The mountain at Kusatsu Onsen looks more red-and-gold than white. This is shoulder season: some winter hints up high, autumn everywhere else. Any early snow is more promise than product. The leaves get this round.
That makes Kusatsu Onsen the 11th snowiest of 16 Gunma resorts we have reviewed.
Start with the upper-mountain wind and cloud line. Here, a cold front pushing across the divide is the pattern to watch, so the useful question is how cold and calm the next window stays. With a 1450 to 2050 metre elevation band and 600 metres of vertical, the groomers tell the story quickly once the first few laps are done. A seasonal baseline around 7 metres means small clean refills matter more than waiting for a giant number. The swing variable is whether the upper lift can run with enough visibility to make the top worth using. If you are looking beyond the ropes, only chase that angle when the forecast also shows settled wind and stable visibility. Chase it after a cold storm only if the wind eases; if the top is socked in, wait for the next clear window.
See which resorts in Gunma are getting the best 24 hour totals and the next two days of snow.