Snow is falling in Myoko. A fittingly odd end to a really perplexing season.

I'm calling this the last day of the 2019-2020, super-low-snow then hit us with a pandemic season. Lotte Arai says it's staying open until May 6, Seki Onsen in unclear about current conditions and plans from now on (but nothing new there), but everyone else is closing today.

The worst snow in anyone's memory. This is how this year will be remembered. We all hope it's a fluke, but lots of locals also privately worry if this is the trend of things to come. Not to be negative, dear readers, but we do think about it. Probably should, too! We might have a crazy heavy year next season; they say that can be one of the results of climate change, too. We hope for more, of course!

Myoko is a place defined by the snow. It's still a great place in the non-snow times, but.... just seems sad without the huge snow walls and the daily struggle to clear out the massive falls just so we can get out of the driveway.

It wasn't terrible on the resorts. There was good snow on many days. There were a lot of "interesting" terrain features that normally would be buried under deeper snow, but can't complain about that.

The backcountry was pretty bad, with the brush, trees and vines never really covered over enough to allow for good turns. In fact, it was better mid-mountain (where there are more buna, or beech trees, than up high where it's more open. It was nice that we had almost no avalanche risk through the whole season. There simply wasn't enough snow most of the time, and very small cornices above so less risk of them coming down in spring. As long as we don't get complacent. Saying that, too, there are still WAY too many people heading offpiste with no gear whatsoever. It doesn't matter if the avalanche is 10 meters off the runs or a kilometer away: if you don't have the gear or don't know how to use it, you or your friends are in serious trouble. And it has happened.

Myoko really became an "international" resort this year, and I choose that word carefully. I know there are changes that lots of longtime visitors aren't happy about, and I think we'll see a few years of things being in flux as people see yen signs in their eyes, but not the difficulty of running a business here (either because of the heavy snow, or the lack of it this year - who knows how that will affect next year?).

But the mountain is still beautiful, and the local folks still surprise with their kindness and humor, even after close to 30 years here...

And, of course, now we're all hunkered down, masked up, staying two meters apart, not drinking nearly enough saké (and the corona virus hates alcohol, right? We have a duty to disinfect here).

So let's hope for a whole new season next year!

And hope you'll be back here, too, reading these daily rantings and reportings on the Myoko snow. See you somewhere around November 2020 (and I'll add any notes on the remaining resorts, if info does get out).

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Akakura Kanko:
110cm, -2°
Sky Cable gondola and Hotel No. 3 lift. Last day today.

Akakura Onsen:
100cm, -1°
Ginrei area closed; Yodel 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 lifts; Kumado No. 4. Last day today.

Ikenotaira Onsen:
Closed

Myoko Suginohara:
Closed

Seki Onsen:
180cm, -2°
Finally a change in the snowpack (although I doubt that number); no closing info....

Myoko Ski Park:
Apparently open, but no info. If it is, today's the last day.

Kyukamura RunRun:
Apparently closed

Tangram Ski Circus:
Closed

Madarao Kogen:
Closed

Lotte Arai Resort
257cm, 3.3°
Sanroku No. 1 and 2 closed
Says will remain open until May 6

Kurohime Kogen Snow Park
Closed