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Zao Now: Friday 25th March 2016

  • Mar 25, 2016
  • 3 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 457cm

Posted on Friday 25th March 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Good morning from Zao and there's a few cm of snow to report this morning which is very good to see.


There's currently still a lot of cloud around but blue sky as well and the sun making appearances from time to time.


We're expecting things to start warming up gradually over the coming run of days, but it should keep quite cold over the weekend and sun is expected.


I have added (below) all of the planned closing dates for the lifts at the resort... they are all of course subject to change due to snow conditions.


Official snow depths:


Utopia: 70cm

Chuo: 100cm

Paradise: 90cm

Uwanodai: 40cm


Planned closing dates of lifts at Zao Onsen (subject to change due to snow conditions)


Open until Sunday 27th March:

Onsen Number 3 Parallel AB lift

Onsen Number 4 quad lift

Ryuzan pair lift

Nakamori Number 2 pair lift

Diamond Number 1 pair lift


Open until Thursday 31st March:

Nakamori Number 1 triple lift

Diamond Number 1 lift

Omori quad lift

Yokokura Number 2 pair lift

Astraea Number 1 pair lift

Astraea Number 2 pair lift

Astraea Number 3 pair lift


Open until Sunday 3rd April:

Onsen Number 1 pair lift

Onsen Number 2 quad lift

Shobunuma Number 2 pair lift


Open until Sunday 10th April:

Mikaeri pair lift

Yokokura Number 1 pair AB lift


Open until Sunday 17th April:

Kurohime Number 1 quad lift


Open until Thursday 5th May:

Chuo Number 1 pair lift AB

Chuo Number 2 pair lift AB (daily until 3rd April and then Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Katakai triple lift (daily until 3rd April and then Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Paradise pair AB lift (daily until 3rd April and then Sat/Sun and holidays only)

Utopia Number 2 pair lift


The Zao Ropeway, Sky Cable gondola and Chuo Ropeway are all open throughout the year (apart from specific maintenance periods)


Lifts not mentioned in the above list have already closed for the season.



Zao Now 2015-2016 season

Data as of Friday 25th March 2016 Total snowfall at base 457cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 63 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 46cm (on 19th January) November 2015 snowfall 22cm observed on 2 days December 2015 snowfall 96cm observed on 12 days January 2016 snowfall 211cm observed on 25 days February 2016 snowfall 83cm observed on 17 days March 2016 snowfall 45cm observed on 7 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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