It's a bit warmer this morning in Nozawa and another cloudy morning but somewhat brighter than yesterday was. There's morning foggy conditions up at Yamabiko as well again this morning - less than yesterday and it looks like visibility has been improving in the last hour or so up there.

Warmer I said but still keeping fairly chilly and certainly not warming up like it was the other week. Not for the moment anyway. We will probably see warmer conditions once again from Tuesday.

Rain is probably this afternoon, perhaps borderline snow on the top slopes? Would be nice.

As mentioned before today is the last day of the season for the lower parts of the mountain. From tomorrow you can get the Nagasaka Gondola up to the snow.

Courses open will be as follows:

Yamabiko A
Yamabiko B
Yamabiko C
Yamabiko D
Yamabiko E
Uenotaira
Bunabayashi (to the Nagasaka Gondola mid station)
Paradise
Utopia A
Utopia B
Rinkan (until the Hikage area)

From tomorrow the resort will be 'working with snow' between the Nagasaka area and Hikage areas. Here's how you'll be able to get back to the Nagasaka Gondola from Rinkan:

On 1st April - use the Hikage triple lift
On 2nd April - shuttle bus from Hikage
From 3rd April onwards - use shuttle bus from Isemiya course

Mention of the Skyline course has disappeared now, and so it would seem that the Skyline connecting lift and course itself will not be open from tomorrow. Last chance!

Lift prices from tomorrow are 3500 yen (adults), 1500 yen (children), 2500 yen (seniors) for a day ticket and 2500 yen (adults), 1000 yen (children), 2000 yen (seniors) for a half day.

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Lifts operating:
All lifts operating except
Hikage Number 2 Pair B line

Courses open:
All courses open except:
Grand Prix
Hachiman
Challenge 39

Official snow depths
Yamabiko
260cm

Uenotaira
215cm

Hikage
80cm

Nagasaka
75cm

Karasawa
25cm

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Nozawa Onsen opening dates from 1st April to the end of season:

From 1st April until 6th May:
Nagasaka Gondola
Yamabiko Number 2 Four lift
Yamabiko Four lift

From 1st April until 7th April
12th April until 14th April
20th-21st April
27th April until 6th May
Uenotaira Four lift
Snow Park

6th-7th April
13th-14th April
20th-21st April
27th April until 6th May
Paradise Four lift