The safety ceremony took place over on the Uwanodai base area yesterday. Fittingly, snow was falling for the occasion.

Fine day yesterday. Sunshine. Opening of new Lawson convenience store (big news in a little village).

It's snowing again. Again, not a huge amount to report - just a few cm on the ground - and hopefully more by the time we get into tomorrow.

It's a bright and sunny morning here in Zao with just a little more snow to report.

Light snow is falling as I write this and there's another 2cm on the ground at base to report.

Not a huge amount as yet but it's snowing and there's a thin layer on the ground by base.

It is snowing lightly at the moment and 2cm of fresh snow on the ground.

Heavy snowfall to report from Zao this morning with a good 30cm on the ground.

I was just reading some of the other reports to see how they were doing... it looks like Japan is having a very nice early season.

9cm of it at base on this very cold morning.

Just here to report 1cm of fresh snowfall earlier this morning with snow forecast today and tomorrow.

Snow has been falling again. Down to village level here on Thursday with the first proper snow of the season.