How about some mid (almost!) April snowfall? Well, this morning there was apparently 5cm of new snowfall delivered to the upper slopes of Nozawa Onsen. Nothing down below but 5cm reported at the Yamabiko and Uwanodai areas of the resort.

Definitely a colder morning as well and even at lunchtime it was below zero up on Yamabiko, and around +6 degrees in the village.

It's cloudy now and looking like visibility is very poor up on the slopes - foggy conditions? Unfortunately I can't make it up there myself this afternoon.

The forecast is actually telling us to perhaps expect some further snow as well overnight tonight so fingers crossed!

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Official snow depths
Yamabiko
230cm

Uenotaira
155cm

Hikage
40cm

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Nozawa Onsen opening dates from 1st April to the end of season:

From 1st April until 6th May:
Nagasaka Gondola
Yamabiko Number 2 Four lift
Yamabiko Four lift

From 1st April until 7th April
12th April until 14th April
20th-21st April
27th April until 6th May
Uenotaira Four lift
Snow Park

6th-7th April
13th-14th April
20th-21st April
27th April until 6th May
Paradise Four lift

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Courses scheduled to be open at Nozawa Onsen (subject to change due to weather conditions):

Yamabiko A
Yamabiko B
Yamabiko C
Yamabiko D
Yamabiko E
Uenotaira
Bunabayashi (to the Nagasaka Gondola mid station)
Paradise
Utopia A
Utopia B
Rinkan (until the Hikage area)

To get back to the Nagasaka Gondola from Rinkan use the shuttle bus from Isemiya course.

Lift prices from 1st April are 3500 yen (adults), 1500 yen (children), 2500 yen (seniors) for a day ticket and 2500 yen (adults), 1000 yen (children), 2000 yen (seniors) for a half day.