REPORT

Akakura Onsen Ski Resort is the place to be if you want to cruise wide, gentle-to-moderate slopes at an easy, relaxed pace. With all 14 courses open as of 12/27 (Sat.), the resort reached “fully open” status (meaning 80% or more of the terrain available). Two guests from Tokyo and Osaka (pictured), who were first on the Panorama Course, told me, “We’ve seen Snownavi before. We’re friends from our days as students, and we came out to ski together. This is our first run of the season.”
[Panorama Course]

The light rain that had been falling around 7 a.m. stopped, and patches of blue sky began to appear around 8 a.m. The Panorama Course (pictured) was groomed into a moderately firm, moist snow surface, and as of 12/27 (Sat.), night skiing has begun here as well (from 17:00 to 21:00). Night tickets are available, of course, but picking up a 1-Day Passport and skiing from morning through night is another great option.
[Panorama Course]

The Utopia A Course (pictured) and Utopia B Course opened at 9:30 a.m. Both courses were groomed with moist snow, and likely thanks to their north-facing aspect, the surface felt softer than the Panorama Course. With relatively few skiers dropping in during the early hours, it was tempting to lap the Kumado No. 4 Triple (573 m).
[Utopia A Course]

An overall high proportion of beginners and families meant that traffic on the other courses also built up relatively slowly, and it didn’t feel crowded while I was out on assignment. The Sekimi Slope, the Downhill Central Course, the Family Slope, and the Karamatsu Course were all groomed with moderately firm moist snow bases that offered easy, comfortable skiing conditions.
[Utopia A Course]

　　
[Akakura Onsen Details on 12/30 (Tue.)]
*All Courses are OPEN (Except for Mogul Challenge Course, Alpen, Ginrei No.1 & No.2)
*Operating Liftd … Yodel No.1 Triple (8:30～) and totally 6 lifts
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY7,000, 6 to 12 y/o JPY2,500, 13 to 15 y/o & Over 60 y/o JPY5,600 (*Until the available courses expand)

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi