Right, so it's the 28th of May. The ski season is done. Every resort from Niseko to Naeba has packed up the lift ops and turned the groomers off. But if you're the kind of person who's already thinking about next winter, pull up a chair, because there's actually a bit going on worth knowing about.
Hokkaido: Asahidake Held On, But She's Gone Now
Asahidake, bless it, was the last resort standing in Hokkaido. The ropeway up to the 1,600-metre volcanic plateau typically runs into early May for spring skiing, and this year was no different. It's now closed for the season. If you've never done a late-April trip up there, put it on the list. You're skinning or hiking above the ropeway top station in proper backcountry terrain, it's wild, and Asahikawa is a genuinely underrated base town.
The rest of Hokkaido, Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano, all closed back in late March or April. Furano held a bit longer than usual this year apparently, which is always a good sign for the following season's snowpack timing.
One thing to note for next winter: Iwanai Resort, the small but seriously interesting resort on the Shakotan Peninsula west of Niseko, has been quietly upgrading its infrastructure. Worth watching if you want a less crowded Hokkaido option.
Tohoku: Gassan Is the Last Holdout in Japan Right Now
Here's the one place in the whole country where you can still strap in. Gassan in Yamagata Prefecture. It's not a resort in the traditional sense, it's a high-altitude plateau that gets buried under 10 to 15 metres of snow each winter, and it typically runs lifts until late May or even into June. Right now, as of late May 2026, there's a reasonable chance one or two lifts are still turning up there.
The snow is heavy and wet at this point, classic spring corn. Don't expect powder. But if you're in Japan and need a ski fix before the off-season fully swallows everything, Gassan is your answer. It's a proper pilgrimage for Japanese ski diehards.
Zao Onsen in Yamagata closed up a few weeks back. The juhyo, those famous snow monster trees, are long gone for the season. Hakkoda near Aomori, another brilliant backcountry zone, also wrapped up. Both are high on my list for early next season.
Nagano: Hakuba Is Quiet, But There's Big News Nearby
Hakuba Valley is in full off-season mode. The village is doing its summer hiking and mountain biking thing. Happo-One, Goryu, Cortina, all closed. Cortina usually hangs on longest in Hakuba due to its position in the Otari valley, but even that's done now.
The big news for Nagano is this: THE CLUB TOGARI is launching next winter. It's being billed as Asia's first private, members-only ski resort. It's based at Togari Onsen Ski Resort, which sits between Nozawa Onsen and Myoko. Details are still coming out, but the concept is a fully exclusive mountain experience, think no lift queues, curated service, the whole deal.
Honestly? My gut reaction is mixed. Part of me thinks it's a ripper idea for a certain type of traveller. The other part of me thinks Japan's magic has always been that you can rock up to Nozawa Onsen, pay your lift ticket, and ski world-class terrain without a membership card. But it'll be interesting to watch. Togari Onsen as a resort has been underused for years. If this brings investment to the area, that's probably a net positive.
Nozawa Onsen itself is worth your attention for next season. The town is one of the best ski villages in Japan, full stop. The onsen are free, the food is great, and the terrain on a good snow day is as good as anything in Hakuba.
Niigata: Kagura Closed, But Keep It in Mind for November
Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro up in the mountains above Yuzawa typically open earlier than almost anywhere else in Honshu, sometimes late October or November, because of the altitude and the Niigata snowbelt location. If you're planning an early-season Japan trip for next winter, Kagura is the one to watch.
Gala Yuzawa is the resort that opens right next to the Shinkansen station at Echigo-Yuzawa. Easy day trip from Tokyo. It's not going to blow your mind on terrain, but the convenience is genuinely hard to beat for a quick hit.
Naeba and the Myoko area are all off until December at the earliest.
Central Honshu and the Rest: Off Season, No Drama
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu, Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui, all closed. These resorts are solid mid-season options for people based in Osaka or Nagoya, but they're not the ones you're planning a trip from Australia around.
One More Thing: China Is Coming for Japan's Market Share
There's some chatter at the Sydney Snow Travel Expo about China emerging as a ski destination for Australians, thanks to new visa-free access. Look, I get it. The Altay region up near Mongolia looks genuinely interesting for powder.
But I'll be straight with you. Japan has 20 years of infrastructure, culture, food, onsen, and snow reliability that China's ski industry simply hasn't built yet. Niseko alone gets 15 metres of snow a season. The ramen after a powder day at Furano is not something you replace easily. China might be worth a look eventually, but Japan isn't losing me anytime soon.
Bottom line for today: Gassan might still have snow. Everywhere else in Japan is off. Start planning your 2026-27 trip now, look at Nozawa Onsen if you haven't been, watch what THE CLUB TOGARI does with Togari, and keep Kagura in mind if you want an early-season Japan hit in November.
