The first Hokkaido ski areas plan to open in the second half of November 2026. Sapporo Kokusai plans to open on November 20, Sapporo Teine on November 21, and the four Niseko United areas and Furano Ski Area on November 28. All are planned dates and depend on snow. Several other well-known resorts had not published their 2026–27 dates when we checked.
Planned 2026–27 seasons
| Ski area | Planned opening | Planned closing |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Kokusai | November 20, 2026 | May 5, 2027 |
| Sapporo Teine | November 21, 2026 | Check the resort |
| Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 |
| Niseko Annupuri | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 |
| Niseko HANAZONO | November 28, 2026 | April 11, 2027 |
| Niseko Village | November 28, 2026 | April 4, 2027 |
| Furano Ski Area | November 28, 2026 | May 5, 2027 |
Sources: Sapporo Kokusai (opening, checked 19 October 2026) and the Sapporo Tourism Association's season-pass notice (season to May 5, published 7 September 2026); Sapporo Teine, Niseko United and Furano Ski Area (checked 12–16 October 2026). Opening days depend on snow, and early in the season only part of the terrain may be open.
Not announced yet
When we checked the official sites on 19 October 2026, these resorts had not yet published their 2026–27 operating dates: Rusutsu, Kiroro, Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, Sapporo Bankei and Kamui Ski Links. We will add them once their dates are official, rather than repeat last season's.
When does the snow settle?
| Station | First snow on the ground (1 cm) | Lasting snow cover begins |
|---|---|---|
| Kutchan (Niseko area) | November 6 | November 21 |
| Asahikawa | November 4 | November 24 |
| Sapporo (city) | November 12 | December 6 |
These are the Japan Meteorological Agency's average dates for August 1990 to July 2020, measured in the towns, not on the slopes. Snowfall rises steeply from November to December: an average 95 cm falls in Kutchan in November and 253 cm in December (JMA normals, 1991–2020).
Choosing when to go
These are our suggestions, not official advice.
- Late November and early December suit flexible skiers. Lift passes are cheapest then (Niseko's adult 1-day All Mountain Pass is ¥8,800 from November 28 to December 11, and Early Season passes are not sold online), but how much terrain is open depends on the snow.
- From mid-December the season is better established. Niseko night skiing runs from December 12, and Peak Season pricing starts on December 24.
- For spring skiing, Sapporo Kokusai, Grand Hirafu, Annupuri and Furano all plan to run to May 5, 2027.
Our best time to ski Niseko guide compares the months in detail. For the trip around the skiing, see Hokkaido in November, Hokkaido in December, New Chitose Airport to Niseko and where to stay in Niseko.
Frequently asked questions
When does the ski season start in Hokkaido in 2026? The first planned openings are Sapporo Kokusai on November 20, Sapporo Teine on November 21, and Niseko United and Furano on November 28, 2026.
When does Niseko open for 2026–27? All four Niseko United areas plan to open on November 28, 2026.
When do Rusutsu and Kiroro open? As of 19 October 2026 they had not published 2026–27 dates on their official sites.
Can I ski in Hokkaido in May? Sapporo Kokusai, Grand Hirafu, Annupuri and Furano plan to run until May 5, 2027.
Sources: Sapporo Kokusai official site and Sapporo Tourism Association (season-pass notice, 7 September 2026); Sapporo Teine, Niseko United and Furano Ski Area official pages (checked 12–16 October 2026); Rusutsu, Kiroro, Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, Sapporo Bankei and Kamui Ski Links official sites (checked 19 October 2026); Japan Meteorological Agency Sapporo Regional Headquarters snow-date normals and climate normals 1991–2020. Planning suggestions are our editorial judgement.
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Northern Land Hokkaido Team — Sapporo, Japan