Right, it's the 24th of May. The cherry blossoms are long gone, the rice paddies are getting planted, and most of Japan's ski resorts shut the gates weeks ago. But a few absolute diehards are still spinning lifts, and if you're already thinking about next season (you are, admit it), there's plenty worth knowing right now.
Hokkaido - Asahidake Hangs On
The only place in Hokkaido worth talking about in late May is Asahidake. It's a volcano, it sits at 2,291 metres, and the ropeway runs year-round for hikers and late-season skiers willing to bootpack above the top station. Snow depth up there is still reasonable for this time of year, probably 1.5 to 2 metres on the upper mountain, but it's spring corn and you're skiing among fumaroles. Brilliant and weird in equal measure.
Everywhere else in Hokkaido is done. Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano - all closed. The staff are on their summer gigs, the restaurants in Hirafu have flipped their menus to ramen and craft beer, and the next snowfall won't arrive until October at the earliest. If you haven't locked in your Niseko accommodation for next season, do it now. Seriously. The good places in Hirafu fill up by August.
Tohoku - Gassan Is the Star Right Now
This is where the real late-season action is. Gassan in Yamagata is genuinely one of the best kept secrets in Japanese skiing for anyone who wants to ski in May and June. The resort sits in a natural snow trap and regularly stays open until late June, sometimes July. Right now it's likely operating with a single lift and a groomed run or two, but the snowpack on the upper mountain is still deep, and on a bluebird day the views across the Dewa Sanzan are something else.
Zao Onsen closed a few weeks back, which is a shame because the onsen town is incredible in late spring. Worth bookmarking for an early next-season trip though. The juhyo (snow monsters) season at Zao runs roughly late January to mid-March and it's one of the most surreal things you'll ever ski through.
Nagano - Happo-One Said Goodbye, Cortina Already Planning
Hakuba's resorts are all closed now. Happo-One ran a solid season and the upper mountain held snow well into April this year. Cortina, which is the powder hound's pick in Hakuba for its off-piste access and the fact it borders Tsugaike, had a strong finish too.
What's worth watching right now is the Hakuba Valley lift pass situation for next season. The Hakuba Valley Pass, which covers 10 resorts including Happo-One, Goryu, 47, Cortina, and Tsugaike, has been creeping up in price each year. Buy it early if you can. Hakuba in peak January is genuinely world class, and the town itself has got a proper international food scene now without losing the Japanese charm.
Nozawa Onsen is also worth a mention here. It's closed for summer but the town is gorgeous in the off-season if you happen to be travelling Japan. And the skiing in mid-February when the snowpack is deep and the onsen are pumping is as good as anything in Hokkaido, just with a different vibe.
Niigata - Kagura Might Still Be Going
Kagura and Mitsumata are the last resorts standing in Niigata most years. The Kagura gondola accesses a high plateau that holds snow longer than anywhere else in the region, and some years they'll run a limited operation into late May. Worth checking their website directly if you're desperate for one last lap before summer.
Gala Yuzawa, which is the resort with the shinkansen station right at the base, closed in April as usual. It's a convenience play more than anything, great for a day trip from Tokyo but not a destination in itself. Naeba and Joetsu Kokusai are both well and truly done.
Central Honshu, Kanto and Beyond - Pack It Up
Dynaland, Takasu Snow Park, Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba, all of it - closed. These lower-elevation resorts in Gifu, Fukui, and the Kanto highlands had a decent enough season but they're summer now. Kusatsu Onsen (the ski resort, not just the famous hot spring town) wrapped up in March.
Tateyama in Toyama is technically a spring attraction rather than a ski resort, but the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opened in April and the snow walls along the road are still spectacular right now, often 10 to 15 metres high in May. Not really skiing, but if you're in Japan and you haven't done it, add it to the list.
What to Actually Do Right Now
Here's my honest take on late May 2026. If you want to ski, Gassan in Tohoku is your best bet on the main islands, and Asahidake in Hokkaido is the adventure pick. Otherwise, use this time productively.
- Lock in your accommodation for January and February 2027 now, especially in Niseko and Hakuba.
- Check if the Hakuba Valley Pass or Niseko United pass has released early-bird pricing.
- Look at Nozawa Onsen if you haven't been. It's criminally underrated for Australians who only know Niseko.
- Madarao Kogen is another one worth researching. Smaller, quieter, and the tree skiing on a powder day is genuinely excellent.
The season's basically done, mate. But the planning for the next one? That starts now.
