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Resort News

From ‘When It Snows’ To Opening Day: Japan’s Ski Resorts Invest In Certainty

Oct 05, 2026

Karuizawa and Hakuba Goryu are investing in artificial snow to fix early-season opening dates, giving travellers and resort businesses greater certainty.

Kawaba Plans A New Terrain Park And Village Lodge For Winter

Sep 30, 2026

Kawaba plans a new terrain park, expanded freeride areas and a village lodge for winter 2026/27, with practical changes for visitors to Gunma.

How Much Snow Will Fall In Japan This Winter? Latest Predictions For The 2026/27 Ski Season

Sep 28, 2026

The Japan 2026/27 snow forecast is here, find out what part La Niña will play this year.

Wakan Plans An All-Inclusive November Opening In Hakone

Sep 28, 2026

Wakan Hakone Gora is due to open on 10 November with 34 rooms, included meals and shared or reservable private onsen baths near the cable car.

Hakuba Goryu Adds Forest Adventures To Its Autumn Season

Sep 22, 2026

Goryu’s new buggy and paintball activities run until 18 October, offering another option alongside Hakuba’s higher mountain autumn colours.

Hotel The Mitsui Hakone Prepares For December Opening

Sep 21, 2026

Hotel The Mitsui Hakone is due to open on 15 December 2026, with 126 private-onsen rooms and a wooded setting close to Kowakidani Station.

Tsugaike Plans A New Six Person Lift For Next Winter

Sep 17, 2026

Tsugaike is building the six-person T3 chairlift for late December 2026, upgrading a long-serving lift in the northern Hakuba Valley area.

Madarao Joins Ikon Pass For Winter 2026/27

Sep 11, 2026

Madarao joins Ikon Pass for winter 2026/27. Explore its tree skiing, access via Iiyama and what greater visibility could mean for local tourism.

Midtown Niseko To Reopen As Mercure This November

Sep 11, 2026

Midtown Niseko will reopen as Mercure Niseko Resort in November 2026, with 176 rooms initially and a planned expansion to 360 rooms by 2031.

Okinawa Resort Condo Shows Growing Second-Home Investment Appeal

Sep 07, 2026

A new 103-unit resort condo in Okinawa is attracting buyers from across Japan with a model combining second-home use and managed rental income.

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Uber Eats Scales Back Niseko Launch As Winter Traffic Forces Rethink

Sep 04, 2026

Uber Eats has delayed its Niseko launch until November 30 and reduced its delivery area as winter traffic concerns force a rethink of the service.

Moxy Niseko Village Opens With 310 Rooms Ahead Of Winter 2026/27

Sep 03, 2026

Moxy Niseko Village has opened with 310 ski-in/ski-out rooms beside the gondola, ahead of major new lift investment for winter 2026/27.

Niseko Lift Network Enters Major Upgrade Cycle Through 2028

Aug 29, 2026

Niseko is investing heavily in new gondolas and chairlifts through 2028, upgrading capacity and infrastructure across Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Annupuri.

Japan's Legendary Ski Resorts Opening Dates For 2026/27

Aug 27, 2026

From Niseko to Madarao, here are Japan’s premier ski resorts' opening dates for this winter 2026/27 season.

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Moncler Expands Niseko Store by 60% as Hirafu’s Luxury Market Deepens

Aug 22, 2026

Moncler has expanded its Niseko store by 60%, signalling growing luxury retail demand as Hirafu’s property and visitor markets continue to mature.

Zuma Chooses Niseko for First Japan Opening as Hirafu’s Global Profile Grows

Aug 22, 2026

Zuma will make its Japan debut in Niseko this winter, adding another global luxury brand to Hirafu and strengthening the resort’s growing amenity base.

Myoko To Host Golden Trail World Series Race This September

Jul 24, 2026

Myoko will host a Golden Trail World Series race in September 2026, bringing elite trail runners to the mountains of Niigata Prefecture.

Niseko Heliport Sees Growing Demand Two Years After Revival

Jul 16, 2026

Helicopter traffic at Niseko Heliport has risen since its 2024 revival, although difficult winter weather continues to disrupt charter flights.

US Becomes Niseko’s Top Foreign Overnight Guest Market For First Time

Jul 02, 2026

The US became Niseko’s largest foreign overnight guest market for the first time in 2025-26, ahead of Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Free Summer Shuttle Buses Return To Kutchan And Niseko

Jul 01, 2026

Free summer shuttle buses return to Kutchan and Niseko this year, linking JR stations, resort areas and local attractions using accommodation tax revenue.

Niseko Annupuri To Fully Upgrade Gondola By Winter 2028

Jun 03, 2026

Niseko Annupuri will fully rebuild its gondola, increasing capacity from 1,440 to 2,800 passengers per hour ahead of winter 2028.

Niseko Lift Usage Fell 5.5% In 2025-26 Season After Slow Start To Winter

Jun 03, 2026

Niseko United’s four main ski resorts recorded a 5.5% fall in lift and gondola usage in 2025-26, mainly due to a delayed start caused by low early snowfall.