With some more snow since yesterday it is a mostly cloudy morning as we start this weekend, which is sort of the first proper weekend of the ski season.

There is a dense fog starting halfway up the mountain. Here at base is clear.

There hasn't been much snow down at the base but 6cm to add to the report this morning.

Lots of cloud and early morning snow and fog, but there are some signs of blue sky in places too.

As I updated yesterday, the Chuo area has remained open this morning, so it looks like the 'pre-open' was a 'proper open'! The official site is showing Utopia also open this morning.

The Chuo run will remain open tomorrow (Monday) and weekdays this week.

Today the Chuo lift will be opening from 9am through 3:30pm! You can get there via the Zao Chuo Ropeway.

There has been a heavy downfall of large fluffy flakes. Visibility is not great due to the fall. The roads have not been plowed yet.

A light covering of snow this morning down to base and hopefully a bit more up top.

We have had some nice snow since the report yesterday and the mountain is looking covered in white.

There's some fresh snow on the ground this morning, and up to about 5cm in places with more forecast through into tomorrow. It might get windy too.

There's some snow to report. Just a couple of cm in places around base, and hopefully more up top.

Hello from Zao Onsen, and we have some snow on the ground this morning.