I spent the first 15 years of my life growing up in a tropical country, where it was warm all year round. So to me the word winter means cold. I was 25 when i saw snow fall for the first time and at the best timing of the year, it was on Christmas eve. It was a breathtaking view and emotionally moving ... perhaps it was more about the Christmas than it was the snow. But to this day, gentle snow falls (not the one with blizzard) always give me a sense of peace ... i can almost hear the sound of every drop.
Thirteen years has passed, i have evolved from just watching snow falling to love being a part of the picture and actually having fun in it. Compared to Canada, the US or Swiss where they have more ski resorts with larger capacity and variety, Japan has moderate size resorts which is just good enough for beginner skiers (like me :)
What i like about skiing in Japan is that popular resorts usually have natural hot springs facility. What can be better than a dip in the hot spring after a long day playing in the snow :)
One point advise for ski trip in Japan: avoid public holidays and long weekends, since you will expect crowds.
For references on how to have fun in Japan snow this season:
For ski resort with hot spring, suitable for nite-skiers, located near Tokyo:
with recommended hotel (Japanese homepage only): http://www.matsunoi.com/
For telemark skiing, lessons, day trips, suitable for beginners:
Makino Kogen, Saga Prefecture (contact: sarc-kuga@telemarkers.com)
Minami, Gumma Prefecture (contact: info@pension-mokuba.com)
A little far but has got everything i like (well, almost everything):
Mt. Kumotori is located on the west end of Tokyo, at Oku-tama area, just beside Yamanashi Prefecture. The mountain (2017 meter height) is a nice mountain for hiking and climbing especially for beginners and even children. For those more experienced there is a "challenging course" that requires twice longer time than the basic course. Because it is only about two hours away from Tokyo it is a popular spot throughout the year.