Good morning from Hakuba. And a very good morning it is as well, as I bring good news.

As I write this report it is 9am on Saturday 28th November and it's officially going to be the first day of the season in Hakuba.

Yes, thanks to that lovely snowfall of yesterday, the top course at Hakuba Goryu is opening this morning from 10am! The Alps Daira Number 1 lift is going to be moving with Hakuba 47 Line E lift joining in the fun from tomorrow. (Entry only via Hakuba Goryu). Tickets are 2500 yen.

Happo-one resort is also planning to open from 12 noon with the Kokusai Number 3 lift and Panorama Pair lift due to move with the Panorama course set to open. Tickets are 2600 yen for adults and 1600 yen for children from the Gondola ticket office where the journey to the snow starts.

Can't see any news from Tsugaike Kogen just yet though they did report up to 20cm of snow at their bus stop.

Let's just rewind to yesterday where it was snowing down to the village from the morning, giving us generally around 10cm in many places, though it did let up by evening. It was of course great to see everything turn white and that winter feeling come flooding back.

And so to today and the start of the season. It's limited of course and still want much more snowfall, but turns on natural snow are available. And there's even a bit of sunshine at the moment as well.

I will do my best to keep you up-to-date each day with the latest lift movements and openings in this early season period. Things can change very quickly even within a day though at this stage of the season in particular, so if you are planning on getting out there I do highly recommend that you check the resort official websites for the latest.

Just a quick look at the forecast - not a huge amount of snow over the coming week and a good chance of rain in the village, so we are going to have to keep an eye on that as well.

Have fun if you are going to get out there!

---

Planned resort opening dates

Hakuba 47:
On standby to open as soon as there is enough snow -- until 6th May

Hakuba Cortina:
12th December until 3rd April

Hakuba Goryu:
Limited opening from 10am today -- until 8th May

Hakuba Happo-one:
Limited opening from noon today -- until 8th May

Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field:
18th December until 27th March

Hakuba Norikura Onsen:
Mid December until late March

Hakuba Sanosaka:
Mid December until 3rd April

Kashimayari:
Early December until mid April

Tsugaike Kogen:
On standby to open as soon as there is enough snow -- until early May