run a nature school with camps in the summer and a ski school in the winter and spring.” The official base depth at Terakoya was down to 80 cm, but there were no bushes or exposed ground on the open courses.
[Eternal Course・Terakoya]

The cherry blossoms in Shinshu (Nagano) were in full bloom from 4/11 (Thu.) to 4/13 (Sat.) at Takato Joshi Park, Matsumoto Castle, Ueda Castle Ruins Park, and in Nagano City, but are now peaking in higher elevation areas, such as along the Yomase River (pictured), which runs along Route 292 toward Shiga Kogen. The Yamazakura (mountain cherry blossoms) along Route 292, from the Kanbayashi chain area to just before Sun Valley, were 20 to 30% of peak.
[National Route 292]

*Tomorrow, 4/21 (Sun.), is the last “Ski Children’s Day” of the season.
*The snow depth listed at the top of this report is the highest reported throughout the Shiga Kogen area. Currently, that amount of 165 cm is at Kumanoyu, while Ichinose Family has 130 cm, and 80 cm at Terakoya .

　
[Availability Information on 4/20 (Sat.)]
*Available Courses … (Ichinose Family) Front Gelende, Tengu, Panoram, (Terakoya) Philosophy, Lips, Eternal and totally 40 Courses
*Available Lifts … Ichinose Quad (8:30-), Terakoya Quad and totally 17 lifts
*Fees … 4/1- Spring Discount 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY6,500, Middle & High school students, over 60 y/o JPY5,900, Under 12 y/o JPY3,200

*Request for the original data of our photographs
　
　
reported by Snownavi