In case anyone is going to Honshu in Jan/Feb here is my program:
Shiga Kogen - Jan 26th to Feb 2nd
Hakuba - Feb 2nd to 9th
I'll be with my son who takes Japanese as a minor language. Business and Mandarin is his major and he is on his way to China for most of 2008 as part of his studies. After Hakuba we have a week sightseeing/visiting and then another week together in Beijing to settle him in. Niseko is off because I reverted to my original plan (sans TTS ski school) to avoid arriving in Beijing smack bang at start of Chinese New Year, plus have an extra week together.