Hokkaido
Hokkaido is basically done. Niseko United wrapped up operations earlier this month, and by now even the diehards have packed their bags. Furano ran a good long season but has also closed. Kiroro and Rusutsu, same deal. If you were hoping to sneak in a late April lap at Hirafu, sorry mate, that ship has sailed.
The one exception worth knowing about is Asahidake, which sits up at around 1,600m and tends to linger into May on a good year. It's a ropeway-access mountain in Daisetsuzan National Park, not a groomed resort in the traditional sense, so you're looking at unpatrolled, backcountry-adjacent skiing with whatever snow remains on the upper bowl. Conditions vary wildly this time of year. Check the Asahidake Ropeway website before you make any plans, but if you're based in Hokkaido and desperate for one more turn, it's your best bet on the island right now.
Looking ahead, the 2026/27 pre-season chatter is already starting. Niseko continues to attract investment, with ongoing infrastructure work at Hanazono. Nothing confirmed yet on new lift upgrades, but expect announcements to start filtering through by June or July.
Tohoku
Tohoku hangs on a little longer than Hokkaido in some spots, mostly because of elevation and latitude working in different combinations. Zao Onsen in Yamagata has historically run into mid-April, but at this point it's almost certainly closed or down to token operations. The famous juhyo, those snow monster trees, are long gone by now anyway.
Gassan is the one to watch in this region and it deserves a mention even though it's technically a minor resort in our list. It's one of the only ski areas in Japan that operates purely in spring, opening in mid-April and running into July in a big year. Right now, late April, Gassan is actually getting going rather than winding down. It's a cult destination for spring skiing, mostly backcountry-oriented, accessed by a road that only opens when the snowpack allows. If you're a powder chaser who also doesn't mind corn snow and big open bowls in sunshine, Gassan is legitimately worth a trip. Keep an eye on their site for the 2026 opening date and access road status.
Hakkoda near Aomori is another one that attracts spring skiers and splitboarders. Ropeway skiing there can extend into May depending on the year. No confirmed closures yet publicly, so worth a check if you're in the area.
Nagano
Nagano's big resorts are closed. Happo-One, Goryu, Cortina, Nozawa Onsen, all done for winter. Shiga Kogen wrapped up its linked-area operations. You won't be doing laps at Cortina's famous trees this week, that's for sure.
The spring holdout here is Yamaboku Wild Snow Park, which occasionally runs a limited operation into late April on the upper sections. Worth checking, but don't book flights based on it.
What's worth thinking about for Nagano heading into next season is the Hakuba lift pass situation. The Hakuba Valley ticket that links the major resorts has been steadily increasing in price, and early purchase deals for 2026/27 will likely appear around June or July. If you're planning a Hakuba trip next season, bookmark that. Buying early has saved people real money in recent years.
Niigata
Kagura and Mitsumata are your best news out of Niigata right now. Kagura sits high enough that it typically runs into early May, and the Mitsumata gondola gives access to terrain that holds snow well into spring. If you're in Tokyo and want one last hit of the season, this is your most realistic option. It's a quick Shinkansen ride to Echigo-Yuzawa from Tokyo Station, then a short bus or taxi to the gondola base. The snowpack has been decent across Niigata this season, so there should still be something to ski on the upper mountain.
Gala Yuzawa, which sits right at the Shinkansen station, typically closes around early to mid-April, so that's probably already done. Naeba, Joetsu Kokusai and most of the valley-floor resorts in the Yuzawa area will be shut.
Myoko Kogen is closed but it's had a strong year and the community there is growing. A few tour operators have already started talking up Myoko for 2026/27 as an alternative to the increasingly crowded Hakuba valley. Worth considering if you haven't been.
Central Honshu
Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui is one of the last resorts in this region to close each season, sometimes running into early May with snowmaking support on the lower sections. Check their schedule. Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu are almost certainly done by now.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which isn't a ski resort but sits in this broader region, opens to visitors in mid-April with the famous snow corridor walls. It's not skiing, but if you're in the area and want to see some serious snow, it's worth the trip.
Kanto
Pretty much everything in Gunma and Tochigi has closed. Tambara, Kawaba, Kusatsu Onsen, all wrapped up. The Kanto resorts run shorter seasons at lower elevations and late April is well past time.
If you're based in Tokyo and already thinking about next season, now is a good time to sort your accommodation for busy weeks. The Niseko and Hakuba markets in particular book out fast, and the best ryokan and smaller guesthouses in towns like Nozawa and Myoko often fill up well before the season even opens.
Western Honshu and Shikoku
Done. Daisen in Tottori and Biwako Valley in Shiga wrapped up weeks ago. This region runs the shortest seasons in Japan and late April is firmly off-season territory.
Bottom line for this week: Kagura is your best bet for a last lap if you're on Honshu, Gassan is worth the trip if you're into spring skiing and are prepared for the conditions, and Asahidake might have something left for Hokkaido locals. For everyone else, it's time to start planning next season.