
Hakuba Goryu spans 750 to 1676 metres elevation across 17 marked runs and 70 hectares of terrain, delivering 926 metres of vertical drop. The resort receives 11 metres of annual snowfall and connects at its summit with Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park via the Alps Daira zone. Epic Pass holders receive five consecutive days of access with no blackout dates across all Hakuba Valley resorts.
The terrain breakdown favours progression skiers with 35 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 25 per cent advanced. Three distinct zones define the mountain: the gentle Toomi area at the base, the family-oriented Iimori section with mogul and racing courses, and the upper Alps Daira zone accessed by the eight-passenger gondola. The longest run stretches 5 kilometres from summit to base.
Goryu operates the only night skiing in Hakuba Valley on the illuminated Toomi slopes from 1800 to 2130 nightly. The resort attracts a mix of Japanese families and international visitors, with English-speaking instructors and international services throughout the base facilities. Weekends see queues at the gondola, whilst weekdays remain relatively quiet.
The resort forms part of the ten-area Hakuba Valley network, all covered by the Hakuba Valley Pass or individual Goryu-47 combined tickets. The 2025-26 season runs from 5 December to 29 March. Goryu suits beginners finding their feet, intermediates seeking groomed cruisers, and families wanting varied terrain without the crowds of Happo One.
Hakuba Goryu climbs from a 750-metre base to 1,676 metres, giving a 926-metre vertical across 17 runs and roughly 120 hectares in the Hakuba Valley, Nagano. Sanity grades the terrain 35% beginner, 40% intermediate, 20% advanced and 5% expert, with about 11 metres of snow each year. It is a broad, forgiving mountain where most of the skiing is on open, wide pistes that suit cruising at a steady speed. The summit links across to Hakuba 47, so long, continuous days are easy to plan from either base.
Three zones shape the day. Toomi sits at the base with gentle slopes for learning, and it is the only part of the mountain open under lights, from 18:00 to 21:30. Iimori carries the family-friendly mid-mountain runs, and Alps Daira at the top delivers the longer, steeper skiing along with broad views toward the Northern Alps. The area suits mixed groups, families, and intermediates who like a long run back to the village. Night skiing makes Goryu a good option for evenings after a day elsewhere in the valley. Experts will find only a small share of steep terrain here.
The 2025-26 season at Hakuba Goryu opens 5 December 2025 and closes 29 March 2026, with the resort typically amongst the first in Hakuba Valley to spin lifts. Partial terrain often opens in late November when early snowfall permits, with full mountain access by mid-December. The southern Hakuba Valley location and 1676-metre summit capture consistent northwesterly storms.
Annual snowfall averages 11 metres, matching the broader Hakuba Valley accumulation driven by moisture from the Sea of Japan. The second week of January historically delivers the heaviest snowfall with 73 centimetres and 5.5 snowy days on average. Base depths at 750 metres can thin during warm spells, though the gondola-accessed upper mountain retains quality snow through March.
January and February offer peak powder conditions with cold temperatures and frequent storms, whilst December provides less crowded skiing as the snowpack builds. March brings spring conditions with soft snow in the afternoons and firmer mornings, though north-facing Hakuba 47 holds quality better. The resort extends its season longer than many Hakuba areas due to snowmaking on lower runs.
Night skiing operates nightly from opening through closing on the Toomi zone trails. The resort hosts racing events on the Iimori courses and maintains a terrain park, though Hakuba 47's park facilities draw more freestyle traffic. Early morning gondola service starts at 0700 on weekends and holidays during peak season.
Hakuba Goryu sits at the southern end of Hakuba Valley in Nagano Prefecture, with its base village at 750 metres in Kamishiro district. The resort lies within the Chūbu region beneath the Northern Japan Alps, where peaks exceed 2800 metres. The Hakuba Valley stretches 30 kilometres along the western slope of the Hakuba Range, connecting ten separate ski areas.
Hakuba Station sits 5 kilometres north and serves as the valley's main rail hub, whilst the Goryu base area centres on Escal Plaza with rental shops and restaurants. The village of Hakuba has 9000 residents and hosted alpine and ski jumping events during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Nagano City lies 40 kilometres east, connected by Route 148 which runs the length of the valley.
From Nagano, Route 19 and the Nagano Expressway provide access west to Route 148, with the drive taking 60 minutes in clear conditions. Tokyo sits 275 kilometres southeast, requiring four hours by car. The Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano Station from Tokyo in 90 minutes, followed by a 70-minute express bus to Hakuba.
Tokyo Haneda Airport lies 280 kilometres distant as the nearest international gateway, with direct buses running five to six hours. Tokyo Narita sits 330 kilometres away with similar transfer times via Shinkansen and bus connections. Matsumoto Airport operates 77 kilometres from Nagano but handles limited domestic flights. Free shuttle buses connect Goryu with other Hakuba Valley resorts and the Happo One transport hub.
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Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

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Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
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