Mate, it's mid-May. The lifts are off, the groomers are parked, and Niseko is basically a golf course right now. No point pretending otherwise.
But here's the thing: this is actually the best time to get ahead of everyone else. Passes go on sale, resort upgrade announcements start leaking, and if you're booking accommodation for peak January, you want to be moving now, not in October when the good stuff is already gone.
Here's the regional rundown for where things stand and what to watch heading into 2026-27.
Hokkaido: The Last One Standing Was Asahidake
Asahidake, up in Daisetsuzan National Park, was the last lift-served skiing in Hokkaido this season. It typically holds snow into May on the upper mountain, and this year was no different. It's not groomed cruising, it's volcanic terrain skiing with a ropeway, but it's genuine late-season Hokkaido snow and worth knowing about for future reference.
Niseko United, Rusutsu, Kiroro, and Furano all wrapped up in early to mid-April. Tomamu and Sahoro closed even earlier. The big resorts are now in full summer mode, with Niseko shifting to mountain biking and golf, and Furano opening its lavender fields to tourists in a few weeks.
Worth watching for next season: Iwanai Resort on the Shakotan Peninsula has been quietly building out its infrastructure. It's a small but genuinely interesting alternative to the Niseko circus, and if you want uncrowded Hokkaido powder without the Grand Hirafu queue at 8am, keep an eye on what they announce over summer.
Also, if you haven't looked at Shimamaki Catski, do it now. Booking for 2026-27 will fill fast.
Tohoku: Gassan Is Still Going (Barely)
Tohoku is the quiet achiever of the late season. Gassan, up on the Dewa Sanzan ridgeline in Yamagata Prefecture, typically runs into late May or even June on its upper snowfields. It's not resort skiing, it's more like a high-altitude snow park with a rope tow and some serious spring corn, but it's real skiing in May and it's worth knowing exists.
Zao Onsen and Appi Kogen both closed in mid-April. Hakkoda, which is more of a backcountry-focused mountain with a gondola, usually wraps around the same time.
For next season, Zao Onsen is always the pick in Tohoku if you want the full package. The juhyo (snow monsters) on the upper mountain are genuinely something else, the onsen town is brilliant, and the skiing is underrated. If you haven't been, put it on the list.
Nagano: Hakuba and Shiga Both Closed Up in April
Happo-One in Hakuba ran its final lifts in late April. Cortina, which is one of the snowiest resorts in all of Japan, closed a bit earlier as it tends to go hard in peak season and then shut the doors. Shiga Kogen, the massive linked area near Yamanouchi, also finished up around the same time.
Nozawa Onsen had a solid finish to the season. The Nagasaka Gondola top station was holding reasonable snow depth into April, which was good to see after a mid-season that had a few lean patches.
What to watch for 26-27: Hakuba 47 and Goryu have been talking about lift upgrades for a while now. Nothing confirmed yet but keep an eye on their announcements over the next couple of months. Also, if you're planning Hakuba in January, book your accommodation this month. The Echoland and Wadano areas fill up fast once the early bird crowd gets moving in June.
Niigata: Kagura Held On the Longest in the Region
Kagura, up at Mitsumata on the Mikuni range, is always the last Niigata resort standing. The top section of Kagura holds snow well into May in a good year, and this season it pushed through to early May before calling it. Naeba and Gala Yuzawa both closed in April.
Gala Yuzawa is worth a mention for planning purposes. It's right off the Shinkansen, literally walk off the train and onto the gondola, which makes it an easy day trip from Tokyo. If you're building an itinerary around a Tokyo base for 2026-27, Gala plus Ishiuchi Maruyama is a solid two-day combo.
Central Honshu, Kanto, and the Rest: Wrapped Up
Dynaland and Takasu Snow Park in Gifu, Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui, they're all done. The Kanto resorts like Kawaba and Tambara in Gunma finished up in mid-April. Hunter Mountain Shiobara in Tochigi was one of the earlier closures.
Daisen in Tottori (Western Honshu) had a decent enough season but it's very much a local mountain, not really on the international radar. Worth knowing if you're spending time in the San'in region.
One Thing to Do Right Now
If you're targeting Niseko, Hakuba, or Nozawa for January or February 2026-27, here's my honest take: start looking at accommodation this week. Not next month. Now.
The yen is still relatively favourable for Australians but it's been creeping back. Flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Sapporo (New Chitose) or Tokyo are worth watching on Google Flights right now for the December to February window.
Season passes: Niseko United's early bird pass window usually opens around June or July. Hakuba Valley Pass is similar timing. If you're going for more than 7 days at either, do the maths on a pass versus daily tickets. It almost always stacks up.
That's it for today. Nothing urgent, no powder alerts, just the off-season reality. But the planning game starts now if you want to ski Japan properly in 2026-27.
