3 Days at Kijimadaira Ski Resort (Jan 10–12, 2026)

We spent three days (Jan 10–12, 2026) at Kijimadaira Ski Resort, now officially called Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama in Northern Nagano, Japan. This trip was special because the weather changed dramatically day by day—and the final morning delivered an unreal +30cm overnight powder.

Snowfall & Weather Summary (110 → 110 → 140cm)

Jan 10 (Fri): Sunny, snow depth 110cm
Jan 11 (Sat): Overnight rain → snow, snow depth 110cm
Jan 12 (Sun): Sunny, snow depth 140cm (+30cm overnight!)

If you’re planning a ski trip to Nagano, this report should help you understand what the slopes feel like on a sunny day, a stormy day, and a surprise powder day—plus where to eat nearby.

Day 1 (Jan 10) – First Tracks on Groomers + Kosha-san Terrace + Shopping Run

Early morning: perfect groomed runs

Day 1 started with a clear blue sky. The resort had been well-groomed, and the snow surface felt fast and smooth. With 110cm base, the morning atmosphere was amazing—cold, quiet, and beautiful.

Kijimadaira Ski Resort early morning slopes (Jan 10, 2026) — Day 1: early morning at Kijimadaira (sunny and quiet).

Ski school drop-off (family-friendly point)

After about two hours, we dropped our child off at the local ski school. The huge icicles on the building made it feel like “real winter Nagano.”

Kijimadaira Ski School building with icicles — Kijimadaira ski school building (those icicles were huge).

Food shopping run: Nozawa Onsen & Kijimadaira Village

While ski school was running, we did a quick drive for food supplies:

Nozawa Onsen: picked up BBQ meat at a local shop
Kijimadaira Village Tourism & Exchange Center: bought popular local rice (“Mayor’s Seal of Approval”)
Noted a famous soba spot inside the same facility (we planned to visit later)

Afternoon skiing: wide slopes and carving-friendly corduroy

After coming back, the afternoon slopes were still nicely groomed. The wide runs made carving feel easy and fun.

Groomed slope at Kijimadaira (Day 1 afternoon) — Day 1 afternoon: smooth groomed slopes (great for carving).

View from a lift over the slopes at Kijimadaira — Wide open slopes under a blue sky.

Tracks on the slope after fresh snow and riding — You can see tracks and playful lines after people enjoyed the snow.

Kosha-san Terrace: 360° panorama on a clear day

In the afternoon, we went up to Kosha-san Terrace for a panoramic view. On a clear day, this viewpoint is absolutely worth it.

Northern view from Kosha-san Terrace — Kosha-san Terrace: northern view (perfect on a sunny day).

Panorama from Kosha-san summit area — Winter panorama from the summit area.

We left the slopes around 15:00 and ended Day 1 with BBQ at our accommodation.

Day 2 (Jan 11) – Snowy Day Riding + Lesson + Crowd-Escape Lunch

Weather shift: snow + lower visibility

Day 2 was completely different: it snowed all morning. It seems rain mixed in overnight, so the snow felt firmer than Day 1. Snow depth stayed at 110cm.

Snow falling at Kijimadaira Ski Resort (Day 2) — Day 2: a snowy morning (lower visibility).

Riding in snowfall at Kijimadaira (Day 2) — Riding in snowfall: a quiet, moody atmosphere.

Snowboard lesson (10:00 start)

We took a snowboard lesson starting around 10:00. Stormy days can be perfect for lessons—less pressure to “chase conditions,” more time to improve technique.

Base area was packed → lunch at Bistro Harajuku

When we came back to the base, the main restaurant was extremely crowded (weekend). So we switched to Bistro Harajuku, a classic local-style diner across from the slopes.

Crowded base restaurant area (Day 2) — Weekend crowd at the base area: having a backup lunch spot helps a lot.

Finished around 15:00 → dinner in Iiyama

We ended the ski day around 15:00 and headed to Iiyama Station area for dinner at Waremokou. A perfect post-ski reward if you love Japanese food and local sake.

Day 3 (Jan 12) – +30cm Overnight Powder Morning (140cm) + Early Exit

Morning surprise: 30cm fresh snow and almost private slopes

Day 3 was the jackpot. We woke up to sunshine and 30cm of fresh snow overnight. Snow depth jumped from 110cm to 140cm. The early morning felt almost private—few people, fresh tracks, and soft powder.

Day 3 morning at Kijimadaira with fresh snowfall — Day 3: clear skies after a big overnight snowfall (+30cm).

Morning sun over the slopes (Day 3) — Morning sun over the slopes—this was a dream start.

Fresh snow + groomed slope (Day 3) — Fresh snow + groomers = the perfect morning.

Powder snow at Kijimadaira (Day 3) — Soft powder turns on the final morning.

We had to leave early (around 10:00)

As much as we wanted to stay longer, we wrapped up around 10:00 due to schedule + traffic strategy (holiday weekend). After a hot spring stop, we headed back.

Car covered in snow at Kijimadaira — Overnight snowfall on our car—proof of the +30cm morning.

Food Stops on the Way Back (Iiyama)

Souvenir stop: Buna no Eki (Iiyama)

We stopped at Iiyama Buna no Eki to buy souvenirs and take a break.

Final meal: Sobakouan Saesa (Iiyama)

We finished the trip with soba at Sobakouan Saesa. After three days on snow, it was the perfect ending.

Snowfall Table

Date	Weather	Snow depth	Change
Jan 10 (Fri)	Sunny	110cm	–
Jan 11 (Sat)	Rain → Snow	110cm	±0
Jan 12 (Sun)	Sunny	140cm	+30cm

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Last updated: 2026-01-19

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