As expected yesterday the weather was nice and sunny with blue skies all round. Would have been great for skiing and boarding, I would have liked to have been at Kagura!

But we need a few blizzard like days before we want to see more of those kind of conditions.

It rained overnight along with mild conditions, and temperatures remain around 7 degrees this morning. The forecast for the day is for any lingering rain to stop and generally cloudy conditions. It should be getting colder overnight tonight before warming up again with more sunshine tomorrow during the daytime - back up to around 12 degrees here in town. That's too warm.

Kagura is this morning reporting a borderline light rain/snow situation early on and by the looks of the webcam they have had a slight dusting of snow up there. The same area remains open.

Keep an eye on the forecast for Friday as there is promise of snow there!

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Last year December was an incredible month for snow and it will be hard to match it. We need reminding that in some past seasons it has been Christmas and even past Christmas before some resorts around town can open, though we certainly don't want this season to be like that. It's all down to mother nature.

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Planned opening dates for resorts in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City (by date):

Currently part open:
Kagura (Mitsumata) - the lower part of the main Kagura area (real snow + artificial) is open and a 1100m run of Mitsumata is open (snow mats)

Saturday 5th December:
Iwappara
Joetsu Kokusai

Saturday 12th December:
Kaguta (Tashiro)
Maiko Snow Resort
Naeba

Friday 18th December:
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Muikamachi Ski Resort
Yuzawa Nakazato
Yuzawa Park

Saturday 19th December:
GALA Yuzawa
Ipponsugi
Kandatsu Kogen
Ludens Yuzawa
Nakazato Snow Wood
Muimamachi Hakkaisan
NASPA Ski Garden
Yuzawa Kogen

Thursday 24th December:
Chateaux Shiozawa

Friday 25th December:
Hakkaisanroku

Saturday 26th December:
Itsukamachi
Ishiuchi Hanaoka
Mt Granview

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Ski resorts in Yuzawa town
Ski resorts in Minamiuonuma City