Due to the lack of snowfall this winter, some ski resorts in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, are experiencing a lack of snow, and the city that manages the ski resorts is predicting that if the snow decreases even further due to the unseasonably warm weather that started on the 13th, the ski resorts will be closed as early as this weekend. There is a possibility that the business may be suspended.
Kanayayama Ski Resort in Joetsu City is known as the ``birthplace of skiing,'' where soldiers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire first introduced skiing to Japan in 1901.
The ski resort has been suffering from a lack of snow this winter, and only opened on January 28th, about two weeks later than usual this season.
However, the amount of snowfall has continued to be low since then, and the current snow depth is about 50 centimeters, which is about 20 centimeters less than the estimated opening level.
Furthermore, on the 13th, the maximum temperature in Joetsu City was 14.3 degrees, which was as warm as early April, and in some places the snow had melted and the soil was visible.
This season, the ski resort is scheduled to be open until March 10th, but the city that manages it says it could close as early as this weekend if the warmer weather causes even less snow.
Hayashi Isogai of the Kanayayama Management Office said, ``I hope the temperature doesn't rise because the snow will melt more easily.We can't go against the weather, but we want to do our best to stay open as long as possible.'' Ta.