REPORT

The Sawa Course can be lapped via the Sawa Lift (845 m) and features gentle gradients, with a maximum pitch of 15 degrees and an average of around 10 degrees. From the summit, the route runs via the South Slope, then drops from the junction near the Chuo High-Speed lift unloading area (pictured) down to the Sawa Lift base, giving it a total run length of roughly 1,000 meters. Early in the morning, most visitors head for the Sunny Valley Course and the South and East slopes, making this a quiet, underrated option.
[Sawa Course]

Both the ultra-gentle opening section (pictured) and the mid to lower sections, where the pitch gradually increases (third photo), were groomed into moderately firm, easy-to-ski powder snow. I also spotted riders coming down from the former Hilltop area on the skier’s left, drifting through about 5 cm of light new snow. The fog that lingered early on gradually cleared from the midsection onward.
[Sawa Course]

Because the course runs through a natural valley, there’s plenty of opportunity to play off the terrain on either side. The South Slope offered well-set, powder-packed snow, while VIEW D was groomed into moderately firm powder. Both were easy to ski, and the frost-covered trees were especially beautiful through the upper to midsections of each run.
[Sawa Course]

Two visitors from Gifu Prefecture (pictured) told me, “We usually ski in the Okumino area, but about once a month we come to Hakuba, Nozawa, or Shiga. We heard from friends that Iwatake has fun terrain, so we came to check it out.” The Sunny Valley Course, topped with 1 to 2 cm of light new snow, was groomed into well-set powder up top, transitioning to firmer, groomed moist snow from the midsection down.
[South Slope]

　
[Hakuba Iwatake Details on 2/3 (Tue.)]
*Fully OPEN (Except North, Sonezawa)
*Operating Lifts … Gondola (8:00～) and totally 6 lifts.
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY6,300, 6-12 y/o JPY3,900, A preschooler will be free per adult

*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