Snow Depth Ranking (2/22)

These are the top-15 ski resorts nationwide, ranked according to their snow depth as measured on 2/22 (Mon.). Overall snow depth rose sharply thanks to the heavy mid-week snowfall, only to be followed by a rapid reduction over the unusually warm weekend.

No. 1（→）Lotte Arai（Niigata）◎524cm
No. 2（→）Yudonosan（Yamagata）◎460cm
No. 2（↑）Seki Onsen (Niigata) ◎460cm

No. 4（↓）Hakusan Seymour（Ishikawa）◎455cm
No. 5（→）Niseko Grand Hirafu（Hokkaido）◎450cm
No. 6（↓）Geto Kogen（Iwate）◎425cm
No. 7（↓）Cupid Valley（Niigata）◎410cm
No. 8（↓）Hakusan Ichirino（Ishikawa）◎390cm
No. 9（↓）Charmant Hiuchi（Niigata）◎370cm
No. 9（↑）Kiroro（Hokkaido）◎370cm

No. 11 Hakkoda ◎360cm, No. 12 Hakuba Goryu & 47 ◎350cm, No. 12 Ski Jam Katsuyama ◎350cm, No. 12 GALA Yuzawa ◎350cm, No. 15 Yuzawa Kogen ◎340cm, No. 15 Shiratori Kogen ◎340cm

* This list excludes small, local resorts with only one or no lifts.

Weekend Events

Nagano Prefecture lowered its COVID-19 Infection Alert level to Level 1 on Feb. 16 (Tue.), and since then a slew of events have been scheduled and/or confirmed. This weekend, Feb. 27 (Sat.) and Feb. 28 (Sun.) several events will be held in the HAKUBA VALLEY as follows:
[Feb. 27 (Sat.) ～ Feb. 28 (Sun.) Events]
X-Festa 2021 Series 3rd … Tsugaike（※Registration Closed）
Ski Shop Vail 2022 NEW MODEL Test Demo Event … Tsugaike・Yuki-no-Hiroba　JPY1,000
Slalom Camp & Unofficial Tournament … Hakuba47（※Registration Closed）
MOSS SNOWBOARD Test Demo Event … Hakuba47・Gondola Base Station  FREE

[Feb. 27 (Sat.) Events]
Lucky Drawing … Hakuba47・Ticket Center  FREE（First 100 People）

[2/28 (Sun.) Events]
First Tracks Experience … Cortina・Ikenota Gelande　FREE
OUTFLOW Snowboards 21-22 Model Test Demo Event … Iwatake・Gondola Base Station　FREE
Kids Snow Running Class … Happo・Nakiyama Snowland　Children JPY500
Weekend Kids Event … Goryu・Escal Plaza　FREE
Sunrise Skiing … Sanosaka・No. 2 Quad, No. 3 Quad　Early Morning Ticket JPY2,000 and more

Cortina　First Tracks Experience

Cortina is offering a “First Tracks Experience” on 2/28 (Sun.), 3/7 (Sun.) and 3/14 (Sun.). Participants will be able to hop on the No. 2 Quad 15 minutes before the official opening time and lay down first tracks on the still closed-to-the-public Ikenota Slope.

First Tracks Experience
[Dates & Time]　2/28 (Sun.), 3/7 (Sun.) & 3/14/2021 (Sun.) 8:15 in front of the No. 2 Quad
[Eligibility]　Limited to 10 Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba overnight guests
[Fee]　Free　※Must register in advance with the front desk

Tsugaike Ropeway Spring Operation

Spring operation of the Tsugaike Ropeway will start on 3/5 (Fri.). A ride on the ropeway is perfect for those looking to snowshoe through the wide-open snowfields of the Tsugaike Nature Park, or to hike up to the Tenguhara area and ski 14km all the way down to the bottom of the ski resort, and more.
Tsugaike Ropeway Spring Operation
[Dates]　Fri. to Sun. from 3/5 (Fri.) ～ 3/28 (Sun.) / Sat. & Sun. from 4/3 (Sat.) ～ 4/25 (Sun.) / Daily during the Golden Week Holidays 4/29 (Thurs.) ～ 5/5 (Wed.)
[Hours]　March 8:30 ～ 15:00 / April & May 8:30 ～ 15:30
[Fee]　One-Way: Adults 760 JPY・Children 380 JPY / Round-Trip: Adults 1,390 JPY・Children 700 JPY

※Usage of the ropeway is not included with your resort lift ticket.
※You must submit a mountaineering/backcountry plan when riding the ropeway.

Snow Depth Ranking (2/22)

These are the top-15 ski resorts nationwide, ranked according to their snow depth as measured on 2/22 (Mon.). Overall snow depth rose sharply thanks to the heavy mid-week snowfall, only to be followed by a rapid reduction over the unusually warm weekend.

No. 1（→）Lotte Arai（Niigata）◎524cm
No. 2（→）Yudonosan（Yamagata）◎460cm
No. 2（↑）Seki Onsen (Niigata) ◎460cm

No. 4（↓）Hakusan Seymour（Ishikawa）◎455cm
No. 5（→）Niseko Grand Hirafu（Hokkaido）◎450cm
No. 6（↓）Geto Kogen（Iwate）◎425cm
No. 7（↓）Cupid Valley（Niigata）◎410cm
No. 8（↓）Hakusan Ichirino（Ishikawa）◎390cm
No. 9（↓）Charmant Hiuchi（Niigata）◎370cm
No. 9（↑）Kiroro（Hokkaido）◎370cm

No. 11 Hakkoda ◎360cm, No. 12 Hakuba Goryu & 47 ◎350cm, No. 12 Ski Jam Katsuyama ◎350cm, No. 12 GALA Yuzawa ◎350cm, No. 15 Yuzawa Kogen ◎340cm, No. 15 Shiratori Kogen ◎340cm

* This list excludes small, local resorts with only one or no lifts.

Massive 10,000 Lift Ticket Giveaway Campaign!

Hakuba Village is accepting entries for its “Stay and Ski! 10,000 Lift Ticket Giveaway Campaign!” until 2/23 (Tue.). Up to 10,000 one-day lift tickets usable at any of Hakuba’s 5 ski resorts will be given away by random drawing for those who sign up, and will be valid for use during the designated period when combined with an overnight stay at one of the approved accommodations!

Stay and Ski! 10,000 Lift Ticket Giveaway Campaign!
[Entry Period]　2/18 (Thurs.) ～ 2/23/2021 (Tue.)
[Usable Period]　3/1 (Mon.) ～ 5/5 (Wed., Holiday)　※The season end date may vary for each resort
[Eligible Ski Resorts] Hakuba Sanosaka, Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47, Hakuba Happo-One, Hakuba Iwatake
[Results Announcement]　Late February、winners will be notified by postcard

Additionally, the “Omachi Winter Enjoyment Campaign” which had been temporarily suspended, has resumed as of 2/15 (Mon.)

Omachi Winter Enjoyment Campaign
[Eligibility]　All domestic travelers staying at one of Omachi city’s campaign-approved accommodations
[Validity]　12/1/2020 (Tue.) Check-in ～ 2/28/2021 (Sun.) Check-out
[Limit]　Maximum of 13,500 overnight guests、2,750 banquet/party guests
[Participating Businesses]　 Approved Accommodations（PDF）, Locations where coupons can be used (PDF)

Sanosaka Tournament Week

Between 2/20 (Sat.) – 2/23 (Tue., Holiday) three separate competitions will be taking place at Hakuba Sanosaka.

Nagano Prefecture Freestyle Skiing Mogul Championships … 2/20 (Sat.)
HAKUBA CARVING MATSURI 2021 … 2/21 (Sun.)
2021 Blue Resort Hakuba Sanosaka Mogul Competition Rounds 1 & 2 … 2/22 (Mon.) ～ 2/23（Tue., Holiday）

※A free MAPLUS waxing service will be held in conjunction with the HAKUBA CARVING MATSURI 2021.

2/21 (Sun.) Kids Ski Free Day

The third Sunday of each month is ‘Kids Ski Free Day’ at each of Hakuba Valley’s resorts, excluding Cortina. On these days lift tickets for elementary school age children are free of charge!

＊Goryu・Escal Plaza is also holding its regularly scheduled Weekend Kids・Family Event on 2/20 (Sat.) & 2/21 (Sun.)
＊Hakuba47 will hold a 47 Treasure Hunt Tournament on the same day.
＊Lift tickets for preschool age children are free daily throughout the season in the HAKUBA VALLEY.

※The Kids Events scheduled to be held at Hakunori on 2/20 (Sat.) and 3/20 (Sat.) have unfortunately been called off due in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Red Bull Snow Charge 2021

The Red Bull Snow Charge event is scheduled to take place at Tsugaike on 2/21 (Sun.) In this unique and exciting downhill event that tests courage and luck, participants line up in the designated area without their skis or boards and await the starting signal. Once they’ve received the go ahead they must run to the row of randomly arranged boards/skis placed several tens of meters away, find their own, strap in and race down the slope trying to reach the goal quicker than everyone else.

Redbull Snow Charge 2021（Tsugaike Stage)
[Date]　2/21/2021 (Sun.)
[Location]　Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort
[Schedule]　5:30 ~ 6:00 Gondola boarding time、7:15 snowboard competition start（men & women), 7:30 ski competition start (men & women), 7:45 awards ceremony

Iwatake National Student Ski Competition Confirmed!

On 2/15 (Tue.) the executive committee of the Iwatake National Student Ski Competition announced their decision to hold the tournament this year. In a departure from tradition, this year’s edition will see athletes participating in “open” (individual) competition instead of competing on behalf of their universities. In addition, the Mayor’s Cup ski competition (male and female) as well as the men’s Alpine Qualifier have been canceled.

The 48th Annual Iwatake National Student Ski Competition
[Dates]　Demonstration Skiing: 2/22 (Mon.) ～ 2/26 (Fri.), Alpine Skiing: 3/7 (Sun.) ～ 3/13/2021 (Sat.)
[Venue]　Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field

Snow Depth Ranking (2/15)

These are the top-15 ski resorts nationwide, ranked according to their snow depth as measured on 2/15 (Mon.). Measurements are down nationwide due to the warm weekend weather that saw temperatures climb to levels consistent with those of late March / early April.

No. 1（→）Lotte Arai（Niigata）◎489cm
No. 2（→）Yudonosan（Yamagata）◎460cm
No. 3（↑）Hakusan Seymour（Ishikawa）◎415cm

No. 4（↓）Geto Kogen（Iwate）◎410cm
No. 5（↑）Niseko Grand Hirafu（Hokkaido）◎405cm
No. 6（↓）Cupid Valley（Niigata）◎380cm
No. 6（↑）Hakusan Ichirino（Ishikawa）◎380cm
No. 8（→）Charmant Hiuchi（Niigata）◎350cm
No. 9（↑）Ski Jam Katsuyama（Fukui）◎350cm
No. 10（↑）GALA Yuzawa（Niigata）◎350cm

No. 11 Kagura ○330cm, No. 12 Yuzawa Kogen ○320cm, No. 13 Akakura Onsen ◎320cm, No. 14 Akakura Kanko Resort ◎310cm, No. 15 Shiratori Kogen ◎300cm, No. 15 Matsunoyama Onsen ◎300cm, No. 15 Kiroro △300cm

* Seki Onsen (Niigata, 460cm), Hakkoda (Aomori, 340cm) & Tenjindaira (Gunma, 300cm) are closed today.
* This list excludes small, local resorts with only one or no lifts.

Nagano Prefecture COVID-19 Infection Alert Lowered to Level 2

On 2/12 (Fri.) the COVID-19 Infection Alert Level for Nagano Prefecture was lowered to Level 2 (precautions to prevent infection remain necessary). With things starting to settle down, it has been announced that the previously introduced “Nagano Prefecture Family Accommodation Discount” is being offered once again.

Nagano Prefecture Family Accommodation Discount Round 2
[Validity]　Accommodation between 2/19 (Fri.) ～ 3/31/2021 (Wed.)
[Eligibility]　Registered residents of Nagano Prefecture and family members residing together *Solo accommmodation OK
[Discount]　Accommodation Rate (Tax Included) JPY 5,000 ～ 9,999 → JPY 3,000 OFF / JPY 10,000or more → JPY 5,000 OFF
[Participating Accomodations]　To be announced on 2/15 (Mon.)

＊This discount may be suspended in accordance with the latest infection rates and/or the resumption of the GoTo Travel campaign.