I know you don't want to hear this, but it's another absolute stunner of a morning in the region. Blue skies, no cloud, sunshine. And it's going to warm up to double digits later on today, so says the local forecast.

The Tashiro area of Kagura as well as Naeba plan to open on Saturday. As for Tashiro, no word yet on what might be happening there. Naeba will be able to open due to the artificial snow that is being made each day now.

Maiko also originally had plans to open this weekend but there's no snow and so that of course won't be possible. Iwappara and Joetsu Kokusai remain on standby as well.

Next weekend is a big weekend with lots of other ski resorts around town hoping to be able to open.

Let's take a look at the forecast. Fine and sunny and warm today, and tomorrow might well start off with sun again and get even warmer (up to around 14 degrees!), though later on these conditions are supposed to break. We're probably going to be treated to some rain in town and hopefully snow higher up on Friday. Into next week though there's really no sign of the decent snowfall that we need.

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Planned opening dates for resorts in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City (by date):

Currently part open:
The main Kagura course - 1500m in length, real snow (and artificial) - is open.
The Mitsumata (snow-mat) area is currently being used as a connection to get to the open Kagura area.
Operating lifts are Mitsumata Ropeway, Mitsumata Number 1 lift, Mitsumata Number 3 lift, Kagura Gondola and the Kagura Number 1 high speed quad.
The Kagura Gondola needs to be taken to return back to the Mitsumata area.

On standby to open as soon as there is enough snow:
Iwappara
Joetsu Kokusai

Saturday 12th December:
Kagura (Tashiro)
Maiko Snow Resort
Naeba

Friday 18th December:
Ishiuchi Maruyama
Muikamachi Ski Resort
Yuzawa Nakazato
Yuzawa Park

Saturday 19th December:
GALA Yuzawa
Ipponsugi
Kandatsu Kogen
Ludens Yuzawa
Nakazato Snow Wood
Muimamachi Hakkaisan
NASPA Ski Garden
Yuzawa Kogen

Thursday 24th December:
Chateaux Shiozawa

Friday 25th December:
Hakkaisanroku

Saturday 26th December:
Itsukamachi
Ishiuchi Hanaoka
Mt Granview

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Ski resorts in Yuzawa town
Ski resorts in Minamiuonuma City