Ski Resort News

Kagura ran one of the longest seasons in Japan, until 17 May 2026. Its high elevation keeps spring snow well, and it held a final thank-you event on 15 May.

GALA汤泽在延续至黄金周假期的漫长雪季后，于2026年5月6日结束2025-2026雪季。

Shiga Kogen ran a long season to 6 May 2026, with a spring-skiing period from 1 April. Its high elevation keeps good snow late.

Hakuba47 ran a long season into the Golden Week holidays, closing on 6 May 2026.

Tsugaike ran a long 2025-2026 season and closed on 6 May 2026. The top Tsuga-no-mori run still had about 96 centimetres of snow near the end.

Hakuba Goryu ran a long season into the Golden Week holidays, closing on 6 May 2026.

Nozawa Onsen ran a long season, with spring skiing into the Golden Week holidays until about 6 May 2026.

GALA Yuzawa ended its 2025-2026 season on 6 May 2026, after a long season into the Golden Week holidays.

Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama ended its 2025-2026 season on 1 May 2026, after rain caused rapid snowmelt.

Happo-One ended ski operations on 19 April 2026, earlier than the planned 6 May, because the snow melted quickly. The Alpine Line lifts kept running for sightseeing until 6 May.

Akakura Onsen closed on 31 March 2026, and the higher Akakura Kanko closed on 12 April 2026 after warm weather and snowmelt.

Ishiuchi Maruyama ended its 2025-2026 season on 5 April 2026, after holding its winter fireworks festival in early March.

Ryuoo Ski Park ended its 2025-2026 season on 5 April 2026. The big resort has a vertical drop of more than 1,000 metres and a run of about 6,000 metres.

Naeba ended its 2025-2026 winter season on 5 April 2026. The large resort has 24 courses and a run of up to 4,000 metres.

Happo-One held its Spring Festival 2026 on 5 April at the Usagidaira Oakley Terrace, with guest athletes, a talk show, and a prize draw. Non-skiers could ride the gondola to the venue.

Fujiten ended its 2025-2026 winter season on 1 April 2026. The resort near Mount Fuji opens in mid December and closes in early April.

Karuizawa closed its 2025-2026 season on 31 March 2026. As a snowmaking resort near Tokyo, it opens early and closes earlier than the high mountain resorts.

Joetsu Kokusai ended its 2025-2026 season early, on 31 March 2026, because of low snow and fast snowmelt. It had planned to stay open until 5 April.

轻井泽于2026年3月31日结束2025-2026雪季。作为靠近东京的人工造雪滑雪场，它开季较早，收季也比高山滑雪场更早。

Hakuba Cortina ended its 2025-2026 season on 30 March 2026. As a lower Hakuba resort, it closes earlier than the high resorts nearby.

Hakuba Iwatake closed its 2025-2026 ski season on 29 March 2026. As a lower, independent peak, its ski season ends earlier than the big Hakuba resorts.

Hakuba Norikura closed early, on 29 March 2026, because of high temperatures and fast snowmelt. It had planned to stay open until 5 April.

Seki Onsen, a small deep-powder ski area in Myoko, ran from 25 December 2025 to 5 May 2026, open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In the Akakura area, elementary-school children ski free on Ski Kids' Day, held on the third Sunday of each month from December to March.

在GALA汤泽，每月第三个星期日的“滑雪儿童日”，小学生可免费滑雪，时间从12月持续到3月。

At GALA Yuzawa, elementary-school children ski free on Ski Kids' Day, held on the third Sunday of each month from December to March.

GALA Yuzawa opened for the 2025-2026 season on 20 December 2025. The station-connected resort is about 71 minutes from Tokyo and runs until 6 May 2026.

GALA汤泽滑雪场于2025年12月20日开滑，迎接2025-2026雪季。这座与新干线车站直连的滑雪场距东京约71分钟，营业至2026年5月6日。

Hakuba Iwatake opened for the 2025-2026 season on 19 December 2025. The resort is famous for its Mountain Harbor view terrace, which non-skiers can also visit.

The Akakura area in Myoko has two connected resorts, Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko. Akakura Kanko opened for the 2025-2026 season on 19 December 2025.

At Naeba, children up to elementary-school age ski free. The resort has a kids park, and one ticket also reaches Kagura by the longest gondola in Japan.

Fujiten started night skiing on 20 December 2025. It also has the Chibikko Ai-Land snow-play area for small children.

Lotte Arai Resort opened on 13 December 2025 and planned a long season until about 10 May 2026. The Myoko resort gets heavy snow and has wide ungroomed powder zones.

Naeba opened for the 2025-2026 season on 13 December 2025, with some courses at first. The season ran until 5 April 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Madarao opened for the 2025-2026 season on 13 December 2025. The 100% natural-snow resort has Japan's most tree-run courses, and one pass also covers nearby Tangram.

Fujiten Snow Resort opened for the 2025-2026 season on 13 December 2025. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. One course was open at first, with all courses planned for mid January.

Hakuba Norikura opened for the 2025-2026 season on 13 December 2025. It shares a 28-course common ticket with the next-door Hakuba Cortina.

For 2025-2026, Fujiten installed what it calls Japan's fastest quad lift. The ride time dropped from about 6 minutes to about 3.5 minutes.

For 2025-2026, Ryuoo started free Step-Up Lessons for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The lessons change daily by topic.

Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort opened for the 2025-2026 season on 6 December 2025. One common ticket covers all 18 linked ski areas, the largest connected ski area in Japan.

Hakuba47 opened for the 2025-2026 season on 5 December 2025. It is known for its snow park and shares one ticket with the connected Hakuba Goryu.

For 2025-2026, Happo-One added a real-time digital trail and shuttle-bus map, more accurate grooming, renewed dining, and a new beginner mini park.

Hakuba Goryu opened for the 2025-2026 season on 4 December 2025. One ticket covers Goryu and Hakuba47, a connected area of three zones and 24 courses.

2025-2026 is GALA Yuzawa's 35th season, with an anniversary event on 5 March 2026 and new restaurants, including a vegan and sushi menu.

2025-2026是GALA汤泽的第35个雪季。滑雪场计划于2026年3月5日举办周年活动，并新增多家餐厅，包括素食与寿司菜单。

Kagura opened for the 2025-2026 season on 22 November 2025, earlier than recent years. The high Kagura and Mitsumata areas run until 17 May 2026.

Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama & Shibutoge, the highest ski area in Japan at 2,307 metres, opened on 20 November 2025. It runs one of the longest seasons, into late spring.

在轻井泽，通过王子滑雪度假区的“儿童免费”活动，小学及以下儿童可免费使用缆车。滑雪场还设有儿童乐园和儿童滑雪学校。

At Karuizawa, lift tickets are free for children up to elementary-school age, through the Prince Snow Resorts Kids Free campaign. The resort also has a kids park and a kids school.

Through the NSD Kids Program, children can ski at 14 group resorts, including Tsugaike, for one small fee. The fee was 1,800 yen until 31 January 2026, then 3,500 yen.

For 2025-2026, Tsugaike added 11 more snow machines for its Loop 4000 area, about 4,000 metres long. This helps the resort open with reliable snow earlier in the season.

Joetsu Kokusai opened for the 2025-2026 season in December 2025. The huge, family-friendly resort has four zones and a long run of up to 6,000 metres.

Hakuba Cortina opened for the 2025-2026 season on 13 December 2025. It is known for 100% natural powder snow and shares a 28-course common ticket with Hakuba Norikura.

Hakuba Happo-One opened sales for 2025-2026 season passes. Early-bird prices ran until 15 October 2025. The child pass covers students up to high school age.

Lotte Arai Resort opened sales for 2025-2026 early-bird season passes and lift tickets in June 2025, at lower prices than during the winter.