REPORT

Resort operations expanded today with four lifts coming online—the Usagidaira Pair, Kurobishi 3 Pair, Skyline 2 Pair, and the Sakka Kita-One Quad—and with that, lift ticket prices shifted to top-season rates (one-day pass: adults JPY8,700; ages children 6 to 17 JPY4,350; seniors 65+ JPY8,400). Saturday morning brought calm, partly cloudy skies, and even the upper slopes felt warm with temperatures above freezing.
[Usagidaira Slope]

The south-side route at Usagidaira (pictured) had a moderately firm, groomed wet-snow surface with solid edge grip and good glide, making for excellent skiing. The snow along the Kurobishi Quad felt noticeably softer than on Usagidaira, and was also very enjoyable to ski. On the Skyline Course, the central section featured groomed wet snow—with no bushes showing at all.
[Usagidaira Slope]

Four visitors I met on the Skyline—from Osaka Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Matsumoto City—commented, “We always follow your reports! The groomed snow on Skyline was nicely set and felt great to ski, but the ungroomed sections had heavier new snow and really wore us out (lol).” Kita-One Kogen Terrace (pictured, background) also opened for the season today. Skies turned increasingly overcast towards 9 a.m.
[Kita-One Kogen]

A skier from Tokyo (pictured) told me earlier this morning, “I always follow your reports! I’ve rented a room at the base of Happo each winter ever since the year the Nagano Olympics were held, and kept up a lifestyle of skiing almost every day. My goal this season is 130 days… no wait, I’m aiming for 150!” In other news, OAKLEY BASE, on the second floor of the Usagidaira Terrace, is open as of today.
[Usagidaira Slope]

*12/21 (Sun.) will be the first “Kids’ Ski Day” of the season, with free one-day lift tickets for elementary school students.
*Because the courses heading downhill toward the Sakka area (including the Kita-One Forest Road) have not yet opened, access to Sakka is via the downhill ride on the Sakka Kita-One Quad lift.
　
[Happo-One Details on 12/20 (Sat.)]
*Avaiiable Courses … Kurobishi, Usagidaira, Panorama, Upper portion of Panorama Cat Track, Skyline
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Panorama Pair, Kokusai 3 Pair, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi Quad, Skyline 2 Pair, Sakka Kitaone Quad
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY8,700, 6-17 y/o JPY4,350, Over 65 y/o JPY8,400

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi