I came back to Hakuba early afternoon yesterday and had a look round the resorts. It isn't exactly surprising, but from what I could see it looked extremely busy out there.

An early report today as your reporter needs to get into Nagano City this morning.

Nice and cold in Hakuba this morning. Just a dusting of new snow at village level but up to 10cm on the slopes reported from around the resorts.

Snow yesterday and I'd say 15cm or so at village level by the evening time. Not the lightest powdery kind of snow, somewhat heavy.

The clouds lifter yesterday and we ended up with a fine afternoon - by mid afternoon the poor visibility of the morning in places had turned into nice clear views and all was calme.

Just a sprinkling of snow this morning in the village, with resorts around Hakuba and Otari reporting up to 10cm on the upper slopes.

Clearer skies yesterday evening after all that cloud during the day.

It's colder this morning in Hakuba I'm happy to report.

1st February 2013. I can hardly believe it is already February. The time seems to go so fast in winter and while resort skiing and boarding goes on until May in Hakuba, the thought of being in peak season is just mad.