It's the first Sunday of May and look, I'll be straight with you. The 2025/26 Japan season is cooked for most resorts. Lifts are stopped, snowcats are parked, and the onsen towns are pivoting to green season tourism. But a handful of places are still worth talking about, and there's plenty to plan for next winter if you're already itching.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Holding the Flag
Asahidake is doing what it always does in May. Quietly being the last resort standing in Hokkaido while everyone else has gone home. The ropeway is still running up to around 1,600m and there's reportedly 150-200cm of consolidated snowpack up top. It's spring skiing, so expect heavy, wet snow in the afternoon and a crust in the morning. Go early or don't bother.
Kurodake in Daisetsuzan is in a similar spot. Both are backcountry-friendly at this time of year if you know what you're doing. Neither is a groomer paradise right now.
Everything else in Hokkaido is shut. Niseko, Rusutsu, Furano, Kiroro, Tomamu. All done. If you're heading to Niseko or Furano this month for skiing, save yourself the airfare and come back in December.
Tohoku: Gassan is the One to Watch
Gassan is the reason Tohoku gets a mention in May. This place sits high in the Yamagata mountains and has one of the longest seasons in all of Japan. It typically runs into late May or even June depending on the year. Right now it's operating on a single lift up to the main snowfield, and the skiing is on a wide open alpine bowl. No trees, no groomers, just a big slab of spring snow.
It's not for everyone. There are no resort amenities to speak of. You drive up, you ski, you leave. But if you want to say you skied Japan in May, Gassan is your answer.
Hakkoda near Aomori is worth a mention too. The backcountry touring up there is still doable in early May and the tree skiing in the right conditions is genuinely special. No lifts though, so bring your skins or hire a guide.
Nagano: Season's Over, Mate
Hakuba shut up shop weeks ago. Happo-One, Goryu, 47, Cortina. All of them. Nozawa Onsen is done. Shiga Kogen is done. Even Madarao, which sometimes sneaks a late finish, is closed.
The good news is the planning season for 2026/27 is basically open. Hakuba Valley has been making noise about infrastructure upgrades, and the Hakuba 47 and Goryu gondola connection is still the most talked-about project in the valley. No confirmed timeline yet but it keeps coming up.
If you're locking in a Nagano trip for next January or February, I'd be booking accommodation in Hakuba village or Echoland now. The good spots fill up fast and prices only go one direction as the season gets closer.
Niigata: Kagura Still Alive
Kagura is the one Niigata resort that earns its reputation as a late-season holdout. The Mitsumata area sometimes pushes into May thanks to its altitude and north-facing aspects. Worth checking the official site before you write it off completely.
Gala Yuzawa, Naeba, Ishiuchi Maruyama, all closed. The Yuzawa area has fully flipped to off-season mode. The shinkansen still stops at Echigo-Yuzawa but there's nothing on the slopes for you.
One thing worth knowing for next season: Naeba and Kagura are connected by the Dragondola, which is the longest gondola in Japan at 5.5km. If you haven't done a Naeba-Kagura day, put it on the list for next winter. It's a proper full day out.
Central Honshu and Kanto: All Done
Dynaland, Takasu, Ski Jam Katsuyama, all wrapped. Same story across Gunma and Tochigi. Hunter Mountain Shiobara, Kawaba, Tambara. Closed.
Nothing to report here except to say that Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui is criminally underrated for a mid-season trip and I'll keep saying it until more Australians actually go. It's a long groomer resort with a massive vertical for the region and it's nowhere near as crowded as the Nagano or Niigata spots.
Western Honshu: Daisen Calling it a Day
Daisen in Tottori usually runs into April but May is a stretch even in a good snow year. It's almost certainly shut now. If you're in the Hiroshima or Osaka area and had any thoughts of a spontaneous ski day, shelve them until December.
What to Do Right Now if You're Planning Next Season
Honestly, May is the best time to sort your Japan ski trip for next winter. Here's why. Accommodation is cheaper to book now than in September. Flight deals to Sapporo or Tokyo pop up regularly in May and June before everyone starts searching in October. And the Japan Ski Club of Australia usually runs early-bird group deals worth looking at.
My picks for next season if you haven't been before: Niseko for the powder and the scene, Nozawa Onsen for the culture and the onsen, Furano for the quiet and the quality. If you've done those, look at Myoko Kogen in Niigata. Seriously underrated, great snow, half the crowds.
That's your May 3 roundup. Not much snow left but the memories from this season are still fresh. Start planning. It comes around faster than you think.
