Hakuba Ski Season Dates 2026-27: When Each Resort Opens

The 2026-27 Hakuba ski season is scheduled to start on 21 November 2026. ABLE Hakuba GORYU plans to open that day with only the Toomi No. 1 lift area, and Hakuba47 is listed for the same date. Happo-One and Tsugaike plan to open on 1 December, nine resorts by 18 December, and the last planned closing day is 5 May 2027.

If snow is your priority, January–February is the best starting point on the village station’s historical normals, though not a guarantee for the mountains.

The dates below are compiled from resort announcements and the sources listed under the table, checked on 28 October 2026. Goryu and Tsugaike describe their opening dates as decided (決定, kettei); the other published dates are marked planned (予定, yotei). Opening and closing dates may still change with snow conditions.

Hakuba ski season dates 2026-27 by resort

Resort	Opens (planned unless noted)	Closes (planned)	Notes
ABLE Hakuba GORYU	21 Nov 2026	5 May 2027	Opening day announced as decided; Toomi No. 1 lift area only on day one
Hakuba47	21 Nov 2026	5 May 2027	Joint Goryu/Hakuba47 listing by Snownavi
Hakuba Happo-One	1 Dec 2026	5 May 2027
Tsugaike Mountain Resort	1 Dec 2026	5 May 2027	Opening day announced as decided; may change with weather and snow
Kashimayari Family Park	12 Dec 2026	22 Mar 2027
Hakuba Norikura Onsen	12 Dec 2026	4 Apr 2027	Wakaguri side only from 22 Mar
Hakuba Cortina	12 Dec 2026	29 Mar 2027
Hakuba Iwatake	18 Dec 2026	28 Mar 2027
White Resort Hakuba Sanosaka	18 Dec 2026	22 Mar 2027
Jigatake	Not yet published	Not yet published	2025-26 season ended 22 Mar 2026

Sources: Goryu Tourism Association, Snownavi (ticket seller; Goryu and Hakuba47 period), Happo-One, Tsugaike, Kashimayari, Norikura Onsen, Cortina, Iwatake, Sanosaka, Jigatake.

Hakuba Valley describes the All-Mountain Season Pass period as running from the scheduled opening in December 2026 to the scheduled closing around early May 2027 (Hakuba Valley). For a comparison of terrain at each resort, see our guide to Hakuba’s ski resorts.

When does the Hakuba ski season start?

The earliest listed opening is 21 November. Goryu’s tourism association says Goryu has installed new snowmaking equipment and, for the first time, set its opening day in advance, two weeks earlier than last season. Snownavi lists Hakuba47 for the same day and reports that Hakuba47 has added fan-type snow guns. Tsugaike has added 18 snow guns, for 92 in total, ahead of its 1 December opening.

Opening day does not mean every lift and run is open. For 21 November, Goryu names only the Toomi No. 1 lift area. If you plan to ski in late November or early December, check which lifts and runs are running on your dates, and consider bookings you can change.

When does it end? March, April and Golden Week

Planned closing days range from 22 March to 5 May. Kashimayari and Sanosaka plan to close on 22 March, Iwatake on 28 March and Cortina on 29 March. Norikura Onsen plans to operate through 4 April, on the Wakaguri side only from 22 March.

For trips from 5 April to 5 May, four resorts have published operating dates: Goryu, Hakuba47, Happo-One and Tsugaike. Through 4 April, more resorts are still scheduled to be open.

How much snow does Hakuba get each month?

Hakuba Land compiled the Japan Meteorological Agency’s (JMA) monthly figures for its Hakuba station, which sits in the village at 703 m. 2024-25 means November 2024 to April 2025, and likewise for 2025-26 (JMA station list).

Month	Monthly snowfall total, normal (cm)	Monthly max snow depth, normal (cm)	Monthly max depth 2024-25 (cm)	Monthly max depth 2025-26 (cm)
November	14	7	18	0
December	130	46	68	32
January	216	82	103	45
February	174	97	121	30
March	110	70	97	0
April	7	7	0	0

Source: JMA, Hakuba station: normals 1991–2020; monthly values for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

On the 1991–2020 normals, January has the most snowfall (216 cm) and February the highest monthly maximum snow depth (97 cm). Snow depth differed substantially between the last two winters: the February maximum depth was 121 cm in 2025 and 30 cm in 2026, and the recorded maximum depth for March 2026 was 0 cm.

These are village-station figures. They do not forecast 2026-27 snow or powder on the mountains. For comparison, Hakuba Valley lists the highest point of the ski areas at 1,200 m for Sanosaka and Jigatake and 1,831 m for Happo-One (Hakuba Valley resort data), so check each resort’s snow report for the slopes.

Best time to ski Hakuba: early season, mid-winter or spring

Period	Resorts with planned dates	Village snow (JMA normal)	Adult 1-day ticket examples
21 Nov – 18 Dec	Goryu and Hakuba47 from 21 Nov; Happo-One and Tsugaike from 1 Dec; 9 by 18 Dec	December max depth 46 cm	Happo-One early season ¥6,400 (1–18 Dec); Norikura × Cortina ¥5,500 (12–18 Dec)
19 Dec – 22 Mar	9 resorts have published dates; Jigatake’s are not yet available	January snowfall 216 cm; February max depth 97 cm	Happo-One peak ¥9,800 (19 Dec – 22 Mar); Hakuba Valley All-Mountain ¥11,100
23 Mar – 5 May	Iwatake to 28 Mar, Cortina to 29 Mar, Norikura (Wakaguri side) to 4 Apr; 4 to 5 May	March max depth 70 cm; April 7 cm	Happo-One spring ¥6,400 (23 Mar – 5 May); Norikura × Cortina ¥5,500 (15 Mar – 4 Apr)

Sources: JMA (above); Happo-One tickets (adult = ages 18–64); Hakuba Valley day pass (includes consumption tax); Norikura Onsen tickets. The Norikura × Cortina spring rate starts on 15 March, and the ticket runs to 4 April, but Cortina plans to close on 29 March.

If snow conditions are your priority, January–February is the strongest starting point on the village’s historical normals, though that is not a guarantee for the mountains. Late-November trips need flexibility about open terrain, and after 4 April only four resorts list operating dates.

Some resorts charge less in early December and spring: Goryu and Hakuba47 also sell a discounted day ticket from opening to 15 December and from 15 March to closing (Goryu tickets). Check the operating lifts and runs separately from the price.

Things to check before you book

• Dates can move. Tsugaike says even its decided opening day may change with the weather and snow, and most other dates are published as planned.
• Opening day may cover only part of a mountain, as at Goryu on 21 November.
• Ticket seasons differ from operating seasons. Happo-One’s peak price applies from 19 December.
• The Hakuba Valley All-Mountain day pass is due to go on sale online around November. It does not cover night skiing or the night shuttle bus.
• Jigatake had not published its 2026-27 dates when we checked.
• From 1 June 2026, Hakuba Village charges an accommodation tax when the accommodation charge, excluding meals and tax, is ¥6,000 or more per person per night, with some exemptions. Check whether it applies to your booking: how the Hakuba accommodation tax works.

Choosing a base, or a property, by season length

Season length is not the same across the valley. Four resorts plan to run to 5 May, while others plan to close in late March. If you are assessing a chalet or land for winter rentals, the operating dates of nearby resorts are one factor to weigh; they do not tell you booking demand or rental income. What to check on the land itself is covered in buying land in Hakuba.

Hakuba Land, a brand of Gemini株式会社 (a licensed real estate broker), helps with land and property searches in Hakuba (properties). If you build, long-term partner builders carry out the construction and Gemini株式会社 coordinates the project.

Dates, prices and snow figures checked against the cited sources and JMA on 28 October 2026. Check each resort’s announcements for the latest information.

Cover photo: a ski jump and the Northern Alps in Hakuba in winter, taken by the team at Maykiss, a chalet in Hakuba owned by Gemini株式会社.