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Zao Now: Monday 3rd January 2022

  • Jan 3, 2022
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Zao region of Yamagata


New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 247cm

Posted on Monday 3rd January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Zao Now report can be found here.


We gained a bit more snow but most of it yesterday. Tonight should see another good fall.


It started off sunny today and, as a result, the tour buses poured in and by 10am there was an hour long queue at the Zao Ropeway to see the juhyo (snowy tree forest/snow monsters).


It is now cloudy but without the fog. Other parts of the resort are moving well.


It has been a very busy few days, certainly different from last year which tallies with reports on the rest of the country.


Official snow depth


Summit: 75cm

Paradise: 120cm

Chuo: 120cm

Utopia: 180cm

Uwanodai: 80cm


Almost all lifts and areas and runs are scheduled to be open.



Zao Now 2021-2022 season

Data as of Monday 3rd January 2022 Total snowfall at base 247cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 20 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 30cm (on 27th and 28th December) November 2021 snowfall 38cm observed on 3 days December 2021 snowfall 160cm observed on 14 days January 2022 snowfall 49cm observed on 3 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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