Can you still ski in spring? Of course you can! Let's plan your ski trip in Japan in March, April and May

1. Want to go skiing in spring? Not just in Hokkaido, but also in Honshu!

Do you also think that "there is no snow in spring"?
In fact, in Japan, you can still ski in March, April, and even May . This is not exclusive to Hokkaido. There are also many ski resorts in Honshu that are still open in spring ! After continuous snowfall throughout the snow season, even if there is no snowfall in spring, the thick snow on the mountain will slowly melt and continue to maintain skiable snow conditions. As long as the terrain is high and the slope is right, mid-March to early May is still the ski season!

📅 What about holidays?

• Qingming Festival (early April)
  Taiwan's holiday season is not a long holiday for Japan. Locals have turned to cherry blossom viewing, mountain climbing and other activities. The number of skiers has decreased, and the price of accommodation is relatively cheap . At this time, ski resorts such as Kagura, Zao, Hakuba, and Nekoma are still open. It is a good time to travel during the snow.

• Labor Day (early May)
  From 2025 4+1 is on the way, and May 1st Labor Day will also be included in the holiday. Although there are not many ski resorts in May, there are still high-altitude ski resorts such as Kagura and Shiga Kogen open. During this period, you will have the opportunity to enjoy cherry blossoms and skiing on the same trip, enjoying double enjoyment in one trip!

✅ Five benefits of spring skiing

☀The weather is warm , so skiing doesn’t freeze your hands or feet anymore

👣There are fewer people on the snow trails , so it is more comfortable to learn and take photos

💰Affordable prices , accommodation and ski tickets often have spring discounts

📷Good light, high visibility , brighter photos

🎯Soft snow and slow speed , suitable for beginners

⚠Two things to note when skiing in spring

1. The operating periods of different ski resorts vary greatly . Some ski resorts can only operate until the end of March, while others can operate all the way to mid-May.
2. The actual opening days will be affected by the annual snowfall and temperature changes . Even well-known ski resorts may close early.

Therefore, if you plan a ski trip from mid-March to early May, be sure to choose a ski resort carefully ! It is recommended to give priority to ski resorts with high altitudes and northern slopes.

2. Which ski resorts are still open in spring? Sorted by region (including closing time)

🏔 Yuzawa area (Niigata Prefecture)

Ski Resort	Open until approximately
Kagura Ski Resort	Mid to late May
GALA Yuzawa	Early May
Shenli Plateau	Mid-April ten days

❄ Nagano

❄ Tohoku region (Yamagata / Fukushima / Iwate)

Ski Resort		Open until approximately
Zao Onsen Ski Resort	Yamagata Prefecture	Early May
Tianyuantai Plateau Ski Resort	Yamagata Prefecture	Early May
Nekoma Ski Resort	Fukushima Prefecture	Early May
Appi Kogen Ski Resort	Iwate Prefecture	Early May
Gayu Plateau Ski Resort	Iwate Prefecture	Early May

❄ Hokkaido area

Ski Resort	Open until approximately
Teine	Early May
Niseko	Early May
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort	Early May
Furano	Early May
Nakayamatoge Ski Resort	Early May
Kurodake (Daiseuzan)	Early May

3. Spring ski resort examples: Yuzawa × Tohoku

We at Outdoorland have spring operation bases in the following two locations every year, both of which provide Chinese skiing instruction and local support:

🏔 Kagura Ski Resort (Yuzawa)

Snow Season	Last business day (actual)
2024–2025	May 18 (Sunday)
2023–2024	May 12 (Sunday)
2022–2023	May 21 (Sunday)
2021–2022	May 22 (Sunday)
2020–2021	May 23 (Sunday)

👉 Open almost every year until mid-to-late May , it is the king of spring skiing in Japan!

❄ Representative ski resorts in Tohoku (mainly Zao)

Snow Season	Zao Ski Resort scheduled closing date
2024–2025	May 6 (Tuesday)
2023–2024	May 6 (Monday)
2022–2023	May 7 (Sunday)
2021–2022	May 5 (Thursday)
2020–2021	May 5 (Wednesday)

👉 It is open stably until the Golden Week, and can be combined with itineraries such as hot spring bathing, cherry blossom viewing, and cable car viewing. It is a good choice for spring travel.

Want to experience spring skiing?

We at Aodoulang Outdoorland continue to offer skiing courses every spring. Whether you are a beginner, a family traveler, or a self-guided tourer, you can find a suitable skiing plan.

📍 Booking and course details:

• Learn about Yuzawa courses
• Learn about Zao courses
• 📱 LINE: https://lin.ee/iSwNgtv