REPORT

Tsugaike Mountain Resort kicked off its winter season at 9 a.m. on 12/1 (Mon.)! Last year the resort opened thanks to a huge storm dumping unbelievable amounts of snow, but this season it was the resort’s state-of-the-art snowmaking system that took the lead, making Tsugaike the very first resort in all of the HAKUBA VALLEY to open. Despite the strong winds, a skier from Hakuba Village (pictured) told me, “I always follow Snownavi. I had knee surgery back in March, and today is my first day back on the slopes. That first run felt amazing!”
[Tsuga-no-mori Slope]

The Gondola and Tsuga No. 2 Pair were in operation, giving access to a single run on the Tsuga-no-mori Slope (630 m). The surface was a 50 cm groomed base made from a blend of natural and machine-made snow, forming a 20 to 30 m wide strip of moist snow that softened early and offered smooth, easy glide. Although there were some gentle undulations in the mid to lower section, they didn’t affect the skiing.
[Tsuga-no-mori Slope]

Two skiers from Otari and Hakuba (pictured) told me, “We always follow Snownavi! We took about five runs, but getting the feeling back is tougher than we expected.” By the time Kitchen Tsuga-no-mori opened at 10 a.m., several people were already taking an early break. New menu items this season include the Tsuga-no-mori Soup Curry (¥1,880), an indulgent Roast Beef Bowl (¥2,080), and a Special Beef Tendon Bowl (¥1,680). (※Today the restaurant was offering a total of seven dishes, including Tsugaike Black and the Sanzoku-yaki Chicken Bowl.)
[Kitchen Tsuga-no-mori]

Along the Han-no-ki High-Speed Pair (pictured, left), the first roughly 100 meters were open as a beginner practice area (hike-up required). According to the forecast, a serious winter cold wave is expected nationwide from 12/3 (Wed.) through 12/5 (Fri.), and the associated snowfall should allow many ski resorts to open in rapid succession this coming weekend. Anticipation is building at Tsugaike for an expansion of the open terrain.
[Gondola]

　
[Tsugaike Kogen Details on 12/1 (Mon.)]
*Avaiiable Course … Tsuga-no-mori
*Available Lifts … Gondola (9:00～), Tsuga 2 (9:30～)
*Fees … 1-Day Ticket Adult JPY4,900, 6 to 12 y/o JPY3,800 (Until 12/5)
　　
*Early-bird Lift Tickets (Sales period: 9/12 to 12/21)
Adult 1-day pass JPY8,200 → JPY5,900!
Child (elementary) 1-day pass JPY4,900 → JPY3,800!
Adult 1-day pass + JPY1,200 lunch voucher= JPY9,400 → JPY6,700!
Child 1-day pass + JPY1,200 lunch voucher= JPY6,100 → JPY4,600!
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi