Right, it's the second of May. The lifts are mostly silent, the resort towns are emptying out, and the average punter is already deep into summer holiday planning. But Japan doesn't fully give up on snow in May. A few stubborn legends are still spinning chairs, and if you're the type who chases the last turns of the season, this one's for you.
No fresh news out of the ski world this week, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The Japan Times is busy with yen intervention drama and oil prices hammering sento bathhouses. Fair enough. We're in the off-season lull now, and honestly, the more useful thing to do is take stock of what's still open, what's coming for next season, and where to start planning.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Keeps the Dream Alive
Niseko is done. Rusutsu is done. Kiroro closed weeks ago. But Asahidake, sitting up on the flanks of Daisetsuzan at around 1,600 metres, is still running its ropeway and offering spring turns on a solid base. It's a legit mountain, not a snow machine park pretending to be one. If you're in Hokkaido right now and you want to ski, Asahidake is your answer.
Kurodake in Sounkyo is also worth a mention. The ropeway typically operates into May for snow conditions, and the backcountry access from the top is genuinely excellent for experienced skiers. Neither of these is a resort in the Niseko sense. No groomed groomers, no apres, no rental shop at the base. But if you know what you're doing, they're brilliant.
For everyone else, start thinking about next season. Niseko's early bird season passes are worth watching. Hanazono and Grand Hirafu tend to release deals over the northern hemisphere summer, and if you're planning a January or February trip, locking in a pass now saves real money.
Tohoku: Gassan Is the One to Watch
Tohoku is quietly the best kept secret in Japanese spring skiing. Gassan, up in the Yamagata mountains, typically opens in late April and runs through July. Yes, July. It's a spring-only operation that uses the natural snowpack on a high plateau, and it's absolutely worth the detour if you're travelling through the region.
Zao Onsen in Yamagata closed its main lifts in early April, but the town itself is worth a visit any time of year for the onsen. File that one away for a shoulder-season trip. Hakkoda near Aomori is another that holds snow well into spring, though lift operations are usually done by now. The backcountry touring season up there can stretch a bit longer.
For next season, Appi Kogen is one I'd be keeping an eye on. It's a well-run resort in Iwate Prefecture with a long season, good snow reliability, and it's far less crowded than Hakuba or Niseko. If you want a proper Japanese ski holiday without the Instagram circus, Appi delivers.
Nagano: Hakuba and the Gang Are Closed, But Cortina Deserves a Mention
Hakuba's main resorts, Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, they're all done for the season. Cortina, which sits a bit higher and gets smashed with snow off the Sea of Japan, sometimes hangs on a little longer but it's almost certainly wrapped up by now too.
What's worth talking about for Nagano is the upcoming season planning. Shiga Kogen, the massive linked area with 21 resorts, is one of the best value destinations in Japan for a longer trip. It's not as sexy as Hakuba in the brochures, but the skiing is vast, the snow is reliable, and the accommodation is affordable. Worth serious consideration if you haven't been.
Nozawa Onsen also deserves a plug. If you haven't done a week in Nozawa, you're missing one of the best ski village experiences in the world. The free public hot springs dotted around town, the old wooden buildings, the genuinely steep terrain on the upper mountain. It's the real deal.
Niigata: Kagura Is the Last Man Standing in the Region
Kagura and the Mitsumata area, connected by gondola above Yuzawa, is famous for holding snow into May. It's a high-altitude plateau that catches serious accumulation through the season, and the snowpack can be genuinely impressive this late in the year. If you're in Tokyo and want a day trip to get some final turns in, the Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa and then a shuttle up to Kagura is your best bet right now.
Gala Yuzawa, right at the Shinkansen station, is almost certainly closed. Naeba, same story. But Kagura is the one that earns its reputation in spring. Worth checking their official site before you make the trip, obviously.
Central Honshu and Further South: Pack It Up
Dynaland, Takasu Snow Park, Ski Jam Katsuyama, all closed. Daisen over in Tottori, same. Western Honshu and Shikoku's ski areas are tiny and low, they've been done since March.
Nothing to chase down here right now. But if you're planning a Kyoto or Osaka trip in winter, Daisen is a surprisingly doable day trip and it's a proper mountain with decent terrain. Keep it in the back pocket.
The Honest Takeaway for May 2026
If you're in Japan right now and you want to ski, your two real options are Asahidake in Hokkaido and Kagura in Niigata. Gassan in Tohoku is worth a detour if you're up that way. Everything else has closed the gates.
For the rest of us sitting in Melbourne staring at the rain and already thinking about next January, now is a ripper time to start researching passes, booking accommodation in Hakuba or Nozawa, and watching for early season deals. The yen is still getting battered, which is genuinely good news for Australians travelling to Japan. Make the most of it while it lasts.
