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Lotte Arai ski resort
Ikon PassView resorts
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Lotte Arai

Asia

Lotte Arai

Off-season

Closed for the season · reopens Dec 1

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC · informational only

Off-season

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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14-Day Forecast

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Updated: Aug 21, 4:05 PM•Weather at base: 329m

Overview

Lotte Arai is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Closed for the season · reopens Dec 1). Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 16:05 UTC.

Resort Guide

Lotte Arai Resort is located in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, offering expansive ski terrain with abundant snowfall and a variety of runs suitable for all levels. The resort features modern accommodations, natural hot springs, and a range of amenities including restaurants, a spa, and family-friendly activities. Signature experiences include off-piste skiing, snow adventures, and panoramic mountain views, creating a relaxed yet adventurous atmosphere. Lotte Arai stands out for its blend of luxury facilities and access to deep powder snow in a scenic alpine setting.

Resort Info

Summit1280m
Base329m
Vertical951m
Lifts5
Runs14
Skiable Area523 acres
Average snowfall590 inches / 1500 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Projected openingDecember 1, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Ikon Pass

Ikon Pass

View resorts →

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

Top Après Ski

The Lounge – Located within the Lotte Arai Resort, The Lounge is renowned for its sophisticated après-ski ambiance, offering craft cocktails, premium spirits, and panoramic mountain views, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind in style after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

1280mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 4:05 PM

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Now21
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

Japanese Alps region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • GHCNBase 3cm

The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.

Base

329m

Temp

21.4°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

805m

Temp

--°C

Wind

6km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

1280m

Temp

15.2°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Lotte Arai El Niño rank & forecast

Lotte Arai ranks #130 of 152 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −14% 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.

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

Strong-event signal: −14% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Lotte Arai averaged -14% 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 -34%, '15-16 -47%, '23-24 +40%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.

'97-98 −34%'15-16 −47%'23-24 +40%

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

Lotte Arai Webcams

All Webcams

Lotte Arai Resort

Lotte Arai Resort

Lotte Arai Resort

3 webcams • 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 Lotte Arai (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, 4:05 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Sat, Aug 22
21 / 157.4mm
Sun, Aug 23
22 / 156.3mm
Mon, Aug 24
24 / 160.6mm
Tue, Aug 25
23 / 162.4mm
Wed, Aug 26
24 / 163.5mm
Thu, Aug 27
18 / 1419.5mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)2.81.92.70.260.10.20.400.21.90.30.61.81.110.35.43.8
Temp (°C)172016201916202317212117212317161716
Wind (km/h)464324464474464323
Gusts (km/h)202713161814172313152720212318302420

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (1280m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Sat

22

🌧️

20.6°

15.2°

8 km/h

Sun

23

🌦️

22.3°

15.4°

5 km/h

Mon

24

🌧️

23.7°

15.7°

7 km/h

Tue

25

🌧️

23.2°

16.3°

9 km/h

Wed

26

⛈️

23.7°

16°

8 km/h

Thu

27

🌧️

17.7°

14°

7 km/h

Fri

28

🌧️

19.3°

13.2°

7 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

18°

13.7°

5 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

17.2°

14.6°

10 km/h

Mon

31

⛈️

19.8°

15°

8 km/h

Summit elevation (1280m) • ECMWF model

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:05 PM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 774cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 521cm full-season avg

774cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~696.6 cm. That's 10% below the 5-year average (774 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 34% above the 30-year average (521 cm).

Lotte Arai Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 522cm with an average of 96 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
November21.1cm6 days1cm9cm9.8cm
December125.4cm21 days25cm63cm18.6cm
January175.5cm27 days96cm133cm20cm
February117.5cm22 days141cm162cm16.8cm
March69.8cm17 days128cm154cm12.9cm
April11.4cm5 days51cm100cm4.9cm
May0cm0 days2cm15cm0.1cm

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 Dec 1, 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 Lotte Arai, ERA5 season snowfall median was 439 cm (173 in), about 3% below 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

439 cm

10 El Niño winters · 3% below median

All-season median

453 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10439 cm355 cm – 622 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12494 cm396 cm – 756 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8444 cm337 cm – 727 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 Lotte Arai

Where is Lotte Arai?
Lotte Arai is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is Lotte Arai?
Lotte Arai runs from a base elevation of 329 m (1,079 ft) to a summit of 1,280 m (4,199 ft), giving a vertical drop of 951 m (3,120 ft).
How big is Lotte Arai?
Lotte Arai has 523 acres (212 hectares) of skiable terrain, 14 marked runs and 5 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Lotte Arai?
Lotte Arai is on the Ikon 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 Lotte Arai get in a typical season?
Lotte Arai averages 590 inches / 1500 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Lotte Arai in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #130 of 152 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal −14% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Lotte Arai averaged -14% 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 -34%, '15-16 -47%, '23-24 +40%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.