Hello everyone and welcome back to the Nozawa Now reports for the 2016-2017 season. The reports will appear daily once the ski lifts start moving, and I will try to keep you up to date on the weather from time to time before that date.

Everyone here is highly expectant - and simply just really, really hoping! - that this season will bring much more snow than last season. Which was something of an oddity.

And this morning I bring news of the first snowfall down to the village. Just a bit on the ground but I have been able to make a little mini-snowman and can get the snowfall numbers off to a start.

There's a saying in Nozawa (and indeed other regions) that once it snows three times up on the mountain, it gets snowing down in the village. And that is what has happened. A good start, indeed. Let's hope that is a good sign.

It's cold too, but it will be getting colder over the coming week and we will see more sunshine. So no rush to get the skis or boards waxed up just yet.

Hopefully Nozawa Onsen will be able to open on Saturday 26th November.

Look out for some major updates to SnowJapan in the coming days - and a new look for these reports.