Another 10+ cm on the upper slopes of Nozawa Onsen this morning and 7cm outside where I am here at base in the village, as the snow gradually builds up.

Perhaps a little unexpected but it's a bright and sunny morning - up top anyway!

Morning from Nozawa and I am happy to report that it is snowing.

It is a snowy start to 2016 with 20cm on fresh snow on the upper slopes since yesterday evening and snow down to the village.

Hello from Nozawa where right now light snow is falling.

After a fine day yesterday with blue skies and importantly low temperatures, snow clouds moved back over the region and this morning there's a new 30-30cm of fresh fluffy snow to enjoy.

Snow continued yesterday though eased off somewhat since the morning and no new snowfall overnight.

It is a good morning indeed in Nozawa.

Good morning from Nozawa and we have a fresh blanket of snow with the resort reporting 15cm of fresh snowfall on the upper Yamabiko and Uenotaira areas this morning.

Nozawa Onsen is now open!

There was some talk of a possible opening today with the snow that we got during the day yesterday, but the resort have decided there's not quite enough yet to get things started.

Morning and not a whole lot to report really. Not much was added to what we got yesterday and this morning it is cloudy here in Nozawa.

Snow is falling this morning right down here to village level with about 5cm and counting - this is the first time we have had more than a sprinkling here in the village this year and it is of course great to see.

Yesterday it was great to see some snow falling here in Nozawa and things starting to turn white around lunchtime.