The ski season in Japan typically runs from , though the "peak" window for the country’s world-famous powder is significantly shorter, occurring between January and February .

By April, the crowds vanish. The lift tickets get cheaper. You ski in the morning when the snow is soft, and in the afternoon, you sit on a terrace with a beer, tanning your face. You can ski in Hokkaido well into May, and on the high glaciers of Nagano, sometimes into June. This is the season of freedom."

Leo looked at his empty glass, then at the snowstorm outside that was finally tapering off. He pulled out his phone to check flight prices.