Hakuba
Tsugaike Kogen Adds 18 Snow Guns and New T3 Lift for 2026-27
Tsugaike Gondola Lift, the operator of Tsugaike Mountain Resort (Tsugaike Kogen ski area) in Otari Village, Nagano, has announced its equipment upgrades for the coming season. According to a press release issued on October 16 by its parent company, Japan Ski Resort Development, the resort is adding 18 new snow guns and is building a new six-seat lift called T3.
Snow guns up by 18, to 92 in total
The 18 new guns include seven units of the latest Demaclenko model, the Titan 5.0. Together with the existing 74, the resort will have 92 snow guns, which significantly increases its snowmaking capacity across the mountain.
The guns will be installed in two places. One is the course that links the Hannoki slope, one of the main runs, to the new T3 lift. The other is the connecting route around the Yuki no Hiroba (Snow Plaza) area. The aim appears to be to improve snow cover early in the season and to make it easier to move around the resort.
T3: first lift replacement in 35 years
T3 is a six-seat chairlift that will replace the existing Hannoki No. 3 quad lift. It is made by LEITNER-POMA of France and uses a direct drive system, which is quiet and offers a comfortable ride. The ride time falls from 7 minutes 6 seconds to 5 minutes 12 seconds, about two minutes shorter. T3 is scheduled to start operating in late December 2026.
- Snow guns: 18 new units (including 7 Titan 5.0)
- Total snow guns: 92, including the existing 74
- New lift: T3 (six-seat chairlift)
- Ride time: from 7:06 to 5:12
What it means for powder fans
More snow guns do not replace natural snowfall when it comes to powder. A more stable base, however, can help with grooming after a snowfall and with keeping more terrain skiable. The Hannoki slope, which T3 serves, is one of Tsugaike's main runs.
As we noted in a recent article, this winter is forecast to lean warm with below-average snowfall. Even so, local heavy snow during cold snaps is still worth watching for. On snowy mornings, you can check conditions on the Tsugaike live cam.
Opening information for each resort, including Tsugaike's opening date, is updated every morning from official announcements on our opening info page.
Sources
Prepared with AI assistance from public sources. Always check each resort's official website for the latest information.