Industry News
Several major Japanese ski resorts that were scheduled to open on November 29 have announced delayed openings, including Niseko and Rusutsu on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The resorts strongest affected are the ones closest to the northern coast line, while those further inlands have been able to maintain the current snow base during the recent warm spell.
Niseko United—a collective of four interconnected resorts in Hokkaido—announced on Thursday, November 27, that its opening, which was originally slated for Saturday, November 29, has been postponed due to insufficient snowfall. The decision affects all four component resorts: Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, Niseko Hanazono Resort, Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area and Niseko Village Ski Resort. A new opening date will be announced as soon as it is determined. Niseko is the biggest resort in Hokkaido with a total of 32 miles of groomed runs.
Meanwhile, nearby Rusutsu, located about half an hour from Niseko, also was forced to delay its scheduled November 29 season opening. The resort reported on Saturday, November 29, that it is currently 6°C (42.8°F) and raining, eroding the snow that has fallen thus far. Rusutsu, founded in 1981, comprises three separate mountains connected by a well-developed infrastructure of high-speed lifts and modern gondolas accessing 37 named runs offering 26 miles of groomed runs as well as world-famous tree skiing. The owner of Rusutsu Resort, Japanese tourist company Kamori Kanko, used to own Steamboat and Heavenly in America.
Kiroro, located about an hour northeast of Niseko, announced that the official opening of the ski area, which was scheduled for November 29, has been postponed due to a lack of snow, but that some lift and courses will be open exclusively to guests staying at Club Med and Yukiroro. The ski area is spread out across twin mountains Asari and Nagamine and reaches an elevation of 1,180 meters (3,871 feet) and is serviced by one gondola and eight chair lifts. Kiroro Ski Resort was created by Yamaha in the 1980s which sold it to Property Perfect in 2012 who engaged renowned Mountainworks to remodel the resort master plan in 2015, and was subsequently purchased by Chinese property company Fosun, which is majority shareholder of Club Med.
Resorts further inland, such as Tomamu and Furano, which are around 3 hours east of Niseko, have been able to stick to their scheduled opening dates. Tomamu, which offers a total of 13 miles of groomed runs, will open as planned tomorrow, December 1, but will only open the Hello Nipo One course. While Furano opened as planned on Saturday, November 29, the resort is currently only operating the Furano Zone which can be reached by lift from the base. There are currently two open runs and skiers and snowboarders have to download via lift as well as you currently cannot ski or board to the base of the mountain. “The weather has not been the most cooperative,” Furano Tourism shared on its website, but reports receiving 25 centimeters (10 inches) of snow overnight, and a snow depth of currently 55 centimeters (22 inches) at the summit.
トマムスキー場は、明日、ハローニポコースのみオープンします！⛷️ pic.twitter.com/TvEF3fZ4r6
— 【公式】星野リゾート トマム (@snowtomamu) November 30, 2025
A warm weather front has brought above average temperatures to the island of Hokkaido for the last 10 days after the region had seen some promising early-season snowfall in early November. Many resorts had to postpone season openings last year as well as temperatures rose shortly before scheduled opening dates.
The resorts are hoping for a cold front to bring more snow next week and that the 2025-26 season can get underway soon. The Japanese ski operators are planning to announce any openings by at least 1 p.m. the previous day to allow for keen skiers to make their way to resorts for opening days. Resorts in Hokkaido typically receive an average of 17 meters (670 inches) of snowfall and are known to be among the snowiest in the world.
While the delayed openings are disappointing for early-season skiers, the resorts remain optimistic that the weather will shift in the days ahead. Forecast models show a potential cooling trend moving toward Hokkaido early next week, and operators say they will reopen as soon as snow conditions meet safe operating standards. Temperatures are expected to drop from Monday, December 1, so snowfalls should be incoming, rectifying the current delays. With some of the deepest annual snowfall totals on Earth, Hokkaido’s ski season almost always rebounds quickly—and resorts are asking guests to stay tuned for updated opening announcements as the first true winter storms approach. Those with current bookings are asked to contact resorts/hotel providers to enquire about refund policies.
