Hello from Zao and there was 4cm of fresh snow measured outside my place this morning.

Not a huge amount but better than none and there is more on the way according to the forecast. For the moment it is just generally cloudy here with no snow falling. I am pleased to be able to report that is it definitely colder this morning and over the next week it would seem that the temperatures will gradually continue to fall.

Wind may be an issue over the coming week as well and it is quite windy this morning.

Most importantly, as I said there's snow on the forecast over the coming days. We're just going to have to wait and hope that it's a decent amount...

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I am hearing comments from lots of locals who have been here longer than I that they cannot remember a New Year with as little snow in Zao as this year. It is worrying. And it seems that the low snow count this season so far is not just this region but most snow resort regions on Honshu, from what I can gather. (Hokkaido seems to be doing pretty good from what I can see on the Now reports from those regions).

Here's to a change in that story, and soon!

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Information as of Wednesday 6th January 2016 (subject to change)

Most of the lifts at Zao Onsen are now operating.
Most areas of Zao Onsen are now at least part open but snow is pretty thin on the ground and patchy in lower areas of the resort.
The areas that remain 'closed' are Ryuzan, Omori and Kotan.

Official snow depths:

Utopia: 55cm
Chuo: 70cm
Paradise: 50cm
Uwanodai: 20cm

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6 day Zao Onsen snow and weather forecast