You would have been forgiven for thinking that it was January, not nearly April, last night. It was nice and cold, with flakes of snow gently drifting down and a few stars peeking out (I'm feeling a bit poetic, actually, about this). We probably got only 5cm or so, but once again it has made everything perfectly white. Add on clear blue skies, and, well, you get the idea. I pity the people who must be in an office today.

So with the trees all white, it's even more a shame that the ski areas are only running some of their lifts. I'm told it's because people in the big cities stop thinking about skiing once things get warm locally and stop heading out, but on a year like this it just doesn't make sense.... Sorry for the rant, but you look at the window and see those mountains, and wonder why the slopes aren't just packed with people.

Akakura Onsen: most lifts are running; night skiing has ended
Akakan: Sky Cable Gondola and No. 3 lifts are running
Ikenotaira: Shirakaba Capsule, Ikenotaira Quad and AB Dai 1 lifts
Suginohara: Closed until the weekend, then the season is over. With 260cm still on the ground....
Seki Onsen: You can't stop with 580cm of snow on the ground
Myoko Ski Park: Open
Kyukamura: Open
Tangram No. 3 and No. 5 lifts open until April 1
Madarao: Open


Current Official Snow Depths

Akakura Onsen:
330cm

Akakan (Akakura Kanko):
335cm

Ikenotaira:
260cm

Myoko Suginohara:
260cm

Seki Onsen:
580cm

Myoko Ski Park:
410cm

Kyukamura:
400cm

Tangram:
220cm

Madarao:
240cm