5cm or so of fresh snow to report since my last report. It was cold and windy yesterday but it's different again this morning - just a cloudy start to the day here, no wind and temperatures in positive numbers... +4 degrees in the village.

Strong winds and a big winter storm just ahead though - it might not be the 'friendliest' of conditions out there this weekend if the forecast gets it right. It should be be cold, windy and we should be getting lots of fresh snow. Perhaps enough to get the whole mountain open next week? We shall see, and I will report!

---

News on nighta operations at Zao!

Uwanodai area:
From Sunday 21st December until 22nd March

Yokokura area:
From Friday 26th December until 4th January;
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Friday 9th January until 15th March

Open times from 5pm until 9pm and the cost is 2000 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children.

---

Operating lifts at time of writing:

Onsen Number 1 pair lift
Mikaeri pair lift
Chuo pair lift
Paradise pair lift
Yokokura Number 1 pair lift
Utopia Number 2 pair lift
All Ropeways/gondolas

---

Official snow depths (11th December 14):

Utopia: 140cm
Chuo: 90cm
Paradise: 110cm
Uwanodai: 90cm