I'm glad I didn't report first thing in the morning as I would have had to write things like, "An inauspicious start to the season" (even though I'm totally not superstitious) because things are looking, well, OK. There is a little rain falling from time to time, but it's meant a series of spectacular rainbows right over the mountains. The wind was howling like mad during the night and in the early morning, but the Sky Cable gondola at Akakan is running just fine. And there's still plenty of snow on the ground, so all in all it's not a bad early first day of the season! If my new boots arrive, I might get out there, too (I'd prefer to ski cold powder, but I'm a gearhead, too....gotta try the new toys).

Operations and official snow depths

Akakura Kanko (Akakan)
Sky Cable gondola, Nos. 3 & 5 lifts; 120cm

Akakura Onsen
Ginrei Nos. 3 & 5; Kumado Nos. 2, 4, 6; 100cm

Ikenotaira
Open (no snow report)

Suginohara
Gondola; Mitahara zone closed; 140cm

Seki Onsen
Planning for an opening on the 20th; 140cm

Kyukamura Myoko Run Run
Opening December 22

Myoko Ski Park
Opening December 16

Tangram
December 21

Madarao
Nos. 1 & 2 lifts; 40cm