I've just got back from Niseko - it's a bit bare and bumpy in places, but hirafu was still a good time - beats Kusatsu on a peak day! Anyhow, I agree the new passport system is an improvement, but the new gates a re a bit odd with the rotating turnstyle, rather than the simple gate - a few times it caught my back binding , or the back of my leg. No biggie, but an odd design.