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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Teine | 21 Nov | not yet announced | 61 cm | 35 cm |
| Niseko Grand Hirafu | 28 Nov | 5 May | 83 cm | 40 cm |
| Rusutsu Resort | 28 Nov | 31 Mar | 53 cm | 34 cm |
| Kiroro Resort | 28 Nov | 5 May | 86 cm | 56 cm |
| Furano Ski Resort season pass period | 28 Nov | 5 May | 69 cm | 42 cm |
| Sahoro | 1 Dec | 4 Apr | 52 cm | 21 cm |
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu | 1 Dec | 5 Apr | 62 cm | 35 cm |
| Hakuba Happo-One | 1 Dec | 5 May | 126 cm | 55 cm |
| Shiga Kogen | 5 Dec | 5 May | 63 cm | 29 cm |
| Appi Kogen season pass valid from | 6 Dec | 6 May | 111 cm | 36 cm |
| Ninox Snow Park | 17 Dec | 22 Mar | 154 cm | 35 cm |
| Akakura Kanko Ski Resort | 19 Dec | 5 May | 126 cm | 50 cm |
| Maiko Snow Resort | 19 Dec | not yet announced | 184 cm | 78 cm |
Dates come from each resort's own website, checked on 16 September 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