The sun is out again over Naeba this morning casting shadows down onto the lower slopes. Looks like it is going to be another fine day. The local Niigata forecast tells me that there's a chance of light snow overnight tonight into tomorrow and then again into Saturday. Hopefully we will be spared any rain that goes on down in the valley over the weekend, though I don't think we can expect any significant snowfall. Hope I'm wrong there of course!

It is a relatively mild morning here and -2 outside at the moment. I expect that might try to venture into positive territory later in the day. This mild patch will probably continue until early in the week when the next cold front looks due to hit the region.

I'm not sure that I would agree fully with the official line from Kagura on 'best conditions'. I've experienced better. That's not to say they are poor - they're not - but some perspective is needed rather than just saying conditions are the 'best' every day. Conditions yesterday were good. Kagura being high of course keeps good conditions even when we don't get new snow for a while, but conditions are always going to be best right after (or during) a huge dump of snow and we haven't had one of those for a few days now of course. It's still great fun to be out there on a fine day when you know there's a refill just around the corner.

Resort Operations, 19th January (subject to change)
Naeba:
All areas open apart from Mens/Womens Riesen Slalom and Mens Slalom courses. Some lifts not operating as per normal weekdays.
Kagura:
Open as planned.

Official snow depths
Naeba:
230cm
Kagura:
310cm