On January 24-25, 2026, we visited Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama (Kijimadaira Ski Resort) for an unforgettable snowboarding experience!
From the evening of January 24 to midday on January 25, the region witnessed record snowfall: 151cm at Nozawa Onsen and 112cm at Iiyama. At Kijimadaira Ski Resort, we woke up to a staggering 70-80cm of fresh powder overnight—the best conditions of the season! ⛷️
Reference: NBS Nagano Broadcasting News
📅 Trip Schedule
🗓️ January 24 (Saturday) – Day 1
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weather | Cloudy |
| Temperature | -3°C (27°F) |
| Snow Quality | Groomed, excellent conditions |
| Snow Depth | 170cm (5.6 feet) |
| Crowds | Not crowded! |
We enjoyed a full day of skiing from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Thanks to moderate snowfall on January 21-22, the groomed slopes were in excellent condition with smooth, consistent snow coverage.
🎿 Day 1 Highlights
Morning Session:
While our child attended ski school, my wife and I enjoyed the slopes together. Feeling a bit cold around 10:30 AM, we took a break at Family Rest Ginrei.
Ginrei is a hidden gem—a quiet, uncrowded spot perfect for warming up!
Afternoon Session:
After picking up our child from ski school at noon and having lunch, we returned to the slopes. However, heavy fog rolled in, reducing visibility to near zero.
We took another break for safety and resumed once the fog cleared. While there were no major events, we had a fulfilling day on well-maintained slopes.
🗓️ January 25 (Sunday) – Day 2 【Powder Paradise!】
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weather | Heavy snow ❄️❄️❄️ |
| Temperature | -4°C (25°F) |
| Snow Quality | Fluffy powder heaven |
| Snow Depth | 200cm (6.6 feet) – Official ※ Likely even deeper in reality! |
| Crowds | Not crowded! |
Snow began falling around 7:00 PM on January 24 and continued overnight, dumping an estimated 70-80cm of powder by morning!
When we woke up and looked at the slopes, the freshly groomed runs had been completely covered again with ungroomed powder. The sensation of gliding through the snow felt like surfing—it was absolutely incredible!
🎿 Day 2 Highlights: First Powder Experience for Kids
Since our child had limited powder experience—and was on skis (not a snowboard)—we started with practice runs on the Perfect Course.
After a few runs, they adapted beautifully and began to enjoy the floating sensation of powder skiing. From there, we explored various courses together as a family!
💡 Tips for Powder Beginners
- Intermediate skills recommended: Beginners may get stuck in deep powder and struggle to move.
- Take frequent breaks: Cold temperatures and continuous snowfall can be exhausting.
- Kijimadaira is a hidden gem: Easily accessible from Tokyo, yet offering authentic powder experiences.
📸 Heavy Snowfall Gallery
It was too cold to take many photos, but we captured enough to document this record-breaking snowfall. The sight of cars completely buried in the parking lot was especially striking.
Digging out our car after skiing took over 30 minutes—it was quite the workout!
✨ Summary: The Best Two Days of the Season
This season hasn’t seen much snowfall, so this record-breaking storm was incredibly lucky.
Day 1: Groomed slopes perfect for technique practice.
Day 2: 70-80cm of pristine powder for the ultimate surfing-on-snow experience.
Kijimadaira Ski Resort is easily accessible from Tokyo, yet offers authentic powder experiences that rival more remote resorts.
From ski school sessions with our child, to relaxing at the hidden gem Family Rest Ginrei, and most importantly, this epic powder adventure—it was an unforgettable experience! ⛷️
🔗 Related Articles
For more information about Kijimadaira Ski Resort and the surrounding area, check out these articles:
- Where to Eat at Snow Resort Romance no Kamisama: Kijimadaira Lunch Guide [2025-26]
- Family Rest Ginrei Review: Hidden Lunch Gem at Kijimadaira [Jan 2026]
- Romance no Kamisama Restaurant Review: Cashless Slope-Side Dining
- Yamanoie Panis Complete Guide: Slope-Side Authentic Beef Stew
- 3 Days at Kijimadaira Ski Resort (Jan 10-12, 2026): Powder Morning & Family Fun
- Complete Guide to Accessing Ski Resorts from Iiyama Station 2025-2026
- Kijimadaira Ski Resort Guide: Family-Friendly Nagano Skiing
Tags: kijimadaira-ski-resort | Snow Report | trip-report | powder-snow