Japan Snow Report – Mid-April and a Few Spots Are Still Going

Right, so it's Monday 13 April 2026 and we're deep into the shoulder season. Most of Japan has called it for the year, and honestly, fair enough. But there's still some snow worth talking about, and plenty to look forward to heading into next season. Let's run through it by region.

Hokkaido

Hokkaido's big guns have mostly shut up shop for the season. Niseko United wrapped up at the end of March, and Rusutsu and Kiroro followed shortly after. Furano usually hangs on into May and is worth keeping an eye on, with decent base depths still sitting up there. Asahidake is the one to watch if you're a true late-season tragic. Being a natural snow mountain, it tends to stay skiable well into May and sometimes beyond. If you're the type who'll fly to Japan just for a few spring turns in the alpine, Asahidake is your spot.

There's also a nice piece doing the rounds from Ski Asia this week about Namari Onsen, a tiny resort up in the Hanamaki mountains of Iwate. It's not Hokkaido but it captures that vibe of the small, old-school Japanese ski area that barely anyone outside Japan knows about. Worth a read if you're into the off-the-beaten-track stuff.

Tohoku

Tohoku is where spring skiing actually gets interesting. Zao Onsen in Yamagata has been hanging in there with a reasonable base and the iconic juhyo monster trees still visible on the upper mountain. Hakkoda is another one that tends to go late, with its high elevation and tree skiing drawing a loyal crowd of backcountry types right through spring.

Gassan is the real standout for late-season though. It doesn't even open until April and runs through late July most years. Groomers on the upper mountain, minimal crowds, and a very Japanese vibe. If you're planning a May or June trip to Japan and want to squeeze in some skiing, Gassan should be on your radar.

Ski Asia also had a writeup on Chokai Kogen Yashima this week, a tiny hill on the slopes of Mt. Chokai in Akita. It's the kind of place where you pay almost nothing, share the chairlift with local kids, and remember why you started skiing in the first place. It's closed for the season now but file it away for next winter.

Nagano

Hakuba is done. Happo-One, Goryu, 47, Cortina, all closed. The valley is transitioning fast to hiking and mountain biking season. That said, Ski Asia had a good piece on Hakuba Goryu this week, pointing out what a solid family resort it is, with 900m of vertical and a slightly less manic vibe than Happo-One. If you're planning a family trip next season, worth bookmarking.

Shiga Kogen is also closed out, and Nozawa Onsen called it a few weeks back. Madarao has been in the news recently for the wrong reasons. A full-depth avalanche hit the Powder Line Course back in late February, catching five riders and injuring four including a 14-year-old. Ski Asia has video coverage of it. It's a good reminder that even well-managed resorts can get caught out, and that checking avalanche conditions matters even on groomed courses.

Niigata

Kagura and Mitsumata are the ones still technically operating in Niigata, with Kagura often going through to early May thanks to its higher elevation and north-facing aspect. Snow depths are down but there's still enough to ski. If you're Tokyo-based and itching for a last run, Kagura via the Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa is genuinely still an option this week.

Gala Yuzawa is closed, and most of the Yuzawa cluster wrapped up through late March and early April. Naeba finished up a couple of weeks ago.

Central Honshu

Pretty much everything in Gifu, Fukui and surrounds is done and dusted. Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park had a solid season but they're closed now. Tateyama in Toyama is the exception, but it operates as a sightseeing route rather than a proper ski resort, opening in mid-April for the snow corridor. Worth a trip if you're into that kind of thing, just don't expect to ski it.

Kanto

The Kanto resorts like Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba, and Tambara have all closed. Low elevation means they go early, and this year was no different. If you're in Tokyo and missing the mountains, start planning now. The Gunma resorts are easy bullet train day trips and they get slept on by Aussies who tend to go straight to Niseko or Hakuba.

Looking Ahead

With the season wrapping up, now is genuinely a good time to think about next winter. Ski Asia has been running property investment pieces lately covering commercial opportunities across Japan's ski regions, from Niseko through to Hakuba and Furano. There are also lodge and hotel listings in Hakuba, Niseko and Furano if you've ever had that dream of owning something over here. The yen situation has made a lot of things more attractive for Australians, so it's not as crazy as it sounds.

Keep an eye on early-bird lift pass deals over the next few months. Resorts like Niseko and Hakuba tend to release early-purchase passes over the Aussie winter, and they save a decent chunk of cash. We'll flag them here as they come out.