Right, it's Tuesday 2 June 2026. The snow is gone, the lifts are quiet, and honestly the best thing you can do right now is start planning so you're not scrambling in October like last year. Let's run through every region and what's worth knowing heading into the 2026-27 season.
Hokkaido - The Bears Are Back, But So Is the Hype
Speaking of bears, Japan Times is reporting a jump in sightings across Hokkaido as they come out of hibernation hungry. Worth keeping in mind if you're the type to hike up to Asahidake or Kurodake in the shoulder months. Those two are the first resorts to open each season anyway, usually late October to early November, so they're always worth watching for the first snow reports.
Niseko United is already running its early-bird pass sales. If you haven't locked in a Niseko United pass yet, the early pricing window is closing soon. Last season the resort had a cracking January but a patchy February, so don't just book around Golden Week and expect the goods.
Furano and Tomamu are both worth flagging for 2026-27. Furano stays quieter than Niseko, the snow quality is comparable, and the town is genuinely charming without the chaos of Hirafu on a powder day. Tomamu's Ice Village and the cloud sea experience are still a drawcard if you're travelling with people who don't ski every run.
Minor resort to watch: Shimamaki Catski. If you've never looked into it, do it now before spots fill up. Small operation, serious powder, no lift queues. Completely different experience to the big resorts.
Tohoku - Zao's Ice Monsters Are Worth the Trip Alone
Tohoku is still criminally underrated. Zao Onsen in Yamagata is one of the most unique ski experiences in the country. The juhyo, those snow monsters formed when the trees ice over, are genuinely something you can't see anywhere else. Season typically runs December through late March.
Hakkoda is the one for backcountry-curious skiers. No groomed runs, guide-accessed, and when it goes off it really goes off. Worth budgeting a day or two into a Tohoku trip rather than skipping it entirely.
Appi Kogen is the polished family option up here. Wide groomed runs, good English signage, and easy access from Tokyo by shinkansen to Morioka. It doesn't get the powder reputation of Hokkaido but it's a solid week if you're watching the budget.
Nagano - Hakuba Is Already Getting Crowded on Paper
Hakuba is going to be busy again. It always is. The weak yen is still pulling in international visitors and Happo-One, Goryu, and Cortina are all on the radar for Australians booking through ski travel agents right now.
My honest take: if you can stay in Hakuba village and ski Cortina for a few days, do it. The tree skiing at Cortina on a fresh day is some of the best accessible inbounds terrain in Japan. But go mid-week if you can, the weekend crowds from Tokyo have gotten worse each season.
Nozawa Onsen is the one I'd push for anyone who hasn't been. The village is old school, the onsen are free and communal, and the skiing is better than people give it credit for. Yamaboku Wild Snow Park nearby is worth a day trip if you want something raw and off the beaten track.
Shiga Kogen is 21 linked resorts on one pass. It's enormous and still underexplored by most Australians who go straight to Hakuba.
Niigata - The Shinkansen Access Makes It Too Easy to Ignore
Gala Yuzawa gets you off the shinkansen and onto a gondola in about 75 minutes from Tokyo. That's hard to beat for a day trip or a short break tagged onto a city stay. It's not a powder destination, but it's fun and accessible.
Naeba and Kagura are the serious options in this region. Kagura in particular holds snow late into spring and the Kagura-Mitsumata area has some genuinely steep terrain that gets overlooked. Lotte Arai Resort is the luxury pick, smaller but beautifully run.
Myoko Kogen is having a bit of a moment. Akakura Onsen town has good food, affordable accommodation compared to Hakuba, and the skiing across Suginohara and Ikenotaira is solid. Worth a look if you want a quieter Nagano-area alternative.
Central Honshu - Solid Budget Options for the Right Trip
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu are the pick for anyone doing a ski-and-culture trip through the Takayama and Shirakawa-go area. The skiing is not going to blow your mind but the surrounding region is genuinely beautiful and the crowds are nothing like Nagano.
Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui is one of the longest-operating resorts in this part of Japan and worth knowing about if you're routing through the Kanazawa corridor.
Kanto - Tokyo Day Trips Done Right
Kawaba and Tambara in Gunma are the best options for a day trip from Tokyo if you're not heading further north. Kusatsu Onsen is a proper onsen town with skiing attached, which is a great combo for a weekend trip. The hot spring water is extremely acidic so don't go dunking your ski gear in it.
The Bottom Line for Planning Now
June is actually the best time to sort your 2026-27 trip. Flights to Sapporo and Tokyo are cheaper to book now, pass deals are still live, and accommodation in Niseko and Hakuba fills faster every year. Don't wait until September and wonder why everything's gone.
Check Asahidake and Kurodake in late October for the first snow reports. That's your early signal for what kind of season Hokkaido is going to have.
