Right, it's Friday 8 May and let's be honest with each other. The season is done for most of Japan. The lifts are quiet, the ryokans are airing out the futons, and resort staff are already planning their summer gigs. But there's still a bit of snow action if you know where to look, and more importantly, now is the perfect time to sort your plans for next season before the good deals disappear.
Hokkaido - Asahidake Hanging On Like a Champ
Pretty much everything in Hokkaido has shut the doors for the season. Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano, all closed. Tomamu wrapped up weeks ago.
The one exception worth flagging is Asahidake. Sitting up at around 1,600 metres on the flanks of Daisetsuzan, this place runs a ropeway into late spring and sometimes into June depending on the year. It's not groomed resort skiing. It's sidecountry touring and you need to know what you're doing. But if you're a powder hound who wants one last Japan fix before winter is properly over, Asahidake is the answer.
Kurodake, nearby in Sounkyo, is in a similar boat. Worth checking their site directly if you're in the area.
For the rest of Hokkaido, the off-season pivot is already underway. Niseko United just confirmed their multi-resort pass pricing for 2026/27 is going up again. No surprise there. If you're planning a Niseko trip next season, locking in an early-bird pass now saves real money. Hirafu village will be absolutely rammed in peak January again, so think about basing yourself in Annupuri or Niseko village side if you want a quieter time.
Tohoku - Gassan Is the One to Watch
Here's your curveball for May. Gassan in Yamagata Prefecture is one of the only ski areas in all of Japan that runs through spring and into early summer, full stop. It sits high in the Dewa Sanzan range and the snowpack there is genuinely ridiculous. We're talking a base that can sit around 4 metres deep through winter and it lingers well into the warm months.
Gassan typically opens its spring season around late April and runs through late June or even early July some years. It's a different vibe to your typical resort, more like a snow festival atmosphere with families, ski clubs, and some genuinely committed ski nuts. The terrain is limited but the snow quality in May is often surprisingly decent, especially on north-facing slopes.
Zao Onsen in Yamagata is closed for the season but absolutely worth putting on the radar for next year. The juhyo (snow monsters) up there are unlike anything else in Japan. If you haven't done Zao, it goes on the list.
Nagano - Hakuba Packing Up, But Planning Season Starts Now
Hakuba is done. Happo-One, Goryu, Cortina, all wrapped. The valley is transitioning into hiking and cycling season, which is genuinely beautiful if you're into that sort of thing.
What matters right now is that Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47 have been making noises about terrain park upgrades for next season. Cortina, which is the tree skiing capital of the valley and honestly one of my favourite spots in all of Japan, is apparently looking at expanding its snowcat access zones. Nothing confirmed yet but worth watching.
Nozawa Onsen also closed but the town itself is worth a visit any time of year. If you've never been, the onsen baths in the village are free and open to the public year-round. Lovely little place even without snow.
Shiga Kogen, the massive linked area up on the plateau, is similarly shut. But with 21 linked resorts and some of the most reliable snow in Nagano, it's always a solid bet for January and February. The Shiga Kogen Resort Pass covers the whole lot and is genuinely good value compared to buying individual tickets.
Niigata - Kagura Might Surprise You
Most of Niigata is closed. Naeba, GALA Yuzawa, Ishiuchi Maruyama, Joetsu Kokusai, all done for the year.
Kagura is the exception. The Kagura area sits higher than the rest of the Yuzawa cluster and has historically run spring skiing well into May, sometimes longer. It's worth a direct check of their site if you're flexible and keen for a last hurrah. The mountain gets less traffic than Naeba and the terrain is more interesting anyway.
Myoko Kogen in the north of Niigata is closed but already has some buzz around it for next season. Lotte Arai Resort next door has been investing heavily in the property and the snowfall totals up in that corner of Niigata are consistently impressive. Myoko as a whole is a bit underrated compared to Hakuba and I'd happily spend a week there over a week in peak-season Hirafu.
Kanto and Further South - Season Done, Full Stop
Everything in the Kanto ski belt, Kusatsu, Kawaba, Tambara, Palcall Tsumagoi, all closed. Same story for Central Honshu and anything in Western Honshu and Shikoku.
Daisen in Tottori had a reasonable season this year by its standards. It's not a destination resort by any stretch but it's a fun day trip if you're based in the Hiroshima or Osaka area in winter.
Your Move Right Now
Honestly, the best thing you can do this week is sort your accommodation for January or February 2027. The good places in Hakuba, Nozawa, and Niseko book out fast and prices only go one direction. Gassan is worth a weekend trip if you're already in Japan and want a weird, wonderful end-of-season story to tell.
The season's not over until Gassan says it's over. She'll be right.
