Good morning from Hakuba.

There is no fresh snowfall to report this morning - either by myself here at base, or by the ski resorts.

At the moment there's a bank of white cloud hanging around the mountain backdrop, and a blob of grey sky above the village - but also quite a lot of blue sky as well.

It was very cold overnight and early morning but it is forecast to be a fairly mild day - perhaps a little too mild for our liking, but hopefully not getting above 4C at base. We can probably expect more sunshine than snow over the next few days, and expect snow perhaps around Tuesday.

Apparently strong winds were affecting the top areas of Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 as I was about to post this report, but hopefully that will clear up soon and everywhere will be able to open as planned.

It's the last day of the 2016! This year - both the first few months and the start to this current season - has not been the best in terms of snowfall has it. I am very much hoping that we see something different happening in the coming weeks and months and for a fantastic season. Lots of people are expecting it, including myself. Starting next week please.

I'll be back tomorrow but in the meantime thanks for reading the reports and please do read my message below.

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Someone sent a mail to SnowJapan yesterday asking about the different snow depth numbers that I mention in my reports, so I just wanted to try and explain them all so it is clear.

The ‘headline number’ that I post in each report is how much snow I personally observe – on the ground – here at base. My base being close to the base of Happo-one ski resort. (Not wanting to complicate matters, but each morning I also am provided first hand numbers from trusted friends who are located close-by and use that as a sort of double-check…. and if there’s much difference in our numbers, I do a re-check of my measurements).

But essentially for the sake of consistency the measurements are coming from the same spot every day, and being observed by my very own eyes.

There’s almost always going to be more snow higher up on the mountains than there is falling at base. But unfortunately, I don’t live up on the top of the mountain and so am unable to give a first-hand report each day. So, as with all of the other “Now” reports on SnowJapan, the observed snowfall numbers are coming from base levels.

In addition to my personal observations of fresh snowfall on the ground in the village, in my reports I try to also always mention any fresh snowfall that is being reported by the ski resorts themselves around the valley. These are not my personal observations, but the numbers that the ski resorts publish. Please keep that in mind.

When I say ‘the valley’, I am referring to the main ski resorts that are located within Hakuba (village) and neighbouring Otari (village). It’s a 20km or so drive from Hakuba Goryu ski resort in the south to Hakuba Cortina ski resort, and as you might imagine there’s sometimes a considerable difference in the amount of snowfall – and indeed weather conditions - in each of those places. Micro-climates and all that.

Perhaps ideally there would be 5 or 6 different Hakuba Now reports each dealing just with one ski resort, but of course that is less than practical. So, we have these ‘Hakuba Now’ reports which are meant to be a general overview and introduction to what is happening in the Hakuba area every day.

These reports are meant to be a useful and fun reference/resource. One that is free from marketing talk and hype, and at all times honest and up front.

Hopefully everyone already realises this, but these reports are not here to try to convince you to visit Hakuba. They are not sponsored by or backed by any particular resort or business - and in fact there are some times when particular marketing types don't approve of our up-front honesty. They are meant to be an ongoing and trustworthy – and independent - general commentary of the season.

They are not (of course) a scientific study and sadly are never going to be ‘perfect’. But the intention is to do my best to bring you all the information that I have - in a consistent way - every morning of the season. Even though on some days I would dearly prefer to be out riding the first lifts in a morning, I will continue to provide this information right through until the last ski lift stops moving in early May.

(As much as I generally enjoy doing the reports, that always seems very daunting when it is still December!)

Anyway, for some more information on the Now daily reports on SnowJapan, please read this page if you haven’t already:

About the daily reporting

I hope what I have written above sheds more light on the numbers I am actually reporting each morning and wasn't too rembling. I have tried to edit it but at the same time keep the core of what I wanted to say!

Gambarimasu!

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Resort news as of 8:40am on Saturday 31st December 2016:

All information as available and subject to change during the day due to weather and snow conditions.

Hakuba 47:
The resort is reporting 0cm of fresh snowfall.
The upper course connection with Goryu is open.
Operating lifts and course info:
- All lifts operating
- All courses now open apart from Route 7.
- The Tree Riding Zones are not yet open.
Official snow depth
Line C Upper: 110cm
Base: 20cm

Hakuba Goryu:
Hakuba Goryu is currently part open.
The resort is reporting 0cm of fresh snowfall.
The upper course connection with Hakuba 47 is open.
Operating lifts and course info:
- Gondola
- Alps Number 1
- Alps Number 3
- Alps Number 2/4
- Toomi Sky Four
- Toomi Number 1 pair
- Toomi Number 2 pair
- Milky Four
The following courses are open:
- Grand Prix
- Panorama
- Super
- Toomi
- Soft Cream
Official snow depth
Alps: 125cm
Toomi: 35cm
Iimori: 20cm

Hakuba Happo-one:
Hakuba Happo-one is currently part open but more opening up now.
You can now ski or board back down to base via the Riesen Slalom and Nakiyama courses.
Downloading via Gondola or lift required in the other areas.
The resort is reporting 0cm of fresh snowfall.
Operating lifts and course info:
- Gondola
- Alpen quad
- Riesen quad
- Usagidaira pair
- Nakiyama 3 triple
- Panorama pair
- Kokusai Number 1
- Kokusai Number 3
- Kurobishi Number 2 quad
- Kurobishi Number 3 pair
- Skyline Number 2 pair
- Sakka Kita-one quad
- Kita-one Number 3 pair
The following courses are open:
- Kurobishi
- Usagidaira
- Skyline
- Riesen (part)
- Panorama
- Nakiyama South (part)
- Kita-one 3
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira: 90cm
Kurobishi: 110cm
Lower: 25cm

Tsugaike Kogen:
Tsugaike Kogen is now mostly open.
Operating lifts and course info:
- Eve Gondola
- Han-no-ki pair
- Han-no-ki Number 3 quad
- Tsuga Number 1 pair
- Tsuga Number 2 pair
- Shirakaba quad
- Maruyama Number 1 quad
- Tsugaike Number 1 pair
- Tsugaike central triple
- Karamatsu pair
- Kane-no-naru-oka Skyliner II
- Kane-no-naru-oka Skyliner III
- Kane-no-naru-oka Skyliner IV
- Kane-no-naru-oka Number 11
The following courses are open:
- Most areas of Tsugaike Kogen is now open apart from Uma-no-se and Champion areas
Official snow depth:
Tsuga-no-mori: 130cm
Han-no-ki: 110cm
Oya-no-hara: 40cm
Maruyama: 35cm
Kane-no-naru-oka: 20cm

Hakuba Cortina:
Hakuba Cortina is now mostly open.
The resort is reporting up to 0cm of fresh snowfall.
Operating lifts and course info:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 quad
- Number 3 quad
- Number 4 pair
- Number 5 pair
Official snow depth:
Top: 128cm
Base: 90cm

Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field:
Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field is currently part open.
Operating lifts and course info:
- Gondola
- Paradise triple
- 3-sen North lift
- 4-sen East lift
The following courses are at least part open:
- View C (part)
- East
- North
- Paradise (part)
- by1
Official snow depth:
Top: 55cm
Base: 30cm

Kashimayari:
Kashimayari is currently part open.
Operating lifts:
- Number 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10 lifts
Official snow depth:
Top: 35cm

Hakuba Norikura Onsen:
Hakuba Norikura Onsen is currently part open.
Lift info:
- Most lifts are now operating with over 10 courses planned to be available today
Official snow depth:
Top: 90cm

Hakuba Sanosaka:
Hakuba Sanosaka is now part open.
Official snow depth:
Top: 25cm

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Please note that Yanaba ski hill will not be opening for the 2016-2017 season