REPORT

After two straight nights of heavy snowfall, Hakuba 47 had a sensational opening yesterday with the resort “fully open” from Day 1. This morning, the Grand Prix Course opened as well — bringing Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba 47’s current total to 12 open courses served by eight running lifts (including two gondolas), with a vertical drop of 856 meters. Both yesterday and this morning, a total of 100 limited-edition opening-day stickers were handed out to those waiting in line before the Gondola Line-8 began operating.
[Route 5]

It was a brisk start to the day, with radiative cooling sending temperatures plunging below –10°C this morning. I spoke with a skier from Tokushima (pictured, far left) who was the first in line for Line-C, and was told, “I check Snownavi all the time! After that big snowfall, I took the day off work yesterday and drove to Hakuba. During the season, I come every week.” The pure white landscape at the base, with Mt. Goryu rising in the background was absolutely stunning.
[Line-C]

And above all, the slope conditions were outstanding. Route 5 (first photo) and Route 6 offered moderately soft, powdery packed snow, while the upper sections of Route 8 (pictured) and Route 1 were groomed into a soft, powder-textured surface. Routes 2 and 3 were left ungroomed, but the snow remained so light and soft that they were far less challenging than they looked.
[Upper Route 8]

The lower section of Route 1 also started off with moderately soft, groomed powdery snow (pictured). However, the ungroomed second half had irregular bumps, and the area around the snowmaking machines had turned into a slick, hard ice surface that was quite tricky. Even for advanced skiers, I’d recommend taking the groomed Route 7 for the descent.
[Lower Route 1]

　　
[Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Details on 12/6 (Sat.)]
*Most courses are OPEN (Except for Iimori, Dynamici, Expert, Woody)
*Available Lifts … Tele-cabin (8:15～), Line-8（8:00～) and totally 8 lifts
*Fees … Off-peak 1-Day Pass Adult JPY8,500, 13-17 y/o JPY6,500, 6-12 y/o JPY3,800 *JPY500 deposit will be required

*Advance Discount Lift Tickets (*Available 9/1 to 12/19)
Adult 1-day pass JPY9,000 → JPY7,000!
Child 1-day pass JPY4,000 → JPY3,300!
(*A JPY500 deposit is added at purchase, JPY7,500 for adults, JPY3,800 for children, and refunded when the IC card is returned.)

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi