Planning to ski or snowboard Japan’s awesome powder this winter? Early-bird discounts offer a way to save huge amounts on lift passes. Depending on the resort, the price of a whole season pass might come to only a few days of lift passes purchased during the peak of the season.
Do check the conditions, though. Sometimes, season pass holders get extra discounts and benefits, but there can also be restrictions on things like night skiing.
Hakuba area
The Hakuba Valley is Japan’s top ski and snowboarding destination outside of Niseko, with multiple ski resorts and terrain to entertain everyone from beginners to back-country powder hounds.
| Resort | Pass type | Early-bird Price | Normal Price | Deadline | Online purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happo-one | Season (under 40) | ¥40,000 | ¥48,000 | Nov 10 | Official website |
| Happo-one | Season (over 40) | ¥77,000 | ¥94,000 | Nov 10 | Official website |
| Hakuba Iwatake | Season (Adult non-local) | ¥39,800 | ¥62,400 | Dec 8 | Official website |
| Hakuba Goryu + Hakuba 47 | Early-bird season (Adult) | ¥58,000 | ¥75,000 | Oct 31 | Official website |
| Tsugaike Mountain Resort | Season (Adult) | ¥43,000 | ¥64,000 | Nov 30 | Official website |
Read our guide to skiing in Hakuba.
Nozawa Onsen
While Nozawa Onsen is only a single resort, it’s enormous, so warrants inclusion by itself.
| Resort | Pass type | Early-bird Price | Normal Price | Deadline | Online purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozawa Onsen | Season (Adult) | ¥89,000 | ¥76,000 | Oct 30 | Official website |
Yuzawa
Roughly in the center of Honshu, Yuzawa gets massive amounts of snow due to the rain effect with a huge quantity of condensation from the Sea of Japan. Most of the resorts are easily accessible from the Jōetsu Shinkansen, and you can even ski right out of the station at Gala Yuzawa.
| Resort | Pass type | Early-bird Price | Normal Price | Deadline | Online purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzawa Nakazato | Early-bird season pass | ¥29,000 | ¥38,000 | N/A | Official website |
Myōkō area
With comparable snow to Yuzawa, and the recent arrival of the Shinkansen, Myōkō has been rediscovered in recent years. There is a wide choice of resorts, and it is home to both some of the cheapest and the most expensive lift passes in Japan!
| Resort | Pass type | Early-bird Price | Normal Price | Deadline | Online purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akakura Onsen | Season pass | ¥42,000 | ¥60,000 | Sep 30 | Official website |
| Akakura Onsen | Early-bird 1-day (Oct)* | ¥3,800 | ¥5,500 | Oct 31 | Official website |
| Akakura Onsen | Early-bird 1-day (Nov)* | ¥4,500 | ¥5,500 | Nov 30 | Official website |
| Lotte Arai Resort | Season pass (Economy) | ¥70,000 | ¥100,000 | Official website | |
| Alpen Blick Ikenotaira Onsen Snow Resort | Season pass | ¥22,000 | ¥34,000 | Oct 30 | Official website |
* – Must purchase at least three passes.
Niseko
Niseko is the original gangster of powder-snow resorts in Japan. With a flight into New Chitose followed by a slow bus or train into Kutchan or Hirafu, it’s not as easy to reach as some of the Honshū resorts. So, you might as well stay for as long as you can!
| Resort | Pass type | Early-bird Price | Normal Price | Deadline | Online purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niseko United (All mountain) | 3 Day Early-bird | ¥18,400 | ¥28,500 | Oct 7 to Oct 9, 2023 | Official website |
Also read: Guide to getting ski and snowboard gear in Japan.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published October 2022. Last updated October 2023.
