Good morning from Zao. And this morning there's really not much to see out there - cloud and fog is the order of the morning and visibility out on the mountain is very poor. It's mild though with even the top of the mountain reporting a temperature of about +6C.

Tomorrow is of course the first day of "Golden Week", and the good news is that we look set to enjoy clear and sunny conditions through until probably at least Tuesday, along with warm conditions - might warm up to around 20C.

A few more lifts are scheduled to be open for this weekend but the Kurohime quad has now finished for the season it seems.

As I mentioned in the previous report, the Zao Echoline road has re-opened this morning allowing people to get direct to Zao Onsen via the Miyagi mountain road.

Have fun over this first part of Golden Week! I'll post another update on Tuesday.

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Official snow depths (27th April 12)
Utopia - 125cm
Chuo - 120cm
Paradise - 120cm
Uwanodai - 20cm

Operating lifts (27th April 12)
Limited lifts now open.

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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 27th April - subject to change:

Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)

Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)
Chuo No1 pair lift (open 28th April until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (open 28th April until 6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (open 28th April until 6th May)

Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)

All other lifts now closed.