Last Updated: July 30, 2026

When Do Honshu Ski Resorts Open? (and Close)

Honshu ski resorts open from early November to late December, depending on snow type and elevation. This guide groups every resort by when it opens — and closes — so families can plan around a Tokyo trip.

When Do Honshu Ski Resorts Open? (and Close)

Most Honshu ski resorts open in December. But 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 guide groups every resort we cover by when it opens — and when it closes — so you can match the snow to your Tokyo trip dates.

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.

How to read this guide

✓Typical opening is the usual window each season, based on past years and elevation. Use this when you plan a future trip. These are general guides, so a real date can move by a few days.
✓2025–26 dates are the dates for this season, kept here as a reference. We do not change them during the season. For the latest live dates, check each resort page or our season page below.
✓The three family columns — Good for kids, Easy from Tokyo, and English-friendly — use a 5-step scale. A dash (—) means we have no score yet.

The big picture (read this first)

✓Earliest in Honshu: Karuizawa, around November 1. 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.
✓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.

Opening and closing by resort

Resorts are grouped by area, from the easiest Tokyo access outward.

Karuizawa

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Karuizawa Prince	Early Nov (snow-making)	Nov 1 – Mar 31	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆

Yuzawa

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Kagura	Mid-Nov (high, snow-sure)	Nov 11 – May 17	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Kandatsu Kogen	Mid-Dec	Dec 12 – Apr 19	—	★★★★★	—
Joetsu Kokusai	Mid-Dec	Dec 13 – Mar 31	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆
Naeba	Mid-Dec	Dec 13 – Apr 5	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Yuzawa Kogen	Mid-Dec (snow-dependent)	approx. Dec 14 – Apr 5	—	★★★★★	—
Ishiuchi Maruyama	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 20 – Apr 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
GALA Yuzawa	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 20 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Maiko	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 20 – Mar 29	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆
Iwappara	Mid-to-late Dec	approx. Dec 20 – Mar 29	—	★★★★☆	—

Hakuba

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Tsugaike Kogen	Late Nov–early Dec	Dec 1 – May 6	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Hakuba Goryu	Late Nov–early Dec	Dec 4 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Hakuba Happo-One	Late Nov–early Dec	Dec 5 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★
Hakuba 47	Late Nov–early Dec	Dec 5 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Hakuba Cortina	Mid-Dec (natural snow)	Dec 13 – Mar 30	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Kashimayari	Mid-Dec (natural snow)	Dec 13 – Mar 22	—	★★☆☆☆	—
Hakuba Norikura	Mid-Dec (natural snow)	Dec 13 – Mar 29	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆
Hakuba Iwatake	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 19 – Mar 30	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Hakuba Sanosaka	Mid-to-late Dec (natural)	Dec 19 – Mar 29	—	★★☆☆☆	—

Nozawa

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Nozawa Onsen	Late Nov (natural snow)	Nov 30 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆

Myoko

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Suginohara	Mid-Dec (area opens together)	Dec 13 – Mar 29	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆
Madarao	Mid-Dec	Dec 13 – Mar 29	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Akakura Onsen	Mid-Dec	Dec 13 – Mar 31	—	★★★★☆	—
Lotte Arai	Mid-Dec (snow-sure)	Dec 13 – May 10	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Akakura Kanko	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 19 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Tangram	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 20 – Mar 29	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆
Seki Onsen	Late Dec (snow-dependent)	Dec 23 – May 5	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆

Shiga Kogen

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Shiga Kogen Central	Early Dec (area opens together)	Dec 6 – May 6	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★
Yakebitaiyama	Early Dec	Dec 6 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Yokoteyama	Late Nov (highest in Japan)	Nov 20 – May 6	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Ryuoo Ski Park	Mid-to-late Dec	Dec 20 – Apr 5	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆
Okushiga Kogen	Mid-Dec to early May	Mid-Dec – early May	—	★★★☆☆	—

Yamanashi

Resort	Typical opening	2025–26 dates	Kids	Tokyo access	English
Fujiten	Mid-Dec (snow-making)	Dec 13 – Apr 1	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆

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.

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.

Next steps

✓Want this season's confirmed dates in one list? See Japan Ski Resort Opening Dates (2025–26).
✓Planning a spring trip with kids in March, April, or Golden Week? See Late-Season Japan Ski with Kids.

When Do Honshu Ski Resorts Open? (and Close)