REPORT

On 12/20 (Sat.), Sun Valley, Maruike, Nishidateyama, Hoppo Bunadaira, Ichinose Diamond, and Ichinose Yamanokami all opened, and the Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola also began operating, elevating Shiga Kogen to “mostly open” status (meaning more than 50% of the total area is now open). On 12/23 (Tue.), clear skies allowed strong radiative cooling to set in, with temperatures dropping all the way to -10°C.
[Yakebitaiyama・Panorama Course]

On the Panorama Course, the first half of the groomed run (pictured) was surprisingly powdery. A skier I often run into at Yakebitaiyama commented, “It’s even easier to ski than yesterday.” A staff member from the Yakebitaiyama Ski Area added, “We run the snowmaking machines aggressively on cold days in order to maintain good slope conditions.”
[Yakebitaiyama・Panorama Course]

As I moved into the latter half of the Panorama Course, the surface transitioned to well-compacted groomed snow with a moist, powder-like feel. With solid edge hold and good speed, I flowed smoothly into the Shirakaba Course. Also, since the Yamanokami No. 2 Lift began operating on 12/20 (Sat.), it’s now possible to travel from Ichinose Yamanokami to Ichinose Diamond, Ichinose Family, and Takamagahara Mammoth without taking off your skis.
[Yakebitaiyama・Panorama Course]

Three visitors from Gifu Prefecture and Nagano’s Nakano City (pictured) called out to me, saying, “Hey, Snownavi!? We always check your reports!” They added, “The Panorama Course was great—you could really build speed and enjoy the run. We’re heading over to Okushiga Kogen Ski Area next.” Today, the Northern Alps mountain range was clearly visible from the summit station of the No. 2 Gondola.
[Yakebitaiyama・No. 2 Gondola Summit Station]

*Ichinose Family and Takamagahara Mammoth have been connected via Tanne-no-Mori Okojo since 12/5 (Fri.), allowing skiers and riders to move easily between the two areas.
*The base depth at the top of this report reflects the maximum depth across all of Shiga Kogen. Currently, the highest recorded depth of 60 cm is at Yakebitaiyama, Okushiga, and Yokoteyama.

[Shiga Kogen Details on 12/23 (Tue.)]
*All Courses are available (Except for Hasuike, Higashi Tateyama, Terakoya)
*Available Lifts … Yakebitaiyama No.2 Gondola (8:30～) and totally 28 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY9,000, Middle & High school students JPY6,700, Under 12 y/o JPY4,100, over 60 y/o JPY6,900, 1 preschooler free per paying adult.

*Request for the original data of our photographs