While most ski resorts across the Northern Hemisphere are winding down operations, Gassan Ski Area in Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture has just kicked off its 2026 season. The unique spring-and-summer ski destination opened on Friday, April 10, once again offering one of the world’s rare opportunities to ski well into the warmer months.
Opening weekend brought a brief reminder of Gassan’s notoriously unpredictable weather, with lifts halted on Saturday, April 11, due to strong winds. Still, the resort is expected to operate through mid-June, conditions permitting.
Located in the town of Nishikawa on Japan’s main island of Honshu, Gassan sits roughly six hours north of Tokyo and draws skiers long after most resorts have closed. Its unusual season is dictated by geography: the access road remains buried under deep snow throughout winter and only opens in spring, revealing towering snow walls that have become a tourist attraction in their own right.
Set on the southern slopes of Mount Ubagatake near Mount Gassan, the ski area reaches an elevation of 6,509 feet (1,984 meters). Infrastructure includes a 1-kilometer (0.62-mile) double chairlift and two t-bar surface lifts, which are repositioned each year depending on snow depth. The skiable terrain spans roughly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), with a mix of beginner runs and more advanced lines across open, largely treeless slopes that appeal to both resort skiers and backcountry enthusiasts.
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New for the 2026 season, the resort has introduced automatic ticket vending machines, streamlining access for visitors during what can be a surprisingly busy late-season window.
Lift tickets this year are priced at ¥5,800 (about $39 USD) for a full-day pass and ¥4,600 (about $31 USD) for a half-day pass. Lifts typically operate from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Operated by the Tsukiyama Lift Company, Gassan remains one of only a handful of summer-only ski areas worldwide. With its deep snowpack, shifting lift infrastructure, and extended season, it continues to attract skiers looking to stretch winter well beyond its usual limits.
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