[basic info]
Most sites not open yet bc not covered natural snow enough.
Early open sites using snow make machines no natural snow
but no big different quality just melt faster very wet by warmer temp.
Snow like sherbet(sorbet) ice not powder(low humidity) like this.
http://www.westcoastpeaks.com/pics10A/blaafj140209_08powderA.jpgAnd want pure powder Hokkaido(northern Japan by air) sites best.
Wet snow make you catch cold need quickly put off
ski wears/shoes/gloves and unders to change new clothes.
And be careful "sunburn" by snow reflex if super fine sky.
http://www.papapaddler.com/photo2003/0201hirugano/13maa.JPGSnow is "ice" not magic sand very cold.
[Which?]
This is 2014 open dates list of all ski sites in Japan.
http://snow.gnavi.co.jp/open/ Use "google translate" first.
"関東甲信越"area's list is so. Other areas are too far.
Back to original page again(above URL)
click each ski site name of left open ski site info Japanese lang[日本語] page
then jump to page top click "English". (Don't English link click first)
"Prince Snow Resort Karuizawa" maybe good.
http://snow.gnavi.co.jp/guide/htm/r0129ens.htm
http://snow.gnavi.co.jp/guide/htm/r0129enm.htm
Don't forget open ski site "official web"
this(above) links are "snow.gnavi" web(not official) info only.
Also "Yeti" famous but a bit inconvenient access than Karuizawa.
After mid Dec "GALA Yuzawa" most famous as a day ski from Tokyo
but too early maybe. (over 3 weeks travel?)