Right, it's the second week of May and the honest truth is: Japan's ski season is basically cooked. The cherry blossoms are long gone, the onsen towns are filling up with hikers, and your powder dreams are on hold until November. But there are a handful of spots still worth talking about, plus some early intel on what next season might look like. Let's get into it.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Hanging On, Everyone Else Has Gone Home
Asahidake is the one. Japan's highest skiable peak at around 2,290m is still running its ropeway and the snow depth up top is sitting around 2 to 3 metres of consolidated spring snowpack. It's not powder. It's not even close. But it's skiing in May, and that's genuinely impressive.
Conditions are firm in the morning, soft and a bit slushy by midday. Go early, lap the main face a few times, and get off by noon. That's the play.
Kurodake in Daisetsuzan is also worth a mention. The ropeway is running for sightseers and some adventurous spring skiers who don't mind hiking for their turns. No lifts beyond the ropeway, but the terrain up there is wild and the snowpack is deep enough to make it worth it if you're comfortable in the backcountry.
Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano, Tomamu, all closed. Season done. Niseko's ski areas wrapped up in mid-April. If you're in Hokkaido right now for skiing, Asahidake is basically your only legitimate option.
Tohoku: Gassan Is the Star of May
Gassan in Yamagata is the standout for the whole country right now, honestly. This place is famous for its late-season skiing and it earns that reputation every single year. They're currently open with a snowpack of around 3 to 4 metres on the upper mountain. That's not a typo.
Gassan typically runs through late May and sometimes into June. The terrain is limited compared to a full-scale resort but the snow quality for spring corn skiing is genuinely excellent. It's a cult favourite for a reason.
Hakkoda near Aomori is also still offering some touring options for those with the gear and the skills. No lifts, but the snowpack is still substantial. If you're a backcountry person, Hakkoda in spring is a different kind of magic.
Zao Onsen in Yamagata closed its lifts a few weeks back, but the town itself is still worth visiting. The onsen are open year-round and it's a genuinely lovely spot even without snow.
Nagano: Hakuba is Quiet, Shiga Kogen Held On Longest
Hakuba is off. All areas, Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Cortina, the lot. Closed. The valley is transitioning into hiking and cycling season and the accommodation is cheaper than it's been since October.
Shiga Kogen was one of the last major Nagano resorts to close, holding on into late April. It's done now too, but worth noting that their season was solid. Nozawa Onsen also wrapped up cleanly.
If you're planning a Nagano ski trip for next season, now is actually a decent time to lock in accommodation for January and February. The good places in Hakuba and Nozawa fill up fast, especially with the continued international demand post-2023 boom. Don't leave it until October and then wonder why everything's full.
Niigata: Kagura is the Last Lifts Standing in the Region
Kagura up on the Mikuni mountain range near Mitsumata is still running. This is pretty typical for Kagura. The elevation and north-facing aspects mean the snowpack hangs around longer than anywhere else in Niigata. They've got a base depth of around 2 metres on the upper lifts and are currently operating a limited number of chairs.
Gala Yuzawa, Naeba, Joetsu Kokusai, all closed. The Yuzawa town itself is still accessible via the Shinkansen from Tokyo and it's a pleasant enough spring visit, but you're not skiing there.
For next season, keep an eye on Lotte Arai Resort. They've been investing in the property and the terrain there is seriously underrated by international visitors. If you haven't skied it, put it on the list.
Central Honshu and Kanto: Fully Closed, Move Along
Dynaland, Takasu Snow Park, Washigatake in Gifu, all done. Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba, Tambara in Gunma, same story. These lower-elevation areas don't have the snowpack to survive into May and they know it.
Tateyama in Toyama is the one exception worth flagging. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens in mid-April each year for sightseers and the snow walls along the road are genuinely jaw-dropping, sometimes 10 to 15 metres high. It's not a ski resort in the traditional sense but if you're in Japan in May and want to see serious snow, this is your spot. Highly recommend it as a day trip from Toyama or Kanazawa.
Western Honshu and Shikoku: Nothing to Report
Daisen in Tottori closed weeks ago. Everything else in this region is long done. If you're down this way, go eat some great food and visit some castles. No shame in that.
What to Actually Do Right Now if You're Obsessed Like Me
Honestly? Here's where I'd focus my energy in May:
- Book Gassan if you can get there in the next few weeks. It's genuinely special.
- Sort your Hokkaido accommodation for January 2027 now. The good Niseko places go fast.
- Look at the Japan Rail Pass options and work out your itinerary for next season while you've got time to think clearly, not two weeks before you fly out.
- If you're considering a Tohoku trip for next season, Hakkoda and Zao Onsen together make for a brilliant week. Fewer crowds than Hokkaido, excellent snow, incredible onsens.
She'll be right, mate. November will come around faster than you think and the Japow will be back. Until then, keep an eye on the long-range forecasts from around October and we'll be across it.
