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Kagura ski resort

Part of Yuzawa · 3 ski areas

NaebaGALA Yuzawa
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Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Kagura

Asia

Kagura

Off-season

Closed for the season · reopens Nov 22

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:04 PM UTC · informational only

Off-season

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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14-Day Forecast

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Updated: Aug 21, 4:04 PM•Weather at base: 620m

Overview

Kagura is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Closed for the season · reopens Nov 22). Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 16:04 UTC.

Resort Guide

Kagura Ski Resort is located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, and is renowned for its expansive ski area that connects Kagura, Mitsumata, and Tashiro zones. The resort offers a long ski season, abundant natural snowfall, and a variety of terrain suitable for all levels, including extensive off-piste and backcountry options. Key amenities include modern lift systems, rental services, ski schools, and on-mountain dining, while the relaxed atmosphere and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains make it a popular choice for both powder enthusiasts and families.

Resort Info

Summit1845m
Base620m
Vertical1225m
Lifts18
Runs32
Skiable Area1344.3 acres
Average snowfall520 inches / 1,320 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →

Season dates

Projected openingNovember 22, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Mt. Naeba Pass

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Wada Goya – This cozy, traditional izakaya near Kagura is renowned for its warm atmosphere, local sake selection, and hearty Japanese comfort food, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

1845mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 4:04 PM

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Now21
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

Japanese Alps region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 21, 04:04 PM UTC

Base

620m

Temp

21°C

Wind

2.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

1233m

Temp

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Wind

2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

1845m

Temp

13.1°C

Wind

2.1km/h

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14-Day Forecast

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El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Kagura El Niño rank & forecast

Kagura ranks #118 of 152 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −10% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter: Strong El Niño winters ran clearly below this resort’s own baseline (≤ −8%). Still skiable — schedule late season; one storm cycle can beat the climatology.

#118 of 152Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

Strong-event signal: −10% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Kagura averaged -10% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -27%, '15-16 -44%, '23-24 +42%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.

'97-98 −27%'15-16 −44%'23-24 +42%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Kagura Webcam

All Webcams

Prince Snow Resorts

1 webcam • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Kagura (japan), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 21, 4:04 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Sat, Aug 22
18 / 126mm
Sun, Aug 23
19 / 129.5mm
Mon, Aug 24
20 / 134mm
Tue, Aug 25
20 / 121.5mm
Wed, Aug 26
21 / 142.7mm
Thu, Aug 27
15 / 116.3mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)2.72.60.70.66.72.20.921.10.21.20.10.61.60.53.52.60.2
Temp (°C)151713161713171914181914181915151513
Wind (km/h)433223312773532463
Gusts (km/h)202513162013161712222217172519252521

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (1845m)

ECMWF
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10-Day Forecast

Sat

22

🌧️

17.9°

12.2°

5 km/h

Sun

23

🌦️

18.7°

12.2°

7 km/h

Mon

24

🌧️

20.3°

12.8°

4 km/h

Tue

25

🌧️

20.4°

12.3°

8 km/h

Wed

26

🌧️

20.5°

14.2°

8 km/h

Thu

27

🌧️

15.3°

10.6°

7 km/h

Fri

28

🌧️

17.1°

10.1°

3 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

14.8°

11.3°

8 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

12.9°

11°

14 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

20.1°

13.1°

3 km/h

Summit elevation (1845m) • ECMWF model

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:04 PM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 493cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 406cm full-season avg

493cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~438.8 cm. That's 11% below the 5-year average (493 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 8% above the 30-year average (406 cm).

Kagura Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 470cm with an average of 118 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November31.8cm11 days3cm12cm9.5cm
December102.8cm24 days27cm60cm14.4cm
January130.2cm28 days89cm119cm17.2cm
February97.3cm23 days126cm144cm14.2cm
March81.1cm22 days129cm148cm15.4cm
April23.7cm9 days79cm122cm8.5cm
May1.2cm1 days7cm38cm1.9cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Nov 22, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Kagura, ERA5 season snowfall median was 402 cm (158 in), about 2% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

402 cm

10 El Niño winters · 2% above median

All-season median

394 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10402 cm351 cm – 604 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12389 cm352 cm – 661 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8397 cm311 cm – 648 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

January

Peak Powder

February

Peak Powder

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Kagura

Where is Kagura?
Kagura is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is Kagura?
Kagura runs from a base elevation of 620 m (2,034 ft) to a summit of 1,845 m (6,053 ft), giving a vertical drop of 1,225 m (4,019 ft).
How big is Kagura?
Kagura has 1,344 acres (544 hectares) of skiable terrain, 32 marked runs and 18 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Kagura?
Kagura is on the Mt. Naeba Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
How much snow does Kagura get in a typical season?
Kagura averages 520 inches / 1,320 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Kagura in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #118 of 152 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal −10% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Kagura averaged -10% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -27%, '15-16 -44%, '23-24 +42%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.