Yesterday most of the top areas of the resorts remained closed because of the strong winds so access was limited - and untouched.

Nice morning yesterday but snow was falling in the afternoon as expected and this morning I have slightly over 8cm of fresh snowfall to report to you on the ground here at base.

This morning I have just about enough to add 1cm of fresh snow to the report. It's a thick dusting kind of thing.

I had an excellent day on the mountain yesterday even though those clearer early morning skies I was reporting yesterday didn't last too long.

It's a good morning from here in Niseko.

There is more snow to report today - 12cm of fresh snow on the ground at base this morning.

And it is an extremely cold one too. Feels like the coldest of the season to me for sure.

It's definitely a much colder start to the day which is a good thing and tomorrow should be colder still.

I have just 1cm of fresh snow to report to you from base this morning.

It is a cold morning and there's fresh snow on the ground.

Good morning and a very happy new year to you all. May it be a good one for you and yours. And may it be full of fresh, fluffy, dry and light snow.

Good morning from Niseko on this New Years Eve morning.

I have 14cm of fresh snow to report this morning here by my base in Hirafu.

Just three more days left in 2016; the mind boggles at how fast things whizz by. (And how you actually spell 'whizz'!)