Better news this morning as we have another 15cm of snow to report in Hirafu. It's colder too, so feeling much more winter-like than it has been this last week.

It's a cloudy morning here in Hirafu with just a sprinkling of snow since yesterday.

Just over 5cm of fresh snow since my report yesterday.

So we are now into December and the second day of the season here.

Morning and here we are on the official opening day of the season in Niseko with Niseko Grand Hirafu opening at 8:30am this morning.

Good morning from Niseko, and a good morning it is too with a very nice overnight delivery of snow in Niseko.

No official word from the resorts yet but if the snow falls as expected, hopefully we will be looking at openings on Saturday.

We've had more than our share of mild temperatures, rain and strong winds of late.

Nature decided to give us a present overnight and this morning we are treated to 5-10cm of fresh snow down here at base.

It is really almost feeling like mid season here with a really good amount of fresh snow since my last report just yesterday.

We are enjoying a rather good start to the season.

The first snow of the season to report in the village this morning with up to 10cm or so in places.