Areas / Tohoku
Gassan 月山
A sacred mountain buried by so much snow that its ski area only opens in spring — Japan's classic destination for spring and early-summer ski touring.
- Prefecture
- Yamagata
- Season
- Apr – Jul
- Level
- Intermediate+
- Nearest airport
- Shonai (SYO) or Yamagata (GAJ), about 1.5 h by car
Spring cornSki touringOpen bowlsLift access
Gassan gets so much snow that the ski area can’t operate in midwinter. It opens in spring, once the road has been dug out, and runs into early summer. That makes it Japan’s best-known spring skiing mountain.
A small lift system serves the lower slopes. Most skiers use it as a springboard for tours onto the huge open bowls above and to the summit (1,984 m), one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa. You’ll need a car; public transport is limited.
Why a guide: the wide upper slopes are featureless in fog, and in warm weather timing matters. A guide knows when each slope softens and when it becomes dangerous.
Highlights
- Skiing in April, May and even June and July
- Huge open bowls of spring corn snow
- Summit tours on one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa
- A great add-on to a spring trip to Japan
Main hazards
- Sudden fog and whiteouts on the broad upper slopes
- Glide cracks and wet-snow avalanches in warm weather
- Sun and heat — sunburn and dehydration
Conditions change daily. Check the latest avalanche and weather information, carry beacon, probe and shovel, and ski with a qualified guide if you don't know the area. See our safety guide.
Where to stay
Ski Gassan with a certified local guide
Tell us your dates, group and ability. We match you with a certified guide who knows the terrain and today's snow, and send you a quote. Requesting is free and there's no obligation to book.
Request a guide