It's a fairly warm morning here and quite windy - though nothing compared to how windy it is supposed to be getting later on towards lunchtime and this afternoon. There is a very high chance that the limited lifts moving this morning may not continue once the forecast winds arrive in this region - it is supposed to be extremely strong winds on their way.

It's one of those 'best to find something else to do' days I think. Anyone for an onsen or a trip to see the monkeys at Jigokudani?

The good news is that overnight tonight temperature should drop and we be on the receiving end of some fresh snow. Tomorrow looks like it might still be quite windy but if there's some fresh snow it will definitely be an improvement on today.

Official resort snow depths as of Tuesday 3rd April 2012 AM:

Yokoteyama:
200cm
Kumanoyu:
190cm
Ichinose Family:
170cm
Yakebitaiyama:
220cm
Okushiga Kogen:
240cm

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Resort areas that are now closed for the season are Maruike, Hasuike, Giant, Bunadaira, Nishitateyama and Kidoike. The planned closing dates of other ski areas are as follows, subject to change:

Sun Valley:
No1 quad until 8th April
No3 lift until 4th April

Higashitateyama:
Closed at the moment. Re-open for April 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May. Access to Terakoya still operating even when Higashitateyama closed.

Terakoya:
Closed at the moment. Re-open for April 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May.

Mammoth:
Quad until 6th May. Triple until 8th April.

Tannenomori:
Until 6th May (but closed from 9th April until 28th April).

Ichinose Family:
Quad until 6th May. Pairs on April 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May.

Ichinose Diamond:
Triple until 6th April. Quad open April 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May.

Ichinose Yamanokami:
Until 8th April.

Yakebitaiyama:
No2 Gondola & No2 quad until 8th April and then April 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May.
No2 lift until 8th April and then April 14/15, 21/22, 29th April - 6th May.
No3 lift March 17/18, 20, 24/25, April 7/8
No4 pair open when No2 Gondola closed

Okushiga Kogen:
Gondola open until 9th April and then 14th-16th April, 21st-23rd April, 28th April until 6th May.
No1 pair until 8th April.
No2 and No3 pairs until 6th May.
No4 pair until 8th April and then 14th-15th April, 21st-22nd April, 28th April until 6th May.

Kumanoyu:
Some lifts open beyond 6th May (after that date the Shiga Kogen ticket not valid)

Yokoteyama:
Plans to be open until late May. Beyond 6th May, the joint Shiga Kogen ticket not valid.