Right, it's the 1st of May 2026. The season is cooked. Most lifts shut down weeks ago and the only people still on snow in Japan right now are the hardcore spring skiers at a handful of holdouts. But here's the thing: this is exactly when the smart punters start doing their homework for next season. Passes go on sale, resorts announce upgrades, and you can lock in flights before the rest of the world catches on.
Let's do a quick lap of every region and see where things stand.
Hokkaido: The Last Snow Is Up High
Niseko United, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano - all closed. Done for the season. Tomamu and Sahoro shut up shop back in mid-April. The only place with any real snow action left in Hokkaido right now is Asahidake, which often holds on into May thanks to its elevation sitting above 1,600m. If you're already in Japan and desperate for a few turns, Asahidake is your best shot on the island. It's a ropeway resort, no lifts, hike-to terrain, and the snow gets heavy and wet this time of year. Not Japow. But it's something.
The big news out of Hokkaido for next season is Niseko. Annupuri has been quietly upgrading its lift infrastructure and there are strong rumours of a new gondola at Hanazono for the 26-27 season. Nothing confirmed yet. Keep an eye on the Niseko United announcements over the next few months.
One thing worth noting: Japan's local governments are warning about bear activity as they come out of hibernation this spring. Hokkaido has a serious bear population. If you're planning any late-season backcountry or spring touring around Daisetsuzan or the Niseko ranges, take that seriously. Leave no food scraps outside, travel in groups, carry a bell.
Tohoku: Gassan Might Still Be Running
Tohoku's big hitter for late-season is Gassan, which sits high in the Dewa Sanzan range in Yamagata Prefecture. It's one of the only resorts in Japan that regularly opens in spring rather than winter, typically running from late April through July on consolidated spring snow. Worth checking their site directly if you're heading to Yamagata or Sendai in the next few weeks.
Zao Onsen and Appi Kogen are both closed. Hakkoda, which had a cracking season thanks to its high snowfall and tree skiing, is done too. For next season, Zao's famous juhyo (snow monsters) were particularly spectacular this past winter according to reports from the mountain. If you haven't done Zao in a high-snow year, put it on the list.
Nagano: Hakuba Packs Up, Cortina Stays Loyal to the End
Hakuba valley is in full off-season mode. Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47 all closed in early April. Cortina, which is always the last resort in the valley to close, hung on a bit longer as it usually does. It's gone now too.
Nozawa Onsen had a strong finish to the season with decent late snow. Shiga Kogen, being the highest and biggest linked area in Japan, held on into mid-April at the upper sections before calling it.
For 26-27 planning: the Hakuba Valley Tourism Board has been pushing multi-resort passes harder than ever. If you're doing a week in Hakuba, the Hakuba Valley Ticket covering all resorts is genuinely good value. Locking that in early tends to save you a few thousand yen. Watch for the early-bird window to open around August or September.
Niigata: Kagura Is the Last Soldier
Kagura and Mitsumata deserve a proper mention here because Kagura's upper mountain regularly skis into May on its own snowpack. It's not powder, it's corn snow, but the runs are long and the views across to the Mikuni range are brilliant. If you're within striking distance of Echigo-Yuzawa this weekend, it might just be worth the shinkansen ride to check if they're still spinning a lift or two.
Naeba, Gala Yuzawa, Joetsu Kokusai - all wrapped up. GALA in particular closes early because it's so dependent on the shinkansen tourist trade and that drops off fast once school holidays end.
Lotte Arai had another good season and continues to grow its reputation as a proper destination resort. If you haven't skied it, add it to the shortlist for next year. The tree skiing off the upper lifts is underrated.
Central Honshu: All Done
Dynaland, Takasu Snow Park, Ski Jam Katsuyama - all closed. These resorts sit at lower elevations and are really a December-to-March proposition. Nothing to report here except start thinking about whether the Gifu resorts fit into a broader Takayama trip next season. They can work well as a day trip from the town.
Kanto (Tochigi and Gunma): Closed, But Good for Day Trips in Season
Tambara and Kawaba are both shut. Kusatsu Onsen ski area is done. Worth knowing for next season: Kusatsu is a genuinely underrated combo of onsen town and skiing. The town is one of the best hot spring destinations in Japan and the ski area right above it is decent for a day or two. Not Hakuba, but the vibe is unbeatable.
Western Honshu and Shikoku: Forget It Until December
Daisen in Tottori is closed. These western resorts run short seasons at the best of times and May is firmly off the table. If you're travelling western Japan right now, swap the ski boots for hiking shoes. The mountains are still there, just without snow.
What to Actually Do Right Now
Seriously, May is the best time to sort your Japan ski trip for next season. Flights from Melbourne to Sapporo or Tokyo are cheaper now than they'll be in October. Accommodation in Niseko and Hakuba fills up fast for peak weeks (late December and late January especially). And if you're thinking about a Japan Rail Pass, sort that before you leave Australia.
The season is over. But next season starts now.
