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Zao Now: Saturday 3rd April 2021

  • Apr 3, 2021
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 389cm

Posted on Saturday 3rd April 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


Weekend update.


It's a fine spring morning, though we are forecast cloud and some rain later in the day tomorrow.


The Diamond ski lift will be finishing the season tomorrow and some more will only now be open on weekends (snow depending).


As you can see from the webcam image below, snow has mostly gone from by the base ropeway station.


The following areas remain at least part open (other areas now closed):


- Chuo

- Utopia

- Paradise

- Diamond Valley


Official snow depths (as reported by the ski area):


- Summit area: 80cm

- Chuo area: 90cm

- Utopia area: 100cm

- Uwanodai area: -cm

- Omori: -cm


Planned lift closing dates (subject to change):


Operating until 4th April:

- 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: only open on 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th April


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 3rd April 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 April 2021 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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