Right, it's Thursday the 7th of May 2026. The lifts have stopped spinning at 99% of Japan's ski areas. The izakayas in Niseko are doing their post-season clean, and the staff at Happo-One have packed up the groomer and gone home. Season's done, mate.
But that doesn't mean we stop paying attention. This is exactly the time to lock in passes, watch for resort upgrade announcements, and figure out where you're skiing next winter before everyone else does. Let's run through the regions.
Hokkaido - The Snow Is Still Up There, But You're Not Getting On It
Asahidake is the one exception worth noting. Being a volcanic mountain and the highest peak in Hokkaido, it sometimes holds rideable snow into late May for backcountry touring. No lifts, obviously, but if you're a ski tourer with the right gear and a guide, it's genuinely worth the trip. Kurodake in Daisetsuzan is similar.
Niseko United, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano and Tomamu are all closed. Furano typically runs the longest season of the groomed resorts in Hokkaido and wrapped up in mid-April this year. No surprises there.
What IS worth your attention right now: Niseko United's season pass for 2026-27. Early bird pricing usually opens around May or June. If you're planning a Niseko trip, this is the window. The Ikon Pass inclusion has made things a bit more complicated for Aussies trying to work out value, so do your sums before you commit.
Minor resort worth a mention: Shimamaki Catski, over on the west side of Hokkaido, is a small cat skiing operation that punches above its weight in a big snow year. Worth bookmarking for next season if you want something well off the tourist trail.
Tohoku - Gassan Is the One to Watch
Gassan on the Dewa Sanzan range in Yamagata is the standout here. It's one of the few resorts in Japan that opens in spring rather than winter, running roughly April through July on accumulated snowpack. It's already open right now, or very close to it.
It's not a powder resort. It's spring skiing on a big volcanic cone, often in flat light, with a short lift and a lot of sidecountry potential. But the snow depth up there is serious and the scenery is something else. If you're in Japan for other reasons in May and you're a skier, Gassan is worth the detour to Yamagata.
Zao Onsen and Appi Kogen are both closed. Hakkoda, another backcountry favourite near Aomori, is done for lift access but still has snow in the trees for those willing to hike.
Nagano - Hakuba Planning Mode Is On
Everything in Nagano is closed. Happo-One, Goryu, Hakuba 47, Cortina, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen, the lot. Cortina usually hangs on the longest in the Hakuba Valley because of the tree skiing terrain and the aspect of the mountain, but even that's done now.
Here's my honest take: if you're an Aussie planning your first Japan trip for next season, Hakuba is still the easiest entry point. English is widely spoken, there's a proper Australian community there, the resort variety is huge, and you can move between Happo-One, 47 and Goryu on one pass. Nozawa Onsen is my personal favourite for atmosphere, but Hakuba is hard to argue against for a first timer.
Keep an eye on Yamaboku Wild Snow Park, a smaller spot in the Nagano backcountry near Iizuna. It's been quietly building a reputation among people who want deep snow without the Hakuba crowds. Worth watching for next season.
Niigata - Kagura Might Still Be Running
This is actually important. Kagura, specifically the Kagura and Mitsumata areas near Yuzawa, is famous for one of Japan's longest seasons. They run snowmaking and sit at altitude. As of early May, there's a real chance Kagura still has some terrain open, even if it's just a run or two off the top.
Worth checking their website directly if you're in Tokyo and want a day trip. It's about 75 minutes on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa. Even a single open run at Kagura in May is a fun story to tell.
Naeba, Gala Yuzawa and the rest of the Yuzawa area are done. Gala closes earlier than most despite being a bullet train resort. Great for a day trip mid-season, less impressive at the tail end.
Central Honshu, Kanto and the Rest
Closed. All of it. Dynaland, Takasu, Ski Jam Katsuyama, Hunter Mountain, Kawaba, the Gunma resorts. Done for the season.
Tateyama in Toyama is worth a mention, but it's not really a ski resort. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens in mid-April each year and the snow walls along the road are genuinely jaw-dropping. It's a sightseeing experience, not a skiing one. Still worth doing if you're in Japan in spring and you've never seen 20-metre snow walls from a bus window.
What You Should Actually Do This Week
Three things worth doing right now if Japan skiing is on your radar for 2026-27:
- Check early bird pass pricing at Niseko United and Hakuba. Prices go up as the season approaches.
- Start watching the JMA long-range outlooks for the coming La Nina or El Nino cycle. It'll give you a rough read on whether Hokkaido is likely to have a big year.
- If you haven't booked accommodation in Nozawa Onsen or Myoko Kogen before, do it early. The good places fill up fast, especially over Australian school holidays in January and February.
Season's over but the obsession doesn't stop. She'll be right. See you back here when the first snow reports start dropping in November.
