Right. It's Wednesday 29 April 2026 and let's be honest with each other. Japan's ski season is done for most of us. The lifts are spinning down, the onsen towns are quietly switching into hiking and cycling mode, and anyone still chasing turns right now is either a die-hard or very, very committed to getting their money's worth.
But that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about. A couple of spots are still open, and this is actually the best time of year to lock in your plans for next season before prices move and the good accommodation disappears.
Hokkaido: Season's Over, Except One Stubborn Volcano
Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano, Tomamu. All closed. They wrapped up through March and early April as usual. No drama there.
The one exception worth knowing about is Asahidake. It sits at around 1,600m and runs on natural snow with a single gondola up to the crater area. It's not a resort in the traditional sense, more of a backcountry launch pad with a lift. It sometimes holds snow into late April or even May depending on the year, and given this season had solid mid-season snowfall across central Hokkaido, there's a chance a few laps are still possible up top. Check the Asahidake Ropeway site directly before you bother making the trip from Asahikawa. I wouldn't fly to Hokkaido just for it, but if you're already there, worth a look.
For next season planning, Hokkaido is still the gold standard. Niseko's early-bird lift passes for 2026-27 should start appearing around June or July. Grab them then. The price only goes one direction.
Tohoku: Gassan Is the One to Watch
Most of Tohoku closed up in March. Zao Onsen in Yamagata had a cracking season for juhyo (snow monsters) and wrapped up in mid-April. Appi Kogen, Hakkoda, Aomori Spring, all done.
But Gassan is the outlier. It sits high on the Dewa Sanzan range in Yamagata Prefecture and traditionally opens in late April for spring skiing, running right through until July. It's one of the most unique ski experiences in Japan, a high-altitude snowfield that skiers share with mountain pilgrims making the spring traverse. Conditions right now should be firm spring corn in the mornings, softening through the day. Bring your spring ski setup, sunscreen, and patience for the access road.
Honestly, Gassan in late April is a bit of a bucket list tick for the right kind of skier. It's not powder, it's not groomed resort skiing. It's big open snowfields, mountain views, and a very Japanese atmosphere. I'd go.
Nagano: Hakuba Wrapped, Shiga Kogen Holding On
Hakuba valley is done. Happo-One, Goryu, Cortina, all closed out through late March and April. The town is already pivoting to Golden Week hiking and the restaurants are shifting their menus.
Shiga Kogen, sitting higher and with more terrain, sometimes keeps a couple of lifts running into Golden Week depending on the snowpack. With the season having been reasonable in the Northern Alps, there's a chance one or two areas within the 21-resort network are still spinning. Yokoteyama-Shibu or Ichinose might be your best bet. Call ahead, seriously, don't just show up.
Nozawa Onsen closed in early April. Madarao Kogen same story.
For next season: Hakuba is still the best all-round destination in Honshu for Australians. Cortina for powder days, Happo-One for the mountain feel and variety, Hakuba 47 for tree runs. Book your Echoland or Wadano accommodation early. The good spots for the Christmas to New Year window sell out by August.
Niigata: Kagura Is the Last One Standing
This is the big one for late-season Honshu. Kagura and Mitsumata, up in the mountains above Yuzawa, typically run the longest season in the region. The upper Kagura area sits high enough that it can hold reasonable snow well into May in a good year.
Naeba, Gala Yuzawa, Ishiuchi Maruyama, Joetsu Kokusai. All closed or closing this week.
Kagura's spring skiing is genuinely good if the snowpack cooperated this season. You're looking at wide groomed runs, no crowds, and that lovely late-season quiet where you feel like you've got the mountain to yourself. Access is easy from Tokyo via Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa, then a short bus or taxi. A solid day trip option for anyone still in Japan over Golden Week.
Central Honshu, Kanto, and Western Honshu: Lights Out
Dynaland, Takasu Snow Park, Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui, all done. Daisen in Tottori, closed. The Kanto resorts like Kawaba, Tambara, and Hunter Mountain Shiobara wrapped up weeks ago.
Nothing to chase here right now.
What to Do Right Now If You're Planning Next Season
April and May are actually the smartest months to sort your Japan trip for 2026-27. Here's the short version of what I'd be doing this week:
- Watch for Niseko United early-bird pass announcements, usually June onwards.
- Lock in Hakuba accommodation for peak Christmas and January windows now. Seriously, now.
- Look at the Myoko Kogen area in Niigata if you want a quieter, cheaper, still-excellent alternative to Hakuba. Akakura Onsen town is brilliant.
- Check if Furano drops any early-season deals. They occasionally do packages for the December opening weeks.
The season's over, mate. But the planning never stops. That's half the fun anyway.
