When to ski in Japan (2026/27 season)
Karuizawa Prince in Nagano opened Japan's 2026/27 season early, on October 31 [haveagood-holiday.com]. The big resorts follow from late November: Niseko United opens on November 28, 2026 [niseko.ne.jp], and Shiga Kogen in Nagano follows on December 5 [shigakogen-ski.or.jp]. For powder, guides point to early January through mid or late February [powderhounds.com]. For lower lift prices, go before December 24 or after February: Niseko's adult one-day All Mountain ticket is ¥13,500 at peak and ¥8,800 in the early and spring periods [niseko.ne.jp]. The longest seasons on Honshu run to early May, and Gassan doesn't open until April.
Dates below are marked as official, third-party, or last season (2025/26). Where a resort hadn't announced its 2026/27 dates by October 11, 2026, we say so rather than guess.
Month by month, November to May
Each cell lists only dated facts from resort, government or named third-party sources. Typical windows: Hokkaido late November to early April, with some resorts to early May; Tohoku mid or late December to late March; Gunma mid December to April or May; Gifu early December to late March; Kansai and Chugoku late December to mid or late March, depending on snow.
| Month | Hokkaido | Tohoku | Nagano + Niigata | Gunma | Gifu + Kansai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | Niseko United opens Nov 28 (early-season rate to Dec 11) [niseko.ne.jp]. Furano Nov 28 [skiresort.info]. Rusutsu Nov 28 is an estimate only [uchijapan.com]. | No November openings announced. | Karuizawa Prince opened Oct 31 [haveagood-holiday.com]. Nozawa Onsen late Nov (tentative) [uchijapan.com]. Kagura opened Nov 22 last season [uchijapan.com]. | Not open yet. | Not open yet. |
| Dec | Tomamu Dec 1 [uchijapan.com]. Niseko night skiing from Dec 12, regular rate Dec 12–23, peak rate from Dec 24 [niseko.ne.jp]. | Zao Onsen pass valid from Dec 19, Uwanodai night skiing from Dec 19 [wamazing.com]. | Shiga Kogen Dec 5, early-season rate Dec 5–18 [shigakogen-ski.or.jp]. Madarao, Myoko Suginohara and Ikenotaira Dec 12, Akakura mid Dec [uchijapan.com]. Hakuba Valley "December 2026" [hakubavalley.com]. Naeba opened Dec 13 last season [princehotels.com]. | Mt.T opens "early December" [visit-gunma.jp] or "mid-December" [tobu.co.jp]. | Dynaland opened Dec 6 last season [kankou-gifu.jp]. Biwako Valley opened Dec 27 last season [snowstash.com]. Daisen White late Dec [japan.travel]. |
| Jan | Niseko peak rate all month [niseko.ne.jp]. Furano's New Year period ran Dec 28–Jan 5 last season [princehotels.com]. Powder window starts [powderhounds.com]. | Powder window starts [scoutski.com]. Jan 9–11 is a 3-day weekend [cao.go.jp]. | Powder window starts [scoutski.com]. Jan 9–11 is a 3-day weekend [cao.go.jp]. | In season. Jan 9–11 is a 3-day weekend [cao.go.jp]. | In season, snow-dependent. Jan 9–11 is a 3-day weekend [cao.go.jp]. |
| Feb | Sapporo Snow Festival Feb 4–11 [real-japan-guide.com], Lunar New Year Feb 6 [gov.hk], Feb 11 holiday. Niseko peak rate ends Feb 28 [niseko.ne.jp]. | Zao Uwanodai night skiing to Feb 28 [wamazing.com]. Holidays Feb 11 and Feb 23 [cao.go.jp]. | Powder window runs to mid or late Feb [powderhounds.com]. Holidays Feb 11 and Feb 23 [cao.go.jp]. | In season. Holidays Feb 11 and Feb 23 [cao.go.jp]. | In season. Holidays Feb 11 and Feb 23 [cao.go.jp]. |
| Mar | Niseko regular rate Mar 1–22, night skiing ends Mar 22, spring rate from Mar 23 [niseko.ne.jp]. More clear days, less consistent powder [powderhounds.com]. | Zao Onsen pass valid to Mar 30 [wamazing.com]. | Madarao closes Mar 28; most Myoko areas close late Mar [uchijapan.com]. | In season. Mar 22 is a substitute holiday [cao.go.jp]. | Biwako Valley typically closes mid Mar [skiresort.info], Daisen White late Mar [japan.travel]. Gifu typically closes late Mar [kankou-gifu.jp]. |
| Apr | Niseko Village closes Apr 4, Hanazono Apr 11 [niseko.ne.jp]. Tomamu closes Apr 5 [uchijapan.com]. | Gassan opens early April [mlit.go.jp]. | Shiga Kogen spring rate from Apr 1 [shigakogen-ski.or.jp]. Naeba closed Apr 5 last season [princehotels.com]. | Mt.T spring hours from 7:00 on weekends [visit-gunma.jp] [tobu.co.jp]. | Closed. Tateyama spring backcountry (no lifts) [h-tateyama.alpen-route.co.jp]. |
| May | Grand Hirafu and Annupuri to May 5 [niseko.ne.jp]. Furano to about early May [skiresort.info]. | Gassan runs "as late as the end of July" [mlit.go.jp]. | Shiga Kogen to May 5 [shigakogen-ski.or.jp]. Hakuba Valley to "around early May" [hakubavalley.com]. Kagura ran to May 17 last season [uchijapan.com]. | Mt.T "through May" [visit-gunma.jp] or "early May" [tobu.co.jp]. | Closed. Tateyama spring skiing peaks in April and May [steep.jp]. |
2026/27 opening and closing dates
Status as of October 11, 2026. "Official" means the resort or its operator published the date; "3rd-party" means a booking or news site reported it; "last season" means 2026/27 dates are not out yet and the 2025/26 dates are shown as a guide only.
| Resort | Region | Opens | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niseko United (Grand Hirafu, Annupuri) | Hokkaido | Nov 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | Official [niseko.ne.jp] |
| Niseko Hanazono | Hokkaido | Nov 28, 2026 | Apr 11, 2027 | Official [niseko.ne.jp] |
| Niseko Village | Hokkaido | Nov 28, 2026 | Apr 4, 2027 | Official [niseko.ne.jp] |
| Furano | Hokkaido | Nov 28, 2026 | About early May 2027 | 3rd-party, labelled both confirmed and projected [skiresort.info] |
| Rusutsu | Hokkaido | Nov 28, 2026 (estimate) | Not announced | 3rd-party estimate [uchijapan.com] |
| Tomamu | Hokkaido | Dec 1, 2026 | Apr 5, 2027 | 3rd-party [uchijapan.com] |
| APPI | Iwate (Tohoku) | Not announced | Not announced | — |
| Zao Onsen | Yamagata (Tohoku) | Dec 19, 2026 | Mar 30, 2027 | Pass validity, reseller listing [wamazing.com] |
| Gassan | Yamagata (Tohoku) | Early April | As late as end of July | Official typical window; 2027 date not announced [mlit.go.jp] |
| Karuizawa Prince | Nagano | Oct 31, 2026 | Not in our sources | 3rd-party [haveagood-holiday.com] |
| Shiga Kogen (18 areas) | Nagano | Dec 5, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | Official [shigakogen-ski.or.jp] |
| Hakuba Valley (10 areas) | Nagano | December 2026 | Around early May 2027 | Official season-pass page; individual areas not announced [hakubavalley.com] |
| Nozawa Onsen | Nagano | Late Nov 2026 | Early May 2027 | 3rd-party, tentative [uchijapan.com] |
| Madarao | Nagano | Dec 12, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | 3rd-party [uchijapan.com] |
| Myoko Suginohara, Ikenotaira | Niigata | Dec 12, 2026 | Late March (typical) | 3rd-party estimate [uchijapan.com] |
| Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko | Niigata | Mid Dec 2026 | Late March; Akakura Kanko sometimes to May | 3rd-party, tentative [uchijapan.com] |
| Naeba | Niigata | Not announced (Dec 13, 2025 last season) | Not announced (Apr 5, 2026 last season) | Last season, official [princehotels.com] |
| Kagura | Niigata | Not announced (Nov 22 last season) | Not announced (May 17 last season) | Last season [uchijapan.com] |
| Mt.T (formerly Tanigawadake Tenjindaira) | Gunma | Early or mid December | Early May / through May | Typical window, no 2026/27 dates [visit-gunma.jp] [tobu.co.jp] |
| Dynaland | Gifu | Not announced (Dec 6, 2025 last season) | Not announced | Last season [kankou-gifu.jp] |
| Biwako Valley | Shiga (Kansai) | Not announced (Dec 27, 2025 last season) | Mid March (typical) | Last season [snowstash.com] [skiresort.info] |
| Daisen White Resort | Tottori (Chugoku) | Late December (typical) | Late March (typical) | No 2026/27 dates [japan.travel] |
Season-pass holders: Shiga Kogen is on the Ikon Pass, and its seven Ikon days are shared across all 18 areas [selfguidejapan.com]; see Ikon Pass in Japan. Hakuba Valley is on the Epic Pass, with one 5-day ticket that runs on consecutive days from first use [hakubavalley.com]. Neither the Hakuba Valley lift ticket nor the Epic ticket covers night skiing [hakubavalley.com].
Powder season or spring skiing?
Powder: early January to mid or late February. Guides agree on this window for both Hokkaido and Honshu [powderhounds.com] [scoutski.com]. It sits almost entirely inside Niseko's peak price period (December 24 to February 28), so the best snow and the highest prices arrive together [niseko.ne.jp].
Spring: March onwards. March brings more clear days but less consistent powder [powderhounds.com]. Prices drop: Niseko moves to its regular rate on March 1 and its spring rate (¥8,800 adult one-day, against ¥13,500 at peak) from March 23 [niseko.ne.jp], and Shiga Kogen's spring rate applies from April 1 [shigakogen-ski.or.jp]. The trade-off is fewer open areas: Niseko's night skiing ends March 22, Village closes April 4 and Hanazono April 11.
Early season: late November to mid December. Niseko's early rate (also ¥8,800) runs November 28 to December 11, and Shiga Kogen's early-season rate runs December 5 to 18. Most Tohoku, Gifu and Kansai resorts aren't open yet, so this window is mainly for Hokkaido and Nagano.
Crowd and price peaks, 2026/27
- Niseko peak pricing: December 24, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Regular pricing applies December 12–23 and March 1–22 [niseko.ne.jp].
- New Year. Furano's rate calendar treated December 28 to January 5 as the New Year period and charged holiday night-skiing prices then (2025/26 page) [princehotels.com].
- Japanese public holidays [cao.go.jp]: January 1; Coming of Age Day on Monday January 11 (a three-day weekend, January 9–11); National Foundation Day on Thursday February 11; the Emperor's Birthday on Tuesday February 23; the Vernal Equinox on Sunday March 21 with a substitute holiday on Monday March 22; and Golden Week on April 29 and May 3–5.
- Lunar New Year: Saturday February 6, 2027. Hong Kong's official holidays are February 6, 8 and 9 [gov.hk]. Mainland China's holiday is reported as February 5–11, a third-party figure we couldn't confirm officially [examinechina.com].
- Sapporo Snow Festival: February 4–11, 2027, at Odori, Tsudome and Susukino. These dates come from third-party guides [real-japan-guide.com] [blog.wego.com].
- The overlap week. February 4–11, 2027 stacks the Snow Festival, Lunar New Year and the February 11 holiday. That is our inference from the dates above, not a published statistic, but expect it to be the busiest week of the season in Hokkaido, Niseko included.
- Australian school holidays. NSW public schools (Eastern division) are on summer break December 18, 2026 to January 27, 2027 and return February 3; the Western division returns February 10 [education.nsw.gov.au]. Victoria's Term 1 reportedly starts around January 27, 2027, unconfirmed by the state education department [mcv.vic.gov.au]. That window lines up with Niseko's and Hakuba's late-December to January peak; we found no official traffic figures linking the two.
Dates that miss every peak on this list: the early-season weeks from late November to December 17 (before NSW holidays start and Niseko's peak pricing begins), and March after Niseko's peak ends, skipping the March 20–22 holiday weekend.
Spring and summer: Gassan and Tateyama
Gassan (Yamagata, Tohoku) has no winter operation. It starts in early April and runs as late as the end of July, with one chairlift and one T-bar [mlit.go.jp]. The 2027 opening date hasn't been announced. See the Yamagata Prefecture resorts for the rest of the area.
Tateyama (Toyama/Nagano) is spring backcountry with no lifts: you hike from Murodo on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Spring skiing peaks in April and May [steep.jp]. You must submit a climbing registration at Murodo Terminal and carry an avalanche beacon, and Jigokudani and the ptarmigan reserve are off-limits [h-tateyama.alpen-route.co.jp]. The Alpine Route opened on April 15 in 2025; the spring 2027 date isn't published yet. Nearby lift-served resorts are on the Toyama Prefecture page.
If you want lifts into Golden Week (April 29 and May 3–5), the resorts with announced or typical May closings are Niseko's Grand Hirafu and Annupuri and Shiga Kogen (both to May 5), Hakuba Valley (around early May), Mt.T and, last season, Kagura (to May 17).
Resorts by region
Browse every resort in Hokkaido, Nagano, Niigata, Gunma, Gifu, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata, or go back to the Japan ski resorts hub.
FAQ
When is ski season in Japan?
Karuizawa Prince in Nagano opened on October 31, 2026, and the larger resorts open from late November: Niseko United opens on November 28, 2026, and Niseko's Hirafu and Annupuri areas run to May 5, 2027. Most Honshu resorts open in December and close between late March and early May. Gassan in Yamagata only operates from early April to as late as the end of July.
What is the best time to ski in Japan for powder?
Third-party guides agree on early January to mid or late February for both Hokkaido and Honshu. March brings more clear days but less consistent powder.
When does Niseko open for the 2026/27 season?
All four Niseko United areas open on November 28, 2026. Niseko Village closes April 4, Hanazono April 11, and Grand Hirafu and Annupuri May 5, 2027. Peak lift pricing runs December 24, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
When is the busiest time to ski in Japan?
The New Year period (Furano treated December 28 to January 5 as New Year in 2025/26), then February 4 to 11, 2027, when the Sapporo Snow Festival, Lunar New Year (February 6) and Japan's February 11 holiday overlap. Niseko charges its peak lift price from December 24, 2026 to February 28, 2027, and NSW school summer holidays run December 18, 2026 to January 27, 2027.
Can you ski in Japan in April or May?
Yes. Shiga Kogen runs to May 5, 2027 with a spring rate from April 1, Niseko's Hirafu and Annupuri run to May 5, and Hakuba Valley expects to run to around early May. Gassan opens in early April and Tateyama offers lift-free spring backcountry from Murodo in April and May.
Data sources
Last verified: 2026-10-11
- https://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/lift/
- https://uchijapan.com/news/japan-ski-resort-opening-dates
- https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/furano/
- https://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/furano/
- https://www.wamazing.com/snow/resorts/zao-onsen/items
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/R2-00647.html
- https://shigakogen-ski.or.jp/english/ticket/index.html
- https://www.hakubavalley.com/en/seasonpass/
- https://www.hakubavalley.com/en/ticket_en/
- https://www.hakubavalley.com/en/about_hakubavalley_en/epicpass_en/
- https://selfguidejapan.com/blog/ikon-pass-japan
- https://www.haveagood-holiday.com/en/articles/karuizawa-prince-hotel-ski-resort-2026-27-season-opens-oct-31
- https://www.princehotels.com/naeba/experience/naeba-ski-resort/
- https://visit-gunma.jp/spots/mt-tanigawa/
- https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/recommend/tourism/175.html
- https://www.kankou-gifu.jp/spot/detail_1170.html
- https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/biwako-valley
- https://snowstash.com/japan/kansai/biwako
- https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/parks/daisen-oki/see-and-do/daisen-white-resort
- https://h-tateyama.alpen-route.co.jp/en/enjoy/enjoy02.php
- https://steep.jp/en/mountain/theme/30615/
- https://www.powderhounds.com/japan/when-to-ski-in-japan.aspx
- https://scoutski.com/the-best-time-to-ski-japan-honshu-vs-hokkaido
- https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html
- https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/2027.htm
- https://www.examinechina.com/chinese-new-year-2027/
- https://real-japan-guide.com/?p=2622
- https://blog.wego.com/sapporo-snow-festival/
- https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/calendars/2027
- https://www.mcv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-08/MCV_2027_Calendar.pdf
Base facts from OpenSkiMap (ODbL), OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata (CC0), OurAirports (public domain) and GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). See /data-sources/.