27 of the 44 Japanese resorts on this page have announced a 2026-27 opening date.
The season starts in October: Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti (October 23) and Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (October 31).
Hokkaido follows from November 20, and the announced dates in Nagano, Niigata and Tohoku run from November 21 to December 19.
When does ski season start in Japan? 2026-27 dates for 44 resorts: Yeti October 23, Hokkaido from November 20, Niseko and Nozawa November 28, with sources.
A month-by-month calendar of the Japanese ski season: openings and closings, when snowfall peaks, which holiday weeks fill up, and when spring skiing is still worth it.
January into early February is the snowiest stretch; New Year and the February holiday week are the busiest. From March the snow softens but crowds thin and prices drop.
27 of the 44 Japanese resorts below have announced a 2026-27 opening date. The season starts in October: Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti (October 23) and Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (October 31). Hokkaido follows from November 20: Sapporo Kokusai (November 20), Sapporo Teine (November 21), Niseko Hanazono (November 28), Niseko Annupuri (November 28), Rusutsu (November 28), Furano (November 28), Niseko Grand Hirafu (November 28), Niseko Village (November 28), Kiroro (November 28) and Hoshino Resorts Tomamu (December 1). In Nagano, Niigata and Tohoku the announced dates run from November 21 to December 19: Hakuba Goryu (November 21), Nozawa Onsen (November 28), Kagura (November 28), Tsugaike Mountain Resort (December 1), Hakuba Happo-one (December 1), Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama (December 4), APPI Kogen (December 5), Shiga Kogen (December 5), Madarao Mountain Resort (December 12), Naeba (December 18), GALA Yuzawa (December 19), Myoko Suginohara (December 19) and Myoko Akakura Kanko (December 19). Every date depends on snow, and most resorts open only part of the mountain on the first day.
Every row was checked on October 27, 2026 or later against each resort's own site. Each row links its source; "news" marks a date taken from a news report because the resort page had none yet.
Edited by David
Announced: Sapporo Kokusai (November 20), Sapporo Teine (November 21), Niseko Hanazono (November 28), Niseko Annupuri (November 28), Rusutsu (November 28), Furano (November 28), Niseko Grand Hirafu (November 28), Niseko Village (November 28), Kiroro (November 28) and Hoshino Resorts Tomamu (December 1). No 2026-27 date yet: Sahoro and Sapporo Bankei.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Kokusai | Announced | November 20, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Sapporo Teine | Announced | November 21, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Niseko Hanazono | Announced | November 28, 2026 | April 11, 2027 | - | resort site, November 4 |
| Niseko Annupuri | Announced | November 28, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Rusutsu Early season to December 11; regular season from December 19. | Announced | November 28, 2026 | March 31, 2027 | December 5, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Furano | Announced | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Niseko Grand Hirafu Night skiing is planned from December 12 to March 22. | Announced | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Niseko Village | Announced | November 28, 2026 | April 4, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Kiroro The December 12 date on the Kiroro site is for the Snow Activity World centre, not the lifts. | Announced | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | November 29, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu | Announced | December 1, 2026 | April 5, 2027 | December 1, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Sahoro The official site did not load on the check date, so the opening date could not be checked. | Not announced | - | - | December 4, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Sapporo Bankei | Not announced | - | - | December 12, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
Announced: APPI Kogen (December 5). No 2026-27 date yet: Zao Onsen, Hakkoda and Gassan.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPI Kogen | Announced | December 5, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | December 5, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Zao Onsen | Not announced | - | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Hakkoda The ropeway ski page says the season usually runs from early December to early May. | Not announced | - | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Gassan Heavy snow blocks access in winter, so Gassan opens in spring and runs into summer. The 2025 season opened on April 11, 2025. The pair lift ended its 2026 season in October; no 2027 date yet. | Not announced | - | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
Announced: Hakuba Goryu (November 21), Tsugaike Mountain Resort (December 1) and Hakuba Happo-one (December 1). No 2026-27 date yet: Hakuba Iwatake, Hakuba Cortina and Hakuba Norikura.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakuba Goryu Goryu side only, starting with the Toomi No.1 lift area. Hakuba47 has not announced a date. | Announced | November 21, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Tsugaike Mountain Resort 18 new snow guns this season. | Announced | December 1, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Hakuba Happo-one | Announced | December 1, 2026 | - | December 5, 2025 (listing) | resort site, November 4 |
| Hakuba Iwatake | Not announced | - | - | December 19, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Hakuba Cortina The official site did not load on the check date, so the opening date could not be checked. | Not announced | - | - | December 13, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Hakuba Norikura | Not announced | - | - | December 13, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
Announced: Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (October 31), Nozawa Onsen (November 28), Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama (December 4), Shiga Kogen (December 5) and Madarao Mountain Resort (December 12). No 2026-27 date yet: Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama-Shibutoge and Ryuoo Ski Park.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort Opening day: the B1 Kurinoki and D1 Prince runs and the Snowman Park. The resort aims to have all 14 runs open by early January. | Announced | October 31, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Nozawa Onsen Early-season period November 28 to December 18; the opening festival is on December 19. | Announced | November 28, 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama | Announced | December 4, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Shiga Kogen Dates of the all-mountain lift ticket. Single areas such as Yokoteyama can start earlier on their own tickets. | Announced | December 5, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Madarao Mountain Resort | Announced | December 12, 2026 | March 28, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama-Shibutoge | Not announced | - | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Ryuoo Ski Park | Not announced | - | - | December 6, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
Announced: Kagura (November 28), Naeba (December 18), GALA Yuzawa (December 19), Myoko Suginohara (December 19) and Myoko Akakura Kanko (December 19). No 2026-27 date yet: Ishiuchi Maruyama, Myoko Akakura Onsen, Seki Onsen and Lotte Arai Resort.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagura Kagura and Mitsumata areas. The Tashiro area runs December 19 to May 5. | Announced | November 28, 2026 | May 16, 2027 | November 22, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Naeba The Dragondola is planned from December 26. | Announced | December 18, 2026 | April 4, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| GALA Yuzawa The South area is closed this season. | Announced | December 19, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | news report, October 27 |
| Myoko Suginohara | Announced | December 19, 2026 | March 28, 2027 | - | resort site, October 27 |
| Myoko Akakura Kanko | Announced | December 19, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | December 19, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Ishiuchi Maruyama | Not announced | - | - | December 19, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Myoko Akakura Onsen | Not announced | - | - | December 13, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Seki Onsen The old official domain no longer leads to the resort; this row follows the Niigata tourism listing. | Not announced | - | - | December 25, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Lotte Arai Resort | Not announced | - | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
Announced: Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti (October 23), Tambara Ski Park (November 28) and Takasu Snow Park (December 11). No 2026-27 date yet: Marunuma Kogen and Dynaland.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti Closed temporarily after high temperatures, wind and rain melted the snow. The resort's October 27 notice says it will decide on October 29 whether to reopen on October 30 or 31. | Announced | October 23, 2026 | March 28, 2027 | - | news report, October 27 |
| Tambara Ski Park | Announced | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 | - | news report, October 27 |
| Takasu Snow Park | Announced | December 11, 2026 | - | December 6, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Marunuma Kogen | Not announced | - | - | December 5, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
| Dynaland | Not announced | - | - | December 6, 2025 (listing) | resort site, October 27 |
Hachi Kita Kogen says it will open in December 2026, with no exact day yet.
| Resort | Status | 2026-27 opening | Planned closing | Last season start (2025-26) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hachi Kita Kogen | Month only | December 2026 | - | - | resort site, October 27 |
The 2025-26 column is last season's start date as published by the linked page (the resort, a prefectural tourism site or Weathernews). It is not a 2026-27 date.