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This weekend, the slopes are already in the peak of the season with an incredible amount of snow! STEEP correspondent reports on the scene in Naeba, Kagura, and Maiko

STEEP Editorial Department
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Record-breaking heavy snowfall across the country!
It keeps falling and accumulating, and in no time at all, Kagura is over 2 meters deep!
The slopes are now covered in deep powder.

Snow that has been falling mainly along the Sea of ​​Japan coast since the 14th continues unabated, bringing heavy snowfall to northern Japan.
Record-breaking heavy snowfalls have been recorded in various locations, and heavy snow warnings have been issued for the Hokuriku region and northern Japan through tomorrow, Sunday the 20th.
Following the news of this snow, a STEEP correspondent visited the Yuzawa area and will report on the situation there with photos.

 

The snow walls near Route 17 and Yuzawa Town are already this high! (They piled up this high in an instant.)

Ski resorts in the Yuzawa area from Thursday the 17th to Saturday the 19th

December 17th (Thursday) evening at Naeba Ski Resort
　▲ It's snowing hard!
▲Whister Cafe, located next to the second gondola station, needs to prepare for its opening on Saturday the 19th, but it's buried under this amount of snow..
The morning of Friday, December 18th, around 8:30 am at Kagura-Mitsumata Ski Resort. The next morning... it was sunny! Before we knew it, 220 cm of snow had accumulated!　
Here's a photo summary of the conditions at Yuzawa Kagura Ski Resort on the 18th.
The morning temperature was -5 degrees Celsius, and
it dropped to -1 degree Celsius during the day. The weather was sunny, and the heavy snowfall from the previous night had subsided, making for perfect skiing weather. There was too much snow on the slopes, so only two lifts and one gondola at Mitsumata and Kagura were operating. The upper slopes of Kagura were closed because the high-speed quad lift was stopped.
The difference between groomed and ungroomed snow was about 70 cm. The snow quality was a little heavy but felt good. The skis were gliding well.
▲ The Mitsumata slopes are already in their prime
▲ The upper part of Kagura slope was closed

▲ The snowfall in Kagura reached a whopping 220 cm! This concentrated snowfall is the heaviest in recorded history

 

This is what Kagura's main slope looks like. There are few people. You can also see the mini park at Jibrane
▲ Wadagoya, a popular accommodation and lunch spot where you can stay halfway up the mountain and have the powder snow all to yourself first thing in the morning, is also open!
▲ This is what the backcountry ridge of Kagura looks like from the slopes

In the afternoon, the temperature rose and the snow flew up, feeling a bit heavy but pleasant

 

▲ The bridge that collapsed last year has been restored. The descent course will likely be open this season!

 

▲ Kagura Parking Lot: A car that was apparently left abandoned ended up like this... You can really get a sense of how much snow fell

 

▲ A powder station in the parking lot. With so much snow piling up, snow removal just can't keep up

　Kagura Ski Resort live camera is here

 

From Kagura to Mitsumata Ski Resort... Around 8:30 am, the snow depth was 140 cm
▲ The snow depth at Mitsumata is 140cm. This is the difference between the ungroomed snow and the area behind the skiers
December 19th (Saturday) Back to Naeba Ski Resort. Heavy snow again from the morning. Around 10:00 am　　
Today (12/19) Saturday, there was heavy snow again from the morning. The conditions were tough with poor visibility at the base of Naeba
Maiko Resort opened today, Saturday, December 19th! The snow on the summit was 250cm! Around 11:50am

 As of 7:30 Weather: Snow Temperature: -4℃ Wind speed: 6m/s

 

▲ There was plenty of snow on the Maiko
▲ The advanced course at Okuzoechi Bowl. It's almost hard to find someone skiing there. You can ski as much as you want on the powder snow..
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