REPORT

After reaching “fully open” status on 12/27 (Sat.), the snow base at Tsugaike Mountain Resort has continued to steadily improve. This morning, I spoke with a man from Tokyo (pictured), who told me, “I always check Snownavi. I’m skiing on a HAKUBA VALLEY season pass during my year-end and New Year’s holiday from 12/27 (Sat.) to 1/4 (Sun.). Right now, I’m taking it easy, having breakfast while waiting for the gondola to start running.”
[Oya-no-hara Slope]

Dry snow was falling on the upper slopes, while a light westerly breeze was blowing. The Tsuga-no-mori Slope had superb powder conditions, with the nicely set groomed sections covered in 5 to 10 cm of light new snow, and the gently rolling ungroomed areas topped with around 25 cm. Whether on the groomers or in the ungroomed sections, soft plumes of snow billowed into the air each time I set an edge.
[Tsuga-no-mori Slope]

The Gotemba Course (pictured) and the area along the Han-no-ki High-Speed Pair were also in great shape, with 3 to 5 cm of light new snow on top of a moderately firm, easy-to-ski groomed powder surface. From the mid to lower sections of Han-no-ki, 5 to 10 cm of light new snow sat atop a firmer, moist groomed base mixed with machine-made snow. There were absolutely no bushes or thin snow spots remaining anywhere around.
[Gotemba Course]

The Kane-no-naru-oka Slope (pictured) was topped with 5 to 10 cm of light new snow, and though it was fully ungroomed, the surface was mostly flat. A father from Kanagawa Prefecture told me, “It’s easy to ski, and the kids are having a great time.” With no bushes or thin snow spots remaining here either (note that a few open holes are marked with poles), it felt safe and comfortable even on brand-new skis.
[Kane-no-naru-oka Slope]

　　
[Tsugaike Kogen Details on 1/3 (Sat.)]
*All Courses are OPEN!
*Operating lifts … Gondola (from 8:00) and totally 14 lifts.
*Fees … 1-Day Ticket Adult JPY8,200, 6 to 12 y/o JPY4,900, Over 60 y/o JPY6,700
　
*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,500 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi