It's late May, mate. The lifts are stopped, the grooming cats are parked up, and the only snow left in Japan right now is sitting at altitude on Asahidake and maybe a stubborn patch or two on Gassan's upper bowl. That's just the reality of the off-season. But that doesn't mean there's nothing worth talking about.
Let's do a quick lap of the regions and flag what's worth knowing before you start booking for next winter.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Hangs On, Everything Else Is Hiking Season
Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano - all closed. Have been for weeks. If you're desperate for snow on Hokkaido right now, Asahidake is your only real option. It's a volcano, it's high, and it gets snow when nothing else does. The ropeway runs through summer for sightseeing and there are sometimes skiable patches into June if the season was kind. Worth watching if you're in the area, but don't book flights specifically for it.
The bigger Hokkaido story right now is planning mode. Niseko's infrastructure keeps creeping upward in price, and accommodation for peak January 2027 is already filling in the premium end. If you're thinking Hirafu or Hanazono for next season, don't wait until October to sort your place to stay. I'd also keep an eye on Iwanai Resort - it's been quietly building its reputation as a lower-crowd alternative on the west coast and the cat skiing through Shimamaki is genuinely world-class for a niche crew.
Tohoku: Gassan Is the Last Skier Standing
Gassan in Yamagata is the one to watch right now. It's one of the few resorts in all of Japan that runs a legitimate spring season into late May and sometimes June, purely because of its elevation and the crazy snowfall it gets from the Sea of Japan all winter. Some years you can still lap the upper lifts in early June. Worth checking their website if you're in Japan and craving one last run.
Zao Onsen will be deep in off-season mode, but it's worth noting for next winter planning - the juhyo (snow monsters) season there is genuinely one of the most wild things you can experience on skis anywhere in the world. If you haven't done it, put it on the list.
Nagano: Hakuba Is Quiet, But the Buzz Is Real
Every lift in Hakuba is closed. Happo-One, Goryu, Cortina, all of them. The valley is green and the tourists are there for hiking and cycling now. But Nagano is front of mind for a different reason this week.
United Airlines just announced nonstop daily flights from Chicago O'Hare to Tokyo Narita, which is genuinely good news for the North American crew heading to Hakuba. Narita to Hakuba is a straightforward run - Narita Express to Shinjuku, then the limited express to Matsumoto or Nagano, then a bus or hire car into the valley. It's a long day but it works. More direct connections from the US means more competition on fares, which is good for everyone.
Nozawa Onsen and Madarao are also worth mentioning for next season planning. Both are still underrated compared to Hakuba, both have excellent snow records, and Nozawa in particular has that onsen village vibe that makes a week there feel completely different to the Niseko experience.
Niigata: Kagura Might Still Have Snow, But Don't Count On It
Kagura, Naeba, Gala Yuzawa - all done for the season. Kagura sometimes pushes into late May on its upper terrain but it's hit and miss. Don't book a trip on that hope.
What Niigata has going for it next season is the sheer density of options around Yuzawa. You can stay in Yuzawa town and day trip to Gala, Ishiuchi Maruyama, Naeba, Kagura, and Joetsu Kokusai without moving accommodation once. It's genuinely underrated as a base. Cheaper than Hakuba, bullet train direct from Tokyo, and plenty of snow.
Central Honshu and Kanto: Pack It Up
Dynaland, Takasu, Ski Jam Katsuyama, Hunter Mountain, Kawaba - all closed, all waiting for November at the earliest. Nothing to report on snow. If you're in the Gunma area, Kusatsu Onsen is worth visiting year-round for the hot springs but the ski area won't be back until December.
Western Honshu and Shikoku: Already a Distant Memory
Daisen in Tottori and Biwako Valley in Shiga closed up in March. These resorts are fun for what they are - accessible, easy to reach from Osaka or Hiroshima - but they're low altitude and the season is short. Good for a day trip, not a ski holiday. Next season they'll be open roughly late December to early March, weather depending.
The Big Story This Week: Japan Owns Freestyle Snowboarding
Bit of a side note but worth a mention. At the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Japan picked up nine of the eighteen medals on offer across halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air. Half the medals. That's not a fluke, that's a system that works. Japanese riders have been building toward this for years and the results are showing up at the biggest level. It's a good reminder that when you ski Japan, you're in a country that takes snow sports seriously. The culture runs deep.
Your Off-Season Checklist
- Niseko accommodation for January peak: book now if you want the good spots
- United Airlines Chicago to Narita: worth checking fares if you're US-based or connecting through
- Hakuba Goryu vs Happo-One: for next season, Goryu is still my pick for intermediate terrain and shorter lift queues
- Gassan spring skiing: check their site if you're in Japan right now and want one last run
- Nozawa Onsen: seriously consider it if you haven't been, it punches above its weight
That's the state of play. Nothing to ski right now unless you're chasing Gassan or a high Hokkaido patch. But next season is six months away and the planning starts today. She'll be right, mate - winter always comes back.
