Right, it's the first week of May and the lifts are mostly silent. Cherry blossoms are doing their thing, the onsens are full of hikers, and your ski gear is probably still damp in the back of the car. But there's still a bit going on if you know where to look, and now is actually a ripper time to lock in plans for next season before prices move.
Let's do a quick lap around the regions.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Hanging On
Almost everything on the island is closed. Grand Hirafu, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano, Tomamu - all done for the season. Sahoro shut its gates weeks ago.
The one exception, as always, is Asahidake. Being a volcanic mountain with serious altitude, it typically keeps skiing going deep into May. If you're still chasing turns in Japan right now, this is your only real option in Hokkaido. It's backcountry-style access at the top, the snow is wind-affected this late in the season, but the views across Daisetsuzan are genuinely stunning. Worth it for the experience, not the groomed runs.
Kurodake in Sounkyo is also worth a look, though conditions vary a lot by this point in the year.
For next season planning: Niseko's early-bird powder packages for December and January are already floating around. The yen sitting around 155-156 to the dollar right now is decent news for Aussies converting from AUD. Not as good as a few years back, but workable. Lock in accommodation early if you're targeting peak powder weeks (late December through late January).
Tohoku: Gassan is the Star
Tohoku is where Japan's late-season story actually gets interesting. Gassan, sitting high in the Yamagata mountains, is one of the last resorts in the country to open each year AND one of the last to close. It typically doesn't even open until late April, so right now in early May it's arguably at its prime operating window.
If you've never skied Gassan, it's a unique setup. No fancy resort village, no nightlife, just a mountain with serious snowpack and a loyal local following. The upper mountain can hold 3-4 metres of settled snow well into May. Worth the detour if you're travelling Japan and want one last ski day.
Zao Onsen in Yamagata is closed by now, but the town itself is worth a visit for the onsen. File that away for next season planning.
Nagano: Season's Done, Prep Begins
Hakuba is quiet. All the major areas - Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Cortina, Tsugaike - wrapped up by mid to late April. Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen are the same story.
What IS happening in Nagano right now is resort maintenance and upgrade work. Hakuba has been steadily improving its English-friendly infrastructure over the past few seasons, and the off-season is when that stuff gets done. Expect some lift and snowmaking upgrades to be announced before the season preview period kicks off around September.
One thing worth flagging for next season: Hakuba Cortina remains one of the most underrated resorts in Japan for deep snow. It's small, the terrain isn't huge, but when it dumps, Cortina dumps harder than almost anywhere in the valley. If you're planning a Hakuba trip for January, build in a day there.
Niigata: Kagura Possibly Still Going
Kagura and Mitsumata sometimes push into early May thanks to the Kagura area's higher elevation and serious snowpack. It's worth checking their official site if you're in the Yuzawa area right now, because there's a chance some terrain is still open.
Everything else in Niigata - Naeba, Gala Yuzawa, Joetsu Kokusai, Ishiuchi Maruyama - is closed. Gala Yuzawa is already back to being a bullet train stop with a hotel and not much else until December.
Myoko Kogen is closed but the town is lovely in spring and summer. If you haven't been to Myoko off-season, the landscape around Akakura Onsen is genuinely beautiful. Good food, good onsen, and a very different vibe to the Niseko tourist machine.
Central Honshu and Kanto: Pack It Up
Dynaland, Takasu, Ski Jam Katsuyama - all done. Same with the Kanto resorts like Hunter Mountain Shiobara and Kawaba. These lower-altitude areas were always going to be first to close, and by May they're firmly in summer mode.
Nothing to chase here right now. Come back in December.
Western Honshu: Already a Memory
Daisen in Tottori had a mixed season as usual - it's never the most reliable snowfall-wise compared to the Japan Sea coast heavyweights. Closed now. Same with Biwako Valley.
If you're based in the Kansai region and planning next season, Daisen is the closest option but I'd honestly be budgeting for a Hokkaido or Tohoku trip instead if powder is the goal.
So What Should You Actually Do Right Now
If you want to ski: Gassan in Tohoku is your best bet in Japan right now. Asahidake in Hokkaido if you want something more adventurous.
If you're planning next season: get your Niseko or Hakuba accommodation sorted before September when prices jump. The yen is in a reasonable spot. Ski Japan passes and multi-resort deals tend to drop around October, so watch for those.
And if you're just here to be sad that the season's over: yeah, same mate. Same.
