When Do Honshu Ski Resorts Open? 2026-27 Dates and Closing Dates

Last updated: 25 September 2026. Confirmed for 2026-27: 13 of 56 resorts.

Most Honshu ski resorts open in December. The exact day depends on two things: how high the resort sits, and whether it makes its own snow. A few high or snow-sure resorts open in November. Most main resorts open in the two weeks around Christmas.

This page does two jobs. It tracks the confirmed 2026-2027 dates for all 56 resorts in our guide, and we update it within 24 hours of each announcement. It also explains how opening and closing dates work, so you can plan even before the dates are published.

One simple rule helps families most: resorts that make their own snow open on a fixed date almost every year. Resorts that wait for natural snow can open late, or open with only a few runs. If your dates are fixed, a snow-making resort is the safer choice. Karuizawa, Fujiten, and GALA Yuzawa are good examples.

Confirmed for 2026-2027

These resorts have published their dates for the coming season. Every other resort is still marked "Not announced" in the tables below.

Most resorts announce between September and November. A few announce in late August. Last season, Hakuba Cortina and Joetsu Kokusai published in late September, Karuizawa confirmed its November 1 date by early October, and Ryuoo Ski Park announced in late October. Prince Hotel resorts (Kagura, Naeba, Karuizawa) usually publish their season plans early.

Still waiting: Kagura, GALA Yuzawa, Lotte Arai, and Appi Kogen have not published their 2026-27 dates on their official websites yet.

A note on dates you see on social media. Some lists shared online show different dates for a few resorts. For example, one list shows December 12 for Myoko Suginohara (official: December 19) and December 12 for Geto Kogen (official: November 28; December 12 is the start of night skiing). We only add a date after we check it on the resort's official website, and we link to that page in the table above.

The big picture (read this first)

• ✓Earliest in Honshu: Karuizawa, October 31 in 2026 (confirmed). It makes its own snow and opens far earlier than anywhere else. It is also the easiest area to reach from Tokyo. For a first family trip in late autumn, this is the one resort that is almost always open.
• ✓A few natural-snow resorts also open in November because they sit high or get very early snow: Kagura, Yokoteyama, Nozawa Onsen, and Tsugaike. For 2026-27, Hoshino Nekoma Mountain (North area) and Geto Kogen have confirmed November 28.
• ✓Most main resorts open in mid-to-late December - roughly "around Christmas." Whole areas often open together. Hakuba's main resorts open in early December, Myoko around December 13, and Shiga Kogen around December 6.
• ✓The longest seasons run into spring. Kagura skis until mid-May. Arai, Nozawa, and several Shiga Kogen resorts run to early May. If you travel in March, April, or Golden Week, see our late-season family guide.

The earliest places to ski

Based on last season, the first resorts to open are:

Most other resorts open in mid-December. Almost all resorts are open by December 20.

Open by date: match resorts to your travel dates

Use this list if your travel dates are fixed and you want to know where you can ski. Dates are based on last season and may change.

• ✓Skiing in November: Karuizawa, Gransnow Okuibuki, Yokoteyama, Kagura, Geto Kogen, Grandeco, Nozawa Onsen
• ✓Open by the first week of December: the resorts above, plus Tsugaike, Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Happo-One, Marunuma Kogen, Appi Kogen, Shiga Kogen Central, Yakebitaiyama, Hoshino Nekoma Mountain (North area)
• ✓Open by mid-December: most resorts in our guide, including Naeba, Zao Onsen, Lotte Arai, and Fujiten
• ✓Open by December 20: almost every resort, including GALA Yuzawa and Hakuba Iwatake

How to read the tables

• ✓2026-27 opening: "Not announced" until the resort confirms a date. We then show the confirmed date.
• ✓Last season: the real opening and closing dates from 2025-26. Dates marked "approx." were not confirmed to the exact day. A dash (-) means we do not have that date yet.
• ✓Use last season's dates as a guide for a future trip. They are usually close. But snow can change plans, and a resort may delay its opening if snow comes late.

Opening dates by area

Hakuba

Yuzawa

GALA Yuzawa has not announced its 2026-27 dates yet. It has announced that its South area will not operate in 2026-27. This includes the ropeway link to Yuzawa Kogen. A shuttle bus will link the two resorts instead.

Myoko

Madarao and Tangram share one lift pass. In 2026-27 the lift connection between them is closed from 12 to 18 December, and again from 23 to 28 March.

Shiga Kogen

Nozawa and Karuizawa

Gunma

Nagano (other areas) and Yamanashi

Tohoku and Fukushima

Other areas

Closing dates: when does the snow run out?

Most resorts close at the end of March. But several run much longer. If you want spring snow, these are the ones to plan around:

• ✓Into mid-May: Kagura (around May 17) and Lotte Arai (around May 10).
• ✓Into early May: Nozawa Onsen, GALA Yuzawa, Hakuba Happo-One, Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Tsugaike, Akakura Kanko, Shiga Kogen Central, Yakebitaiyama, Yokoteyama, and Seki Onsen, all around May 5-6.

Confirmed so far for 2026-27: Hoshino Nekoma Mountain plans to keep its North area open until May 9, 2027. Yakebitaiyama and Geto Kogen plan to close on May 5, and Zao Onsen can run until May 5 at the latest.

Spring snow feels different: softer, slower, and warmer. For families it can be easier, not harder, especially for young children. We wrote a full guide to skiing Honshu in March, April, and Golden Week: Late-Season Japan Ski with Kids.

A note on natural-snow resorts

Some resorts open only when enough snow falls. They announce a date, but it can move. In the 2025-26 season, Nozawa Onsen opened on its planned day but ran only a few courses at first, because early snow was thin. This is normal for natural-snow resorts, and not a problem. It just means you should check the resort's live conditions before you go.

Resorts that make their own snow - Karuizawa, Fujiten, GALA Yuzawa, and others - open on their planned date in almost every year. For a family with fixed travel dates, that reliability matters more than deep powder.

Planning early December with kids?

Many families from Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia travel in early December. Here is our honest advice:

• ✓Safest choices: Karuizawa opens first every year because it makes its own snow. It is also easy to reach from Tokyo by shinkansen. Yokoteyama and Kagura sit very high, so they open early too.
• ✓Know the limits: in the first weeks, only a few courses are open. Snow may be thin at the bottom of the mountain. Kids parks may open later than the main courses. Check each resort page before you book.
• ✓Stay flexible: book hotels you can cancel. If snow comes late, you can change your plan.

How we track these dates

We follow public resort data for all 56 resorts in our guide. When a resort confirms its opening date, we update this page within 24 hours. We also publish a short news article for each confirmed date, so you can see what changed and when.

FAQ

When do resorts announce their opening dates? Most resorts announce between September and November. A few announce in late August. We update this page as each date is confirmed.

Can I ski in Japan in November? Yes, at a few resorts. Karuizawa opens around November 1 with machine-made snow. Yokoteyama, Kagura, and some Tohoku resorts open in late November if natural snow arrives.

Is early December safe for a family ski trip? It can work well if you choose the right resort. Pick resorts with machine-made snow or high elevation. Expect fewer open courses than in January. Book plans you can change.

Are these dates guaranteed? No. Opening dates depend on snow. Resorts can delay or move dates. We show the latest confirmed information and update within 24 hours of changes.

Do these resorts have English lessons? Only some do, and lessons sell out before hotels. See English ski lessons in Honshu for every official school.

Next steps

• ✓Building your trip dates? Start with our Japan ski trip planning timeline.
• ✓Planning a spring trip with kids in March, April, or Golden Week? See Late-Season Japan Ski with Kids.
• ✓New to all of this? See First-time Japan ski trips and Getting to the slopes from Tokyo.