Well, our prayers at the local festival helped a bit, about nine centimeters' worth.

Snow did fall yesterday, but it really didn't amount to anything, well, what we really need.

In the multi-course banquet that is the ski season, I hope that we can look at today as an appetizer before the main course (and the fitful snow conditions up today was just the table getting set).

A colder, nice day in Myoko today.

A good night of snow, as we exactly matched the Niigata prefecture forecast of 40cm.

Alright, this is more like what we expect. Just under 30cm of fresh on the ground; pretty heavy, soft hail crystals earlier, but looking a little lighter and ski-friendly in the past two hours.

It was really sunny early this morning, but the clouds have started to move in from over Mt. Myoko.

Interesting day today for temperatures, meaning they are really inconsistent.

Happy New Year! And Happy Fresh Snow!

Things are changing very quickly as I write our report for the last day of 2019.

Snow! Much needed, fun to be on yesterday, a few more lifts running and slopes open.

A quick report, because it's time to get out on the snow today!

OK, regular readers will remember I said something about things getting white around Christmas, and I am feeling just a bit smug today.

It is white out there, barely. Snow started to fall in the late afternoon, but we really only got a dusting again.