We're now into December. Can't make my mind up as the whether to say "already?" or " about time!".

There is 40cm at base, and being a Sunday, locals are rolling in and the Zao Ropeway car park is nearly full.

Zao Onsen is part open --- today and tomorrow.

It's the last week of November and it is snowing.

Last day of the ski season in Zao.

Just the Chuo pairs operating now (other than the Ropeways) and that Chuo run.

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

We're now down to end of season. The Sunrise, Nakamori, Omori and Hahnenkamm slopes are un-ridable with only parts of the Kurohime and Yokokura slopes open.

It started to rain this morning as forecasted and is expected to get heavier as the day progresses.

A significant drop in temperature but not as much snow as originally foretold.

It's mist land with very light snow falling but this should peter out during the day for a bright moon night.

And the best slope today goes to Sunrise.

A token amount of snow last night but enough to make the roof-tops and trees look like the traditional winter resort.

There is quite a bit of wind halfway upwards, moderate to high which affects viz.