If the first day of skiing turned out to be much better than it seemed at first (if a bit warm through the day), today is a good day to...well, not not go skiing--we'd never say that--but to dress warmly. Or dryly.

It's pretty grim out there, with thick fog and rain. Temperatures are marginally lower than yesterday, with the wind shifting around to the north. As the Snow Japan weather report shows, the freezing level is going to go up today and tomorrow, but then come back down. With the colder weather, snow is on the forecast too, so better snow days ahead. Today, support your local ski area by ordering a coffee or something.

Operations and official snow depths

Akakura Kanko (Akakan)
Sky Cable gondola, Nos. 3 & 5 lifts; 90cm

Akakura Onsen
Ginrei Nos. 3 & 5; Kumado Nos. 2, 4, 6; 90cm

Ikenotaira
Open; 60cm

Suginohara
Gondola; Mitahara zone closed; 100cm

Seki Onsen
Planning for an opening on the 20th; no snow report today

Kyukamura Myoko Run Run
Opening December 22

Myoko Ski Park
Open; 65cm

Tangram
Opening December 21

Madarao
Nos. 1 & 2 lifts; 40cm