The 'safety prayer festival' (as google translates it!) was held at the top station of the Nagasaka Gondola on Saturday, with the officials of the resort praying for safety this winter season. Hopefully it will be so.

All ready and waiting for snow now.

Check out the webcam images posted below. As you can see the snow has disappeared from the Uenotaira course area and there's only traces left now from the top Yamabiko area of the resort.

As we all know, and I think I have said before, it can all change very quickly. And hopefully that change is coming very soon.

Once we get today out of the way - which is starting off almost warm, to be followed by rain - the upcoming forecast from tomorrow is looking pretty good actually. Snow lined up daily through until at least the weekend, especially on the upper areas of the mountain.

While the freezing point is today over 3000m, come tomorrow night it might be right down to 500m.

Bring it on, as they say. And so do I!

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Nozawa Onsen now hopes to open on Saturday 6th December