It is snowing lightly at the moment. A thin layer has accumulated on the top of my car and around my house, though none is sticking on the road outside my place just yet.

I had such a blast with my first turns of the season yesterday. I decided not to take out my new gear, but it wouldn't have been a problem. Very nice.

It really is great to be able to report that as of this morning four ski areas are now open.

Good morning from Hakuba. And a good morning it is!

There was a thin layer of snow around my house and on the top of my car this morning. Hoping there will be more to report tomorrow morning.

Well, it's colder but I can't help but be somewhat disappointed this morning.

Yes, it was snowing yesterday and into the night - actually quite heavily at times - and this morning I have my first snow of the season to add to the reports.

It's a beautiful morning here in Hakuba, and the mountains look amazing. Nothing unusual there, of course, but it's always worth remembering the good things.

That's it, folks. Today is officially the last day of the season for ski lifts at the ski areas in the region.

Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 have announced that Friday (5th May) will be their last day of the season, rather than Sunday 7th May.

Well, it was a rainy start to Golden Week.

Believe it or not, there was some fresh snowfall around on the mountains yesterday morning (while it was raining down at base).

Yikes. Yesterday was just way too warm with temps in the 20s - even higher on the mountains.

We start the day with fine though hazy skies and relatively cool (difficult to say 'cold' at the moment), though it will be another warm day approaching 20C in the village this afternoon.