Right, it's the 1st of July. No lifts spinning, no powder reports, no fresh tracks to brag about. But that doesn't mean there's nothing worth talking about. Plenty is happening behind the scenes across Japan's ski regions, and one story from this week is genuinely hilarious.
Let's get into it.
The Story You Actually Need to Hear: Fake Snow, Real Audacity
A Japanese tourism company got caught this week using webcam images from Australian ski slopes to promote Japan's mountains for next winter. Let that sink in. Someone grabbed footage of our dry, patchy, "she'll be right" start to the 2026 Aussie season and slapped it on a Japanese tourism site as if it was Hokkaido.
Mate. The irony is thick. Japan is literally the gold standard for snow on the planet, and someone decided to borrow our bargain-bin winter to sell it. Unofficial Networks picked it up and honestly it's the funniest thing to happen in the Japan ski world since border closures.
Lesson here: always check your sources. Even the people selling Japow can get it wrong.
Hokkaido: Asleep, But Worth Watching
Niseko United, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano. All closed. All sitting under green summer hills right now. But this is exactly the time to be planning.
Niseko's multi-resort passes typically go on early-bird sale around August and September. If you're eyeing a January or February trip, that's when you lock in the best rates. Hanazono and Annupuri tend to be quieter than Grand Hirafu even in peak season, so keep those in mind if you want the powder without the Hirafu Village chaos.
Worth a mention: Asahidake, Japan's highest peak at 2,291 metres, sometimes holds snow into late spring and opens earliest in autumn. If you're a powder tragic who wants to ski in October, that's your place. Not glamorous, no village, just raw alpine skiing in Daisetsuzan National Park. I love it for that.
Tohoku: Under the Radar as Always
Zao Onsen in Yamagata is the one Tohoku resort that gets talked about internationally, mostly for the snow monsters (juhyo). But it's closed like everything else right now.
Gassan is worth flagging here. It's one of the few resorts in Japan that runs into May and sometimes June on its upper snowfields. By July it's done, but it's a reminder that Tohoku holds snow longer than most people realise. If you've never skied Tohoku, Appi Kogen and Hakkoda should both be on your list for next season. Hakkoda in particular is backcountry heaven.
Nagano: The Big One Is Planning Mode
Hakuba Valley, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen. All dormant. But Nagano is where most Aussies end up and it's worth thinking about now.
Hakuba 47 and Goryu are linked and great for intermediates. Cortina is the one serious powder hounds chase because they don't groom much and the trees are unreal. Tsugaike is underrated for beginners and has a solid base village feel without the Hirafu-style price tag.
For next season, Nozawa Onsen is worth serious consideration if you haven't been. It's a proper Japanese village, the onsen culture is authentic, and the skiing on Yamabiko and Uenotaira is excellent. It gets less Aussie foot traffic than Hakuba too, which some people love and some people hate.
Niigata: Kagura Holds On Longest
Niigata is closed across the board now, but Kagura and Mitsumata deserve a mention. Kagura regularly runs into May on its upper terrain, one of the latest closing dates in Honshu. Naeba and Gala Yuzawa are the big accessible ones (Gala literally has a shinkansen station), but they close earlier.
If you're a Sydneysider or Melburnian who wants a quick hit trip, Gala Yuzawa is genuinely easy. Tokyo to the slopes in about 75 minutes on the bullet train. Not the deepest snow, not the most dramatic terrain, but for a four or five day trip it punches well.
Central Honshu and Kanto: Fine, But Not Your Priority
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu are decent mid-season resorts but they're not why you fly to Japan. Same goes for the Kanto resorts like Kawaba and Tambara. Good for a day trip from Tokyo, not worth building a trip around.
The Departure Tax Just Tripled. Yes, Really.
Big practical news for anyone planning a Japan trip: Japan has tripled its departure tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per person. That's roughly 30 Australian dollars per departure. Not a budget breaker, but factor it in. The government is trying to manage overtourism, and honestly, if you've been to Hirafu in peak January lately, you understand why.
Worth noting: the yen situation is still being watched closely. Japan's FX chief flagged this week that currency intervention is still on the table. A stronger yen would make your trip more expensive. A weaker yen, more affordable. Keep an eye on it when you're booking.
What You Should Actually Be Doing Right Now
It's July. Here's your checklist:
- Research your resort and lock in accommodation early, especially for January and February in Hakuba or Niseko
- Watch for multi-resort pass sales in August and September
- Check your Japan visa situation if you're planning a longer stay, the rules have been tightening
- Factor in the new 3,000 yen departure tax
- And please, don't use Australian snow photos to get yourself excited about Japan. The real thing is better. Much better.
Back next week with more off-season planning content. Stay keen.
