Japan’s top ski resorts extend season into Golden Week
Updated April 23, 2025: Japan’s top resorts cling to deep snowpacks, with Hakuba boasting 148” (370 cm) and fresh flakes forecast for Hokkaido’s high slopes. Find out more here.
- Hakuba’s Happo One boasts deep base, 40 percent terrain still open
- Spring sun dominates, but upper mountain snowpack holding firm
- Hokkaido forecast to receive fresh snowfall on higher slopes
- Most areas now operating limited terrain with 10–30 percent open
JAPAN REPORT
Most of Japan's larger, better-known ski areas plan to stay open a few more weeks to reach the country's Golden Week at the start of May. There have also been some rain, sleet, and snow showers over the past week on high slopes. It's been mostly dry and sunny, though, with daytime highs in the +10 to +20°C range, and overnight lows still getting below freezing on upper slopes. Most areas are now operating just 10–30% of their ski terrain at the top of the mountain, making use of the big snowpack built up through the winter, albeit now rapidly diminishing as temperatures warm. Hakuba’s Happo One (10/370 cm / 4/148”) is posting one of the deepest bases of the bigger resorts still open and has about 40% of its runs open, one of the largest areas in the country.
JAPAN FORECAST
Plenty more sunshine and warm weather are forecast. Daytime highs will be up into the teens again. It will be cooler up in Hokkaido, which should see snowfall (along with rain and sleet at times) on its higher slopes toward the weekend.
