Earthquake Off the West Coast of Japan Shocks Hakuba Ski Areas

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January 1 earthquakes in Japan. Image: Japan Meteorological Agency.

Reported January 1, 2024

At 4:10PM local time January 1, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Noto in the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan.

Tsunami warnings are in effect for Niigata with the swell expected to be over 10ft.

Tsunami swell expectations. Image: NHK World Japan.

This coastal region directly includes the route between Hakuba and Lotte Arai. Two ski resorts frequented by Americans on the Epic and IKON pass respectively.

About 60 miles from the epicenter, tremors were felt in Hakuba. This video shows power lines swinging and people evacuating buildings at the base of Hakuba’s Tsugaike Mountain Resort.

7.6 magnitude earthquake epicenter in relation to Hakuba. Image: Japan Quake Map.

There may be effects to the snowpack causing avalanche danger to anyone in the backcountry. This could create unstable conditions for the foreseeable future. To stay up to date, Nadare Japan releases avalanche forecasts every three days.

Continued aftershocks. Image: Japan Meteorological Survey.

 

Photo taken in the Niigata region a few days prior on the way from Hakuba to Lotte Arai. Image: Brett Ploss.
Posted by Brett Ploss |

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