Practical guide · 7 min read
When is the best time to ride Hokkaido?
Mid-January to late February brings the coldest powder. Tickets get cheaper in the shoulder weeks at either end, and touring takes over from March.
By Adam BognarPublished
Most Hokkaido resorts list mid-January to late February as their peak, and those weeks bring the coldest air and the most dependable powder. Come in March for longer days and the start of the big touring season, or after late March for spring prices and soft snow at the resorts that run into early May.
We built this calendar from each resort's published season dates and ticket periods and checked them in October 2026.
| When | Snow | Crowds and prices | What's running |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Nov to mid-Dec | First storms build the base, and openings can slip | Early-season tickets, such as ¥5,500 at Kiroro (29 Nov–12 Dec 2025) | Most big resorts from late November or 1 December |
| Late Dec to early Jan | Northwesterly storms settle in | New Year is the first crowd peak | Everything, including the cat operations |
| Mid-Jan to Feb | Coldest air, most reliable powder | Lunar New Year on 6 Feb 2027; Hirafu peak prices to 28 Feb (2026/27) | Tomamu's Powder Area from mid-January |
| March | Storms space out and days lengthen | Niseko spring prices from 23 Mar (2025/26) | Cat skiing ends mid-March; summit touring starts |
| April | Spring snow freezes overnight and softens in the sun | Spring and final-season tickets | Village, Moiwa and Tomamu close 5 Apr 2026; Hanazono 12 Apr |
| May | Corn on the high slopes | Annupuri's ¥5,200 final-season day (6 Apr–6 May 2026) | Hirafu, Annupuri, Kokusai and the Furano Zone to 6 May 2026 |
Where does Hokkaido's snow come from?
All winter, cold air pours out of Siberia on northwesterly winds and picks up moisture crossing the Sea of Japan. It drops that moisture as snow where it first meets mountains, so the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido gets buried first. The town of Kutchan sits below the Niseko resorts and averages 12.6 metres a season according to Kutchan town, and that is about two and a half times Sapporo's total. Kiroro quotes an annual average of 21 metres. The resort measures that figure near the top of the mountain, so read it apart from Kutchan's valley-floor number.
Inland the storms arrive with less moisture left, and the snow lands colder and lighter. Tomamu says a January morning at 8 am averages −12°C, and the resort has recorded −35°C (Tomamu). Asahikawa set Japan's official low of −41.0°C in January 1902. Out on the Tokachi plain around Obihiro, clear skies are normal from December to February and snowfall stays light.
Forecasts in a strong cold outbreak often mention the JPCZ. The Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone forms when the outbreak splits around the Changbai Mountains in the north of the Korean Peninsula and rejoins over the Sea of Japan, and it builds a band of cloud and heavy snow about 1,000 km long (Kobe city explainer). The band usually aims at Honshu, and Hokkaido's snow mostly comes from the wider northwesterly flow around it. On 31 December 2025 the Japan Meteorological Agency tracked the JPCZ toward Hokuriku, and northern Japan on the cold side of it picked up 5–10 cm every three hours (JMA forecast commentary).
What are late November and December like?
The big resorts aim to open in late November, and the first storms decide whether they make it. In 2025 the Furano Zone at Furano and Rusutsu opened on 29 November. Niseko United planned the same date and opened on 4 December after a slow start. Tomamu and Sahoro open on 1 December, and Kurodake plans to start that day in 2026. The Asahidake ropeway reopens on 11 December after its autumn maintenance.
Early December is the cheapest stretch on the hill. Tomamu charged ¥5,000 for a day from 1 to 20 December 2025 against ¥8,000 in the main season. Furano's early-season day (29 November to 5 December 2025) came in ¥1,500 under its ¥8,000 regular price. For 2026/27 Sahoro has set ¥4,700 for opening week, 1–6 December (Sahoro prices). Expect a thin base and some terrain still closed.
From Christmas the season fills up. For 2026/27 Grand Hirafu and Hanazono add a peak tier from 24 December to 28 February that lifts their joint day ticket to ¥12,500 (Grand Hirafu tickets). The cat operations start in late December. Chisenupuri opens on 23 December for 2026/27, and Weiss started on 28 December in 2025.
Why do January and February count as peak?
The deepest cold arrives in January and holds through February. Inland, snow that falls into air that cold stays dry for days, and the trees on Tomamu's gondola top were coated in rime on 63% of days in 2025/26 by the resort's own count. Tomamu opens its free Experts Only Powder Area from mid-January, and Furano runs First Tracks sessions on set Thursdays in January for ¥25,000 a person (2025/26). Night riding at Grand Hirafu runs 16:00–19:00 from mid-December to late March, and the day ticket carries straight into it.
Teine's high season for 2026/27 runs from 19 December to 7 March. Most other resorts charge their full main-season rate through January and February, and our lift pass guide lists those prices.
When are the crowds worst?
The longest queues come between Christmas and late January and again around Lunar New Year. In 2027 the holiday falls on 6 February. Niseko Village puts its gondola wait at about 20 minutes at those peaks. Always Niseko set a five-night minimum over New Year and in February when we checked its January 2024 rates, so book beds early if your dates touch either window. Weekend mornings at Sapporo Teine bring families and school groups up from the city, and Sapporo Kokusai's car park fills by about 8:30 on a weekend.
On a powder morning at the bigger Niseko resorts, be in the lift line before opening. At Hirafu everybody heading for the peak gates funnels onto King Single #4.
When does the touring season start?
Most of the backcountry zones in our guide run from January to April. Midwinter tours mostly stay below treeline, because wind and ice hold the high cones for much of the winter, and the big summits wait for March. Guides favour mid-March to early May for Yotei's summit. The plateau above Asahidake opens up for summit days from March to May, and Rishiri goes best in March and April once the storms space themselves apart. On Unabetsu-dake in Shiretoko, March is the pick, and drift ice fills the sea below it from February to early March. Bears wake there from late March.
Check the volcano alerts before you plan anything in the Tokachi range. The JMA raised Tokachidake to alert Level 3 on 12 September 2026, and Kamifurano town has banned climbing from the Tokachidake Onsen and Fukiage trailheads (JMA volcano map). Our avalanche safety guide covers the bulletins and the climbing plan.
What is spring riding like?
March days run longer and the storms come further apart, and by April the snow freezes overnight and softens into corn as the sun reaches each aspect. Spring tickets cost a good deal less. In 2025/26 Niseko's spring period started on 23 March and dropped the Hirafu and Hanazono day to ¥7,700. Furano charged ¥6,500 from 23 March to 6 May that season. Kiroro and Sapporo Kokusai both fell to ¥5,500, from 6 April and 1 April respectively.
The season shrinks as it goes. The cat operations finish in mid-March, and Furano's Kitanomine Zone closed on 22 March 2026. Rusutsu and Kamui Ski Links closed on 31 March. Teine runs its Highland side alone from late March. Into May you can still ride Grand Hirafu, Annupuri, the Furano Zone, Kiroro, Kokusai, Teine's Highland side, Kurodake and Asahidake.
When does each resort open and close?
| Resort | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Hirafu | Late Nov (4 Dec in 2025) | 6 May 2026 |
| Hanazono | Late Nov (5 Dec in 2025) | 12 Apr 2026 |
| Niseko Village | Late Nov (4 Dec in 2025) | 5 Apr 2026 |
| Annupuri | Late Nov (4 Dec in 2025) | 6 May 2026 |
| Moiwa | 5 Dec 2025 | 5 Apr 2026 |
| Rusutsu | 29 Nov 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Kiroro | Late Nov | Early May |
| Sapporo Teine | Late Nov | Early May (Highland only after late March) |
| Sapporo Kokusai | Late Nov | Early May |
| Furano | 29 Nov 2025 (Kitanomine late Dec) | 6 May 2026 (Kitanomine 22 Mar) |
| Kamui Ski Links | 13 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Tomamu | 1 Dec | 5 Apr |
| Sahoro | 1 Dec | Early Apr |
| Asahidake | 11 Dec (ropeway reopens) | Early May for skiing |
| Kurodake | 1 Dec 2026 (planned) | 5 May (planned) |
Sources
- Kutchan town, snowfall records: https://www.town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp/culture-sports/kucchan-history/history-gousetsumame/
- Kiroro Snow World: https://www.kiroro.co.jp/en/, https://www.kiroro.co.jp/en/lift_price/
- Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, frost trees, Powder Area and tickets: https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/frosttree/, https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/ski/ski-slope/expert/, https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/ski/ticket/
- Kobe city, JPCZ explainer: https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/z/kikikanrishitsu/topikkusu10.html
- Japan Meteorological Agency short-range forecast commentary, 31 December 2025 (copy hosted at n-kishou.com): https://n-kishou.com/ee/image4/lfax/tkaisetu_202512311540.pdf
- Japan Meteorological Agency volcano map: https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/map.html#contents=volcano
- Kamifurano tourism association, Tokachidake closure: https://www.kamifurano.jp/archives/34599/
- Niseko United lift tickets and season news: https://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/lift/, https://en.grand-hirafu.jp/snow/tickets/, https://www.annupuri.info/en/lift-tickets/
- Niseko Village: https://www.niseko-village.com/
- Furano Ski Resort: https://www.princehotels.com/en/ski/furano/
- Sahoro prices: https://sahoro-resort.com/winter/ski/price
- Sapporo Teine tickets: https://sapporo-teine.com/snow/lang/en/tickets
- Sapporo Kokusai prices: https://www.sapporo-kokusai.jp/en/price/
- Asahidake Ropeway: https://asahidake.hokkaido.jp/en/
- Kurodake Ropeway: https://www.rinyu.co.jp/kurodake/
- Chisenupuri cat skiing: https://www.chisenupuri.com/cat-skiing
- Hokkaido Wilds touring reports for Yotei, Asahidake, Rishiri and Unabetsu-dake: https://hokkaidowilds.org/mt-yotei-backcountry-ski-routes, https://hokkaidowilds.org/ski-touring/asahidake-to-nakadake-onsen-loop-ski-tour, https://hokkaidowilds.org/ski-touring/rishiri-zan-classic-ski-tour-route
- Japanese Wikipedia, Asahikawa and Obihiro climate notes: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/旭川市, https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/帯広市
Quick answers
When do Hokkaido ski resorts open?
Most big Hokkaido resorts aim to open in late November or on 1 December. In 2025 Furano and Rusutsu opened on 29 November and Niseko United on 4 December after a slow start. Tomamu and Sahoro open on 1 December.
When is Chinese New Year in 2027?
Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027. Niseko Village says its gondola queues reach about 20 minutes between Christmas and late January and again around that holiday.
How late in the spring can you ride in Hokkaido?
You can ride Hokkaido into early May. In 2026 Grand Hirafu, Annupuri, Sapporo Kokusai and Furano's Furano Zone ran until 6 May, and Kurodake plans its 2026/27 closing for 5 May.
How much snow does Niseko get?
The town of Kutchan below the Niseko resorts averages 12.6 metres of snow a season by its own records, and that is about two and a half times Sapporo's total. The town measures it on the valley floor below the lifts.
When is the best month for backcountry touring in Hokkaido?
Most Hokkaido touring zones run from January to April. Tree tours go best in January and February, and the big summits such as Yotei and Asahidake go best from March into early May.
We write from operators’ and agencies’ own pages, open map data and published research, and we date every fact we check. How we research.