Good morning from Zao Onsen where there's just another 1cm or so of snow on the ground since yesterday. There will be more up there on the courses.

Precious-as-gold snow that we need should be falling through today, though it's just light at the moment, and then as we get into the weekend it will be getting colder still (almost like mid-winter!).

If the forecast is correct, by the end of the weekend things should be looking very different. I really hope so!

Unfortunately with news of the snow situation man accommodations have been seeing cancellations etc. Not enough snow pretty much affects everyone. There's be smiles on faces when the snow arrives in style.

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Information as of Thursday 7th 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, Kotan and the central run by the Nakamori lifts.

Official snow depths:

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

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6 day Zao Onsen snow and weather forecast