Japan ski resort opening dates, 2026/27
An opening date is a plan. Resorts open when there is enough snow, sometimes with only part of the mountain running, so check the resort's own site before you book.
| Resort | Opens | Closes | Typical December | Leanest December of 12 | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort | 20 Nov | not yet announced | 86 cm | 56 cm | 30 Sept |
| Sapporo Teine | 21 Nov | not yet announced | 61 cm | 35 cm | 16 Sept |
| Niseko Grand Hirafu | 28 Nov | 5 May | 83 cm | 40 cm | 16 Sept |
| Rusutsu Resort | 28 Nov | 31 Mar | 53 cm | 34 cm | 16 Sept |
| Kiroro Resort | 28 Nov | 5 May | 86 cm | 56 cm | 16 Sept |
| Furano Ski Resort season pass period | 28 Nov | 5 May | 69 cm | 42 cm | 16 Sept |
| Sahoro | 1 Dec | 4 Apr | 52 cm | 21 cm | 16 Sept |
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu | 1 Dec | 5 Apr | 62 cm | 35 cm | 16 Sept |
| Hakuba Happo-One | 1 Dec | 5 May | 126 cm | 55 cm | 16 Sept |
| Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area pre-opening | 4 Dec | not yet announced | 85 cm | 40 cm | 2 Oct |
| Shiga Kogen | 5 Dec | 5 May | 63 cm | 29 cm | 16 Sept |
| Appi Kogen season pass valid from | 6 Dec | 6 May | 111 cm | 36 cm | 16 Sept |
| Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort 11–18 December is pre-season; the main season starts on 19 December | 11 Dec | 28 Mar | 170 cm | 78 cm | 2 Oct |
| Hodaigi Ski Resort | 12 Dec | not yet announced | 71 cm | 29 cm | 2 Oct |
| Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort | 12 Dec | not yet announced | 121 cm | 45 cm | 4 Oct |
| Ninox Snow Park | 17 Dec | 22 Mar | 154 cm | 35 cm | 16 Sept |
| Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort | 18 Dec | not yet announced | 202 cm | 88 cm | 2 Oct |
| Chateraise Ski Valley Nobeyama | 19 Dec | not yet announced | 15 cm | 3 cm | 2 Oct |
| Tangram Madarao Ski Circus | 19 Dec | not yet announced | 121 cm | 45 cm | 2 Oct |
| Iwappara | 19 Dec | 28 Mar | 194 cm | 78 cm | 2 Oct |
| Nakatonbestucho Eikotobuki | 19 Dec | not yet announced | 62 cm | 32 cm | 2 Oct |
| Akakura Kanko Ski Resort | 19 Dec | 5 May | 126 cm | 50 cm | 16 Sept |
| Maiko Snow Resort | 19 Dec | not yet announced | 184 cm | 78 cm | 30 Sept |
| Myoko Suginohara | 19 Dec | 28 Mar | 98 cm | 43 cm | 2 Oct |
| Kyukamura Myoko closed 23–26 March | 19 Dec | 28 Mar | 126 cm | 50 cm | 4 Oct |
Dates come from each resort's own website, checked one at a time; the “Checked” column gives the date for each, the most recent being 4 October 2026. December snowfall is the daily total from the ERA5 reanalysis, averaged over the twelve winters from 2014/15 to 2025/26; the leanest column is the smallest single December of those twelve. These are model figures and run below what resorts report, so use them to compare one December with another at the same place.
Not announced yet
These have not published a date for 2026/27. We add them here as they appear.
Nozawa Onsen, Zao Onsen, Hakuba Goryu, Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba Cortina