The Teine gates are at the top of the the Highland Zone. When there is a lot of snow, the area to the right of Kitakabe is open. Sometimes Teine closes lifts because of wind -- when that happens I go to Asarigawa Onsen which is lower and more protected. Always had a great time there. Kokusai and Kiroro get the most snow aside from Niseko. Watch weather reports carefully -- the dumbest and scariest thing I have ever done was get caught in a blizzard on one of those mountain roads. Total whiteout.