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Zao Now: Wednesday 1st April 2015

  • Apr 1, 2015
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 703cm

Posted on Wednesday 1st April 2015 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Unfortunately April is starting with some rain in Zao and pretty cloudy/foggy conditions as well - limited visibility out there. I won't mention the chance of some snow before tomorrow higher up...


Forecast sun tomorrow but back to rain around the weekend as conditions go back to warming.


Now that we are into April, I will continue to post updates here to this Zao Now page - maybe a few times a week to keep you up with the latest.


Official snow depths:


Utopia: 215cm

Chuo: 195cm

Paradise: 200cm

Uwanodai: 135cm


Planned lift operating dates and closing dates


Subject to change. This is what the plans are for the lifts that remain operating at Zao Onsen:


Until Sunday 5th April

Onsen Number 1 Pair

Onsen Number 2 Quad

Sunrise Pair AB

Nakamori Number 1 Triple

Mikaeri Pair


Until Sunday 12th April

Yokokura Number 1 Pair AB


Until Sunday 19th April

Kurohime Number 1 Quad


Until Wednesday 6th May

Chuo Number 1 Pair AB

Chuo Number 2 Pair AB

Katakai Triple (every day until 5th April, then holidays and Golden Week)

Paradise Pair AB (every day until 5th April, then holidays and Golden Week)

Utopia Number 2 Pair


Operating through the year (for general tourism outside of snow season)

Sky Cable

Chuo Ropeway

Zao Ropeway


Last day of the snow season currently planned for Wednesday 6th May.



Zao Now 2014-2015 season

Data as of Wednesday 1st April 2015 Total snowfall at base 703cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 63 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 80cm (on 3rd December) November 2014 snowfall 20cm observed on 2 days December 2014 snowfall 281cm observed on 21 days January 2015 snowfall 118cm observed on 15 days February 2015 snowfall 181cm observed on 15 days March 2015 snowfall 103cm observed on 10 days




All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Zao Onsen. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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