Snow Park Yeti Opens Oct 23: Japan's Earliest Ski Season Start

Japan's earliest slope: Snow Park Yeti opens on October 23

On October 8, 2026, Fuji Kyuko announced that Snow Park Yeti (Susono, Shizuoka), on the 2nd station of Mt. Fuji, will begin its 2026-27 season on Friday, October 23. It will be the 28th year in a row that Yeti has had the earliest opening of any outdoor ski area in Japan (according to the company).

Opening day: "Yeti First Snow Day"

An opening ceremony will feature a countdown, after which everyone skis down together. The usual event for guests who come in costume will also be held.
Product demos and information sessions with winter-sports brands are planned, along with a music event on the snow.
According to the official website, Yeti will open at 9:00 on weekdays as well this season.

This announcement did not confirm which runs will be open on opening day. In past years, preparation appears to start with Slope A, a beginner/intermediate run about 1 km long. Please check the operating information on the official website before you go.

This morning's observations: no snowfall or snow depth yet

Japow Now! observations this morning (October 9, 6:30) show no 24-hour snowfall anywhere in Japan. No resort meets the powder threshold (5 cm or more of snowfall in 24 hours), and no resort-reported snow depth has been recorded. Niseko and the other resorts we focus on have no figures worth quoting here. For now, the only snow you can ski on is man-made snow from snow machines.

Opening dates for October and November

October 23: Snow Park Yeti (Shizuoka)
October 30: Sayama Ski Resort (Saitama). The season runs until March 28, 2027.
October 31: Karuizawa Prince. This is the earliest opening in Nagano Prefecture.
November 21: Hakuba 47 / Goryu (Able Hakuba Goryu)

In Hokkaido, a list updated on August 24 shows Rusutsu, Furano, Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Kiroro planning to open on November 28. Sapporo Kokusai is scheduled for November 20 and Sapporo Teine for November 21. Niseko Annupuri International is scheduled for November 29. Dates can change, so check the latest announcements. If you are after natural-snow powder, late November, when Hokkaido resorts start to open, is a reasonable target. Until then, the early-opening resorts running on man-made snow look like a good place to get your legs back.

Sources

Prepared with AI assistance from public sources. Always check each resort's official website for the latest information.