REPORT

Today, both Sky Ark and the Sky Ark Deck Café (pictured) were nearly full around lunchtime. The scene—locals and international visitors, skiers and sightseers all mixed together—felt unlike anything the resort had seen before. Sunny Valley, which serves as the downhill route to the base, opened for skiing around 1:45 p.m. today, 12/28 (Sun.), but I personally headed up to the summit without my skis today.
[In front of Sky Arc]

At HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR, visitors were able to relax on the terrace under calm, sunny skies. This season, the resort has also introduced Japan’s first high-resolution live camera system at a ski area, Panomax, which allows real-time views of conditions. In the beech forest near the summit, many international families could be seen having fun on sleds.
[HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR]

The Tipi Area (pictured) offers a variety of hands-on experience programs priced from ¥500 to ¥1,000, including drip coffee, AeroPress Go coffee, toasted marshmallows, and Soup Stock Tokyo portions. A man from the UK (pictured) was trying the pizza-baking experience: after placing the pizza into a small oven and checking it as it baked, a piping-hot fresh pizza was ready to enjoy just a few minutes later! (26 cm Margherita pizza, ¥3,000).
[IWATAKE WHITE PARK]

A line had formed at the Yoo-hoo! Swing (¥500, on-site registration). By the way, f you hand your smartphone to the staff at reception, they’ll film a video for you (placed and secured on a dedicated camera stand; one device at a time). Starting on 12/27 (Sat.), the 5 Sen South lift began operating, opening up the South Slope, and CHAVATY HAKUBA at the base area of the slope also started business in conjunction with the course opening.
[Yoo-hoo! Swing]

　
[Hakuba Iwatake Details on 12/28 (Sun.)]
*Avaiiable Courses … South, East, View C, View D, Sunny Valley
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), 5 Sen South, 4 Sen East, View 2
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY6,300, 6-12 y/o JPY3,900, A preschooler will be free per adult

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi