Right, let's be honest. It's 14 May. The ski season in Japan is cooked for most regions. Your powder dreams are on hold until late November at the earliest. But this is actually a ripper time to plan, and a couple of spots are still technically turning lifts. Let's run through it.
Hokkaido - Asahidake Hanging On, Everything Else Wrapped Up
Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano - all closed. Done. The Niseko United lifts went quiet weeks ago and Hirafu village is in that quiet shoulder-season mode where the restaurants are half shut and the car parks are empty.
Asahidake is the one exception worth mentioning. Being a volcanic mountain on Daisetsuzan, it holds snow later than anywhere else in Hokkaido. As of mid-May it's running a reduced operation on the gondola, but you're talking spring corn snow and hiking territory more than actual skiing. Still, if you're in Hokkaido right now and desperate, it's your only option.
Planning note: Niseko's lift pass pricing for 2026-27 hasn't been formally announced yet, but if last season's trajectory continues you're looking at another increase. If you're booking a trip, factor in 20,000 yen or more per day for a full Niseko United pass at peak rates. Start watching the Niseko United website from around August when early bird deals sometimes surface.
Tohoku - Gassan Is the Standout, Worth Knowing About
Most of Tohoku is closed. Zao Onsen, Appi Kogen, Hakkoda - all done for the season.
But Gassan on the Yamagata and Niigata border is a different beast. It runs a spring ski season that can stretch well into June. It's a cult spot for Japanese skiers who want one last hit of the season. The terrain is open bowls, the snow is heavy spring stuff, and you're essentially skiing on a mountain plateau with no trees and big views. Not Japow, but genuinely fun if you're still in Japan and chasing turns.
Worth bookmarking for next April or May if you want to extend a trip.
Nagano - Hakuba and Nozawa Are Quiet, Eyes on Next Season
Hakuba is fully closed. Every resort across the valley - Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Cortina, Tsugaike - all wrapped up. Same story at Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen.
Here's the thing worth paying attention to though. Hakuba has been steadily building its summer and shoulder-season tourism offering, which means accommodation and infrastructure investment is ongoing. A few lodges are already taking bookings for the 2026-27 season. If you want a specific property in Echoland or Wadano, now is not a bad time to lock it in before the late-October rush when everyone suddenly remembers they want to go to Japan.
Cortina at Hakuba is the one I'd watch for early snowfall reports come November. It consistently gets snow before the rest of the valley and has opened as early as late November in good years.
Niigata - Kagura Possibly the Last Lift Standing
Kagura and Mitsumata sometimes run into late May on the upper mountain. It's worth checking their website if you're in the region, but don't bank on it. Naeba, Gala Yuzawa, Joetsu Kokusai - all closed.
Naeba is interesting for next season planning because it links with Kagura via the Dragondola, one of the longest gondolas in the world. If you haven't done a full Naeba-Dragondola-Kagura day, put it on the list. It's a long day but a genuinely good one.
Yuzawa town is worth a visit even now if you're passing through on the shinkansen. Ponshukan sake museum at the station is legitimately great and has nothing to do with skiing but everything to do with Japan being excellent.
Central Honshu and Kanto - All Done
Dynaland, Takasu, Ski Jam Katsuyama, Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba - closed. No surprises here. These lower-altitude resorts wrapped up in March or early April.
Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma is worth a mention for next season planning. The onsen town is one of the best in Japan and the ski area sits right above it. It's often overlooked by Aussies who default to Hakuba or Niseko, but a 3-night Kusatsu trip combined with proper onsen time is hard to beat for value and atmosphere.
Western Honshu and Tohoku Minor Resorts - Forget It
Daisen in Tottori, Biwako Valley in Shiga - closed and have been for weeks. These spots are fun in season but mid-May is not their time.
The Practical Bit - What to Actually Do Right Now
If you're planning a Japan ski trip for 2026-27, here's the honest priority list:
- Book flights early. Japan routes from Melbourne and Sydney fill up fast for January and February, and prices have been climbing.
- Sort accommodation in Niseko or Hakuba before October if you want the good stuff at a reasonable price.
- Watch for Ikon Pass and Epic Pass announcements. Niseko has had Ikon access in recent seasons and that changes the value equation significantly.
- Keep an eye on the Iran situation and its effect on fuel costs. The Japan Times is reporting energy price rises expected from June, which could flow through to travel costs by the time peak ski season arrives.
That's the state of play. Nothing to ski right now unless you're chasing Asahidake or Gassan's spring season. But the planning window for a proper 2026-27 Japan trip is wide open. Get onto it.
