Hokkaido
Pretty much done up north. Niseko United wrapped up back in late March and Rusutsu and Kiroro followed suit not long after. The two resorts worth knowing about right now are Asahidake and Kurodake, both in the Daisetsuzan area, and both still technically skiable thanks to the elevation. Asahidake in particular can hold snow into May if you're willing to hike for it. No lifts, no grooming, just volcanic terrain and whatever's left of winter up top. If you're in Hokkaido and desperate for a last lap, that's your best shot.
Furano closed out its season on a decent note with a solid late snowfall in early April. Word is the resort is planning some infrastructure upgrades over the off-season, including expanded snowmaking coverage on the lower runs. Good news for those early-season December trips when natural snow can be patchy.
For next season planning, Niseko's lift passes are already on sale and the early-bird pricing is still available for a few more weeks. If you're locking in a January or February trip, worth grabbing one now before the prices tick up.
Tohoku
Zao Onsen in Yamagata is the last real holdout in Tohoku and it's still going, just barely. A handful of upper runs are open and the famous juhyo, the snow monsters, are long gone but the scenery up top is still pretty wild in late April. Snow depth on the upper mountain is sitting around 80cm. Don't expect much variety but if you're passing through Yamagata it's worth a morning.
Gassan is the one to watch for spring skiing in Tohoku. It typically opens in late April and runs through July, which sounds mad but it's real. It's a hike-to ski setup on a high volcanic plateau, and the corn snow in May and June is genuinely excellent. Keep an eye on their website, opening dates vary year to year depending on snowpack.
Hakkoda near Aomori had a big season. Reports from locals suggest snowfall totals were above average and the backcountry up there was firing right through March. File that one away for next winter.
Nagano
Hakuba is closed across the board now. Happo-One, Goryu, 47, all done. Cortina ran slightly later than the others and squeezed out a few extra days on the upper lifts but that's finished too. The valley is already shifting into spring mode, which honestly is a lovely time to visit if you want to see it without the crowds.
Shiga Kogen held on the longest of the Nagano resorts this year. A couple of the higher lifts at Yokoteiyama were still spinning as of last week but it's looking like the final weekend is this coming one, so if you're in Nagano right now, that's genuinely your last call.
Nozawa Onsen has already announced some lift upgrades for the 2026-27 season. The Nagasaka gondola is getting a capacity boost, which should help with the morning queues that have been getting worse as the resort's popularity with international visitors grows. Good upgrade, long overdue.
Niigata
Kagura is the last man standing in Niigata and it's doing what it always does, hanging on longer than anyone expects. The Kagura main area is closed but the Mitsumata and Tashiro zones were still operating on weekends through mid-April. Check their site before making the trip though, conditions at this point are weather dependent and can change overnight.
Naeba is done for the season. GALA Yuzawa, which runs off the Shinkansen and is usually one of the later closures in the region, shut its doors last weekend. It had a strong finish with some wet spring snow in early April that the groomers made the most of.
The bigger Niigata news for next season is that Lotte Arai Resort has confirmed it's adding a new beginner zone on the lower mountain. It's been a resort that skews heavily toward advanced terrain, which is great for those of us who like it steep, but it's made it harder to bring less experienced mates along. Good move from them.
Central Honshu
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu are both wrapped up. So is Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui. These resorts run a shorter season at the best of times and late April is well outside their window. Nothing to see here until December.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is worth flagging though. It's not a ski resort in the traditional sense but the snow walls along the route can reach 15 to 20 metres in a big year and it's spectacular. The route opened for the season earlier this month and it's very much worth the trip if you're in the Toyama or Nagano area and want to get your snow fix without actually skiing.
Kanto
All closed. Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba, Tambara, all done and dusted. The Gunma and Tochigi resorts run a solid season but late April is firmly off-season territory. If you're based in Tokyo and already itching for next winter, Kagura is your closest option for any remaining snow, about two and a half hours on the Shinkansen.
Worth noting that Kusatsu Onsen the town is fantastic year-round, so even without skiing it's not a bad long weekend from Tokyo in spring.
Looking Ahead
Japan's 2025-26 season was a strong one overall, especially in Hokkaido and Tohoku where snowfall was above average through February and March. Nagano had a patchy start to December but recovered well. Now's the time to start thinking about passes, flights, and accommodation for next season. Popular weeks in Hakuba and Niseko book out earlier every year. Don't leave it until October and then act surprised.