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Zao Now: Sunday 2nd April 2017

  • Apr 2, 2017
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 520cm

Posted on Sunday 2nd April 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Good morning from Zao.


More lifts are closed now, and a few more have their last day today, but it still feels cold and rather winter like.


Planned closing dates for lifts at Zao Onsen - subject to change due to snow conditions:


Operating until today:

- Nakamori Number 1 triple

- Onsen Number 1 pair

- Onsen Number 2 quad


Operating until Sunday 9th April:

- Mikaeri pair

- Shobunuma Number 2 pair (holidays only after 2nd April)


Operating until Sunday 16th April:

- Katakai triple (holidays only after 2nd April)

- Paradise pair AB (holidays only after 2nd April)


Operating until Sunday 7th May:

- Chuo Number 1 pair AB

- Chuo Number 2 pair AB (holidays only after 16th April)

- Utopia Number 2 pair


No fixed closing date:

- Yokokura Number 1 pair AB

- Kurohime Number 1 quad


Open all year (* for sightseeing):

- Sky Cable

- Chuo Ropeway

- Zao Ropeway


Official snow depths (as published by the resort):

Summit - 155cm

Paradise - 240cm

Chuo - 240cm

Utopia - 200cm

Uwanodai - 130cm

Yokokura - 125cm


Lifts that are already closed for the season:

- Paradise Number 3 pair

- Diamond Number 1 pair

- Zao Kokutai pair

- Ryuzan pair

- Karamatsu pair

- Onsen Number 3 Parallel AB

- Onsen Number 4 quad

- Sunrise pair AB

- Nakamori Number 2 pair

- Diamond Number 2 pair

- Oomori quad

- Yokokura Number 2 pair

- Astraea Number 1 pair

- Astraea Number 2 pair

- Astraea Number 3 pair



Zao Now 2016-2017 season

Data as of Sunday 2nd April 2017 Total snowfall at base 520cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 65 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 39cm (on 16th January) November 2016 snowfall 11cm observed on 6 days December 2016 snowfall 98cm observed on 16 days January 2017 snowfall 241cm observed on 16 days February 2017 snowfall 105cm observed on 14 days March 2017 snowfall 65cm observed on 13 days April 2017 snowfall 0cm




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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