Japan ski lift ticket prices rise again in 2025-2026

Myoko has released new prices and they have jumped up at least another 10% to 20% on top of the 10-20% increase from last winter season. It's another blow for the locals but is it still good value for international tourists?

Tips to save on lift tickets at the end of the blog!

Price jumps over the last few years

At Ikenotaira the adult one day ticket is 7400 yen. Two winters ago people were still buying super early vouchers around 4000 yen. That jump tells you where Japan is heading this season. If you are used to the old numbers you will feel it at the ticket office. Early sales and recharge deals still exist, but the base price most people see has moved.

Niseko and Hakuba

Niseko United is 12000 yen for an adult one day in regular season. Hakuba Valley’s all mountain day pass is 10400 yen. If you only ski Goryu and 47 the day pass at the ticket office is 9500 yen and the online recharge is 7700 yen for registered cards. These figures set the tone for the bigger linked areas. They also anchor expectations for smaller hills nearby, which tend to move up when the headliners rise.

Why prices are rising

Costs are higher across the board. Energy and fuel are more expensive. Replacement parts and snowmaking supplies cost more with the weaker yen. Insurance and compliance add up. Resorts also face staffing pressure, so wages and contractor rates go up even when overall pay in the country feels flat. Demand is concentrated in January and February when most international visitors arrive. Modern booking systems push more people toward peak dates and use dynamic pricing. On those days, everything gets tighter and the headline number is the highest. None of this excuses weak operations, but it explains why the number on the board keeps stepping up.

Wages and the squeeze

Tickets have moved faster than incomes for many people in Japan. Real pay for a lot of households has been flat or negative once you factor in living costs. Retirees and part time workers feel this the most because they do not benefit from corporate pay cycles. That is why a lift ticket that jumps from the five thousand range to seven or ten thousand changes real behavior. People ski fewer days. Families skip a weekend. Locals pick one or two storms instead of a string of them.

What this means on the hill

If you buy at the ticket office in mid winter expect to see seven to twelve thousand yen for a day ticket depending on the resort. That is the range now for most well known areas. You can still lower the cost by buying early, recharging online, and avoiding national holidays. You can also plan a short stretch outside peak weeks to keep the spend under control and still get good snow. The new reality is simple. If you want the busiest weeks you will pay more than you did a few seasons ago.

A neighbour’s season that did not happen

A local neighbour told me they planned to ski a lot during last season’s great snow. They took their grandchildren a few times, then stopped. They are retired on a fixed income and wanted to spend their first winters after work on the same hills they grew up on. When a day ticket runs seven to twelve thousand yen depending on where you go the sums shift. Groceries and utilities win. The snow was there. The budget was not there to enjoy where they live and help make the town what it is for visitors.

Where interest is growing

Ski areas around Japan like Niseko, Hakuba, Myoko, Nozawa Onsen and Madarao have become very popular with international visitors in recent years. This is heavily thanks to foreign business owners in ski towns who know how to market to international tourists. The mix is broader now and the focus is mid winter. Even without listing fresh prices here that matters. More demand on the same terrain means busier lifts, sold out lessons, and higher accommodation and tour rates in the same period. If you plan to ski those areas, think about timing and pre booking rather than turning up and hoping for a deal.

Is Japan still good value?

Compared with a few years ago it is more expensive. Compared with many North American and European resorts it can still be cheaper, but the gap is smaller and you feel the difference most in peak weeks. Value now depends on how you plan. Buy early. Recharge online if the resort offers it. Aim just outside the absolute peak. Look for multi day products that still reduce the per day spend. If you want to keep it simple, set a season budget first and work backwards to the number of days you can ski.

What do you think?

Was Japan great for you mainly because of the price or because of the snow quality, tree lines, food, onsen, and the slower pace. How high could a day ticket go before you would ski fewer days. Set a number for yourself now. It makes planning easier and helps you enjoy the days you do choose.

Savings tips for this season

1. Buy early. Pre season and early bird products can cut the price a lot.

2. Use half day or four hour tickets where they exist. If you mainly ski mornings in the best snow this often beats paying for a full day you will not use.

3. Check same day discounts. Some areas run women’s day or weekday specials that reduce the price.

4. Check the age brackets. Children in Japan are sometimes defined up to 15 years old at certain resorts. If that applies to your family you can save without changing how you ski.

A note for locals

Some resorts offer resident friendly passes or local pricing. That matters. Locals keep these towns running and should be on the mountain too. With Myoko Coffee we have started a local petition to support resident pricing. If you want to help preserve the culture and keep locals on snow you are welcome to add your name.

HELP MYOKO LOCALS

Enjoy another wonderful winter season in Japan!