Zao Now: Saturday 27th March 2021
- Mar 27, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata
New snowfall at base 9cm
Snowfall at base this season 389cm
Posted on Saturday 27th March 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.
We're now down to end of season. The Sunrise, Nakamori, Omori and Hahnenkamm slopes are un-ridable with only parts of the Kurohime and Yokokura slopes open - lifts are still running there.
The Diamond, Chuo and Paradise areas are still ok and temperatures are fortunately still low there.
With the continuing warmth, this may be the last decent weekend.
All areas at least part open, except:
- Ryuzan
- Sunrise
- Nakamori
- Kotan
- Omori
Official snow depths (as reported by the ski area):
- Summit area: 95cm
- Paradise area: 115cm
- Chuo area: 115cm
- Utopia area: 135cm
- Uwanodai area: 80cm
- Kurohime: 135cm
Planned lift closing dates (subject to change):
Operating until 31st March:
- Yokokura Number 2 pair
- Astraea Number 1 pair
- Astraea Number 2 pair
- Astraea Number 3 pair
Operating until 4th April:
- Onsen Number 1 pair
- Onsen Number 2 quad
- Diamond Number 2 pair
Operating until 11th April:
- Mikaeri pair: daily until 4th April and then 10th, 11th April
- Katakai triple: daily until 4th April and then 10th, 11th April
- Paradise pair AB: daily until 4th April and then 10th, 11th April
- Shobunuma Number 2 pair: daily until 28th March and then 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th April
Operating until there is enough snow in April:
- Yokokura Number 1 pair AB
- Kurohime Number 1 quad
Operating until 5th May:
- Chuo Number 1 pair
- Chuo Number 2 pair: daily until 11th April and then 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 29th April, 1st-5th May
- Utopia Number 2 pair
Operating through the year (for sightseeing):
- Sky Cable
- Chuo Ropeway
- Zao Ropeway
* Other ski lifts are already closed for the season
* All dates subject to change depending on snow conditions
Zao Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Saturday 27th March 2021 Total snowfall at base 389cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 51 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 30th January) November 2020 snowfall 0cm December 2020 snowfall 142cm observed on 15 days January 2021 snowfall 146cm observed on 20 days February 2021 snowfall 90cm observed on 14 days March 2021 snowfall 11cm observed on 2 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.