Skiing in Hokuriku 2026–27北陸スキー

Ten resorts along 30 km of valley under the Northern Alps, on one pass: ¥11,100 for an adult day, ¥21,800 for two. Happō-One (1,831 m, 1,071 m of vertical, an 8 km longest run) is the big mountain; Cortina and Norikura in the north take the deepest snow; Iwatake, pictured, suits families and non-skiers. Goryu opens first, on 21 November (Tōmi No.1 lift area only); Cortina and Norikura plan 12 December and Iwatake 18 December, and Happō-One has not announced a date. From the Hokuriku side, the JR Ōito Line from Itoigawa to Minami-Otari is covered by the Arch Pass, and Cortina is 20 minutes from there by road. Hakuba ski guide, getting to Hakuba.

A village of thirteen free public baths with a ski mountain above it (top 1,650 m, about 1,085 m of vertical, runs of up to 5 km). The 2026–27 regular period runs 19 December to 28 March at ¥7,800 a day. Lift dates are not out yet; last winter the main lifts ran from 29 November and spring skiing to 6 May. The Dōsojin fire festival is on 15 January 2027, and village rooms for that night go early. Nozawa Onsen guide.

Iiyama has two more ski areas. Madarao (52 courses of natural snow, an all-mountain day ticket at ¥9,000 in 2026–27, planned opening 12 December) is the tree-skiing pick. Togari Onsen is smaller and cheaper (¥5,500 last winter) with night skiing on set dates. A winter shuttle linking Nozawa, Iiyama and Madarao ran at ¥1,400 in 2025–26. Iiyama's snow-hut village, 22 January to 28 February, is the evening meal. Iiyama guide.

Eighteen ski areas on one ticket, with about 1,000 m of vertical, more than 80 courses and a top at 2,307 m, the highest ski area in Japan. The 2026–27 ticket runs 5 December to 5 May: ¥9,500 at the window, ¥8,500 online (sales open 1 November). Hotels sit on the plateau by the slopes, so evenings are quiet, and the Jigokudani snow monkeys are 30 minutes down the hill. Shiga Kōgen guide.

Three neighbouring resorts on Mount Myōkō's flank, priced separately in 2026–27: Akakura Onsen ¥7,000 (from 12 December), Akakura Kankō ¥7,000 (from 19 December) and Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick ¥7,900 (19 December to 28 March, including a ¥500 card deposit). Akakura Onsen is a hot-spring village that grew ski lifts, with the only full-season night skiing in Myōkō. Myōkō ski guide, getting to Myōkō.

Prince Hotels' mountain, with a top at 1,855 m and 1,124 m of vertical, billed as Japan's longest run at 8.5 km. A day ticket was ¥8,000 (2026–27 not posted, and Prince does not say which winter), and the resort has been on the Ikon Pass since winter 2025. Dates are not announced.

A ski-in, ski-out resort at Arai, rebuilt in 2017: 23 courses, 8 lifts, a vertical of 951 m (2017 figure) and wide tree-skiing bowls. A peak-season day ticket was ¥7,500 in 2025–26; 2026–27 prices and opening dates are not posted. Last winter it ran to 10 May.

The Shinkansen platform is inside the resort, so you can ski within the hour of leaving Tokyo. The 2026–27 ski season runs 19 December to 5 May (the gondola and sightseeing lifts only from 12 December), and the south area is closed this winter, leaving the central and north areas. An adult day ticket is ¥8,000 at the window and ¥7,500 on the web; children ¥4,000. Top 1,181 m, about 820 m of vertical, 16 courses.

A big hotel resort by the slopes: top 1,789 m, 889 m of vertical, 24 trails. The Dragondola, 5,481 m long, takes about 20 minutes to Kagura. Mt. Naeba tickets (Naeba plus Kagura) are ¥11,800 for an adult day and the Naeba-only ticket ¥9,800; the season runs from 18 December 2026. A day bath near the lifts, Yuki-sasa-no-yu, is ¥1,000.

The long-season mountain: it opens on 28 November 2026 and runs to 16 May 2027. Top 1,845 m, 1,225 m of vertical and 34 trails across the Kagura, Tashiro and Mitsumata areas. A Kagura-only day ticket is ¥8,500. There is no road to Kagura itself, so you reach it by lift from a base.

Two areas, Raichō Valley and Gokurakuzaka, in the foothills of the Tateyama range. The longest run is about 3,000 m and the steepest 32 degrees. A day ticket was ¥5,000 on weekdays and ¥5,400 on holidays last winter (2026–27 not posted); it ran from 28 December to 15 March, and night skiing was closed. A cheap day from a Toyama hotel, and good for beginners.

IOX-Arosa has a gondola, 7 courses, a 3,000 m longest run and 500 m of vertical (top 770 m); it ran 3 January to 8 March last winter at ¥5,000. Gokayama Taira (3 lifts, 5 courses) ran 28 December to 29 March at ¥3,500, and Tonami Yume-no-Taira (one lift, 3 courses) only 24 January to 25 February at ¥3,500. All three are low, snow-dependent and mostly Japanese-only. Pair them with the thatched villages at Gokayama or Tonami.

Ichirino Onsen has 6 lifts and about 20 km of slopes between 550 m and 1,050 m, with the onsen village at its foot. A day ticket was ¥5,000 last winter (2026–27 not posted); Hakusan Seymour was ¥4,500. Usual season is mid-December to late March, with the 2026–27 dates not announced. Kanazawa Station is 60–80 minutes away by car, and the weekend direct bus leaves from its East Exit, stop 1.

Renamed from Ski Jam Katsuyama on 1 April 2026. The 2026–27 season is planned for 19 December to 4 April; an adult day ticket is ¥5,500 on weekdays and ¥6,200 at weekends and holidays (¥6,500 on 2–3 January, 9–10 January and 13 February). Top 1,320 m, about 710 m of vertical, a 5,800 m longest run. The Dinosaur Museum is in the same Katsuyama area, so a ski day and a dinosaur day fit one trip. Eiheiji and the dinosaurs.

The trawlers sail on 6 November; female kōbako crab lasts about two months and males run to 20 March. Eat it at Omicho Market in Kanazawa or at an Awara or Mikuni ryokan. Kanazawa is 1h 5m from Nagano on the Kagayaki, so a ski week at Hakuba or Nozawa can end with a crab dinner. Weekdays in January and February are the value. Snow crab guide.

Himi's certified winter yellowtail runs November to February and is fattest in December and January. Book a Toyama sushi counter for the night after a day at Tateyama Sanroku or IOX-Arosa; Toyama is 45 minutes from Nagano by Shinkansen (¥7,290). Toyama food guide, Toyama sushi.