{"id":1877405,"date":"2026-04-11T12:47:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877405"},"modified":"2026-04-11T12:47:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:47:20","slug":"japanese-summer-only-ski-resort-gassan-starts-spinning-lifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877405","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Summer-Only Ski Resort Gassan Starts Spinning Lifts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_398891\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-398891\" style=\"width: 1800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-398891 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHcAQMAAAB8p4lxAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADxJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20LL6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAeBuWnAABCZXklAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"476\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=640%2C476&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=300%2C223&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=1200%2C892&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=768%2C571&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1142&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"476\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-398891\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3083.jpeg?resize=640%2C476&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"476\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-398891\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gassan\u2019s lifts are buried in so much snow, they need to get dug out before the summer skiing can commence. | Image: Gassan Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-90155358\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-90155358\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-84863061\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-84863061\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>While most ski resorts across the Northern Hemisphere are winding down operations, <a href=\"https:\/\/gassankk.co.jp\/news\/\">Gassan Ski Area<\/a> in Japan\u2019s Yamagata Prefecture has just kicked off its 2026 season.<\/strong> The unique spring-and-summer ski destination opened on Friday, April 10, once again offering one of the world\u2019s rare opportunities to ski well into the warmer months.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/unveiling-the-six-spectacular-summer-only-ski-resorts-around-the-globe\/\"><em><strong>Unveiling the Six Spectacular Summer-Only Ski Resorts Around the Globe<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Opening weekend brought a brief reminder of Gassan\u2019s notoriously unpredictable weather, with lifts halted on Saturday, April 11, due to strong winds.<\/strong> Still, the resort is expected to operate through mid-June, conditions permitting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Located in the town of Nishikawa on Japan\u2019s main island of Honshu, Gassan sits roughly six hours north of Tokyo and draws skiers long after most resorts have closed.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Set on the southern slopes of Mount Ubagatake near Mount Gassan, the ski area reaches an elevation of 6,509 feet (1,984 meters).<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/japans-ski-tourism-boom-sparks-rescue-frustration-should-tourists-foot-their-rescue-bill\/\"><strong><em>Japan\u2019s Ski Tourism Boom Sparks Rescue Frustration \u2014 Should Tourists Foot Their Rescue Bills?<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lift tickets this year are priced at \u00a55,800 (about $39 USD) for a full-day pass and \u00a54,600 (about $31 USD) for a half-day pass.<\/strong> Lifts typically operate from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Operated by the Tsukiyama Lift Company, Gassan remains one of only a handful of summer-only ski areas worldwide.<\/strong> With its deep snowpack, shifting lift infrastructure, and extended season, it continues to attract skiers looking to stretch winter well beyond its usual limits.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DW8t47GSieA\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px\">\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;align-items: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;line-height: 17px;margin-bottom: 0;margin-top: 8px;overflow: hidden;padding: 8px 0 7px;text-align: center;white-space: nowrap\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DW8t47GSieA\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by \u3010\u516c\u5f0f\u3011\u6708\u5c71\u306e\u3042\u308b\u753a \u5c71\u5f62\u770c\u897f\u5ddd\u753a (@nishikawa_town_official)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gassan\u2019s lifts are buried in so much snow, they need to get dug out before the summer skiing can commence. | Image: Gassan Facebook While most ski resorts across the Northern Hemisphere are winding down operations, Gassan Ski Area in Japan\u2019s Yamagata Prefecture has just kicked off its 2026 season. The unique spring-and-summer ski destination [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1877405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1877405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1877405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1877405\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1877405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1877405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1877405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}