Right, it's Friday 24 April 2026 and let's be honest with each other. Japan's ski season is basically cooked. The bulk of resorts pulled the pin weeks ago. But a handful of diehards are still running, and if you're already thinking about next winter (and you should be), now's the time to pay attention.
Hokkaido - Asahidake Carrying the Flag
Asahidake is doing what it always does in late April: quietly outlasting everyone else. Being a volcanic mountain with a base above 1,600m, it holds snow longer than any resort in Hokkaido. If you're up there this weekend you're probably looking at firm morning groomers softening up by midday, with the upper mountain still holding decent depth. It's one run essentially, but it's worth it for the bragging rights alone.
Kurodake in Daisetsuzan is in a similar boat. Not exactly a resort in the traditional sense but the ropeway still runs for spring skiers and splitboarders who know what they're doing.
Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano - all closed. Done. See you in December.
One thing worth flagging: there's been chatter about the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension and whether it eventually makes getting to Niseko easier from Honshu. The latest news out of Tokyo suggests a government panel is already questioning the project's profitability. Don't hold your breath on that one changing your travel plans anytime soon.
Tohoku - Gassan Is the Move Right Now
This is where things get interesting for late-season skiers. Gassan on the Yamagata side of the Dewa Sanzan range is basically built for this time of year. It doesn't even open until April most seasons, and it runs through late May or sometimes into June. The snowpack up there is serious - we're talking multiple metres of consolidated winter snow that just doesn't quit.
If you can get yourself to Yamagata City and then out to the mountain, Gassan is genuinely one of the best kept secrets in Japanese spring skiing. The terrain is wide open, the crowds are thin compared to peak season, and the onsen options in the area are brilliant after a day on the hill.
Zao Onsen and Appi Kogen have both wrapped up their seasons. Hakkoda near Aomori is also done, which is a shame because the backcountry up there in a good year is something else entirely.
Nagano - Cortina and the Hakuba Valley Wind Down
Hakuba is closed across the board now. Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Tsugaike - all locked up until next season. Cortina, which is the one that gets absolutely buried in Japow during peak season thanks to its position catching moisture off the Sea of Japan, has been done for a few weeks.
Nozawa Onsen called it a day not long ago too. Same with Shiga Kogen, which is a shame because the sheer size of that linked area means it holds snow in the upper sections well into spring.
For anyone planning Nagano next season: Cortina and Yamaboku Wild Snow Park are the two I'd be watching for deep powder days. Cortina especially - it's small, it's chaotic on a powder day, and it absolutely delivers when the conditions line up.
Niigata - Kagura Hanging On
Kagura up at Mitsumata is one of the last resorts in Niigata still running, which tracks given its elevation and north-facing aspect. The Kagura area typically runs into early May in a good year. Worth checking their website if you're in Tokyo and want a last crack at sliding on snow before calling the season.
Gala Yuzawa, Naeba, Joetsu Kokusai - all wrapped up. The Echigo-Yuzawa shinkansen corridor goes quiet until December and the town basically switches gears to onsen tourism.
Central Honshu and Kanto - Pack It Up
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu, Kawaba and Tambara in Gunma - all done. There's nothing left to report here except to say that Tambara is criminally underrated for a Kanto day trip and I'll keep saying it until more people listen.
Western Honshu - Already a Distant Memory
Daisen in Tottori wrapped up weeks ago. Same with Biwako Valley in Shiga. These lower-altitude spots in western Japan always close early, which is the trade-off for being accessible from Osaka and Hiroshima.
What to Actually Do Right Now
Look, if you're an Aussie planning a Japan ski trip for next season, here's the honest advice. Start watching for Ikon and Epic pass announcements. Niseko United has been on Ikon for a while now and it's still the best value if you're doing a week or more in Hokkaido. Hakuba resorts have their own pass structure worth understanding before you book.
Also worth knowing: measles cases in Japan are tracking higher than usual this year according to the health ministry. Over 299 cases reported by mid-April, already past all of 2025. If you haven't had a booster before travelling, sort that out before December.
The season is done for most of us. But Gassan is still going, Asahidake is still going, and Kagura might squeeze out another week or two. Everyone else: start dreaming about December and get your bookings in early. Accommodation in Niseko and Hakuba for peak weeks fills up faster every year.
Catch you on the mountain.
