Japan's Southernmost Ski Resort Is Closing for Good

On July 7, 2026, the town of Gokase in Miyazaki Prefecture voted to permanently close the Gokase Highland Ski Resort. It won't reopen for the 2026–27 season or any winter after. That leaves Kyushu with exactly one ski resort still standing: Kuju Forest Park in Oita Prefecture.

If you're planning a winter trip to Kyushu, this one's worth noting. Gokase Highland (五ヶ瀬ハイランドスキー場) had been running since 1990, famous as "Japan's southernmost ski resort" and the spot where countless local families first strapped on skis. This isn't a temporary pause, it's a permanent end to winter operations, and both the resort's website and Miyazaki's tourism pages now list it as closed. Below, I've laid out how it came to this, what's planned for the site, and the last remaining place to ski in Kyushu.

Aging lifts and a warming climate sealed its fate

Three things did it in: snowless mild winters, aging equipment, and a financial burden the town could no longer carry. At an emergency council meeting on July 7, 2026, members voted unanimously to stop pouring public money into the resort and close it as soon as possible. Mayor Yukihiro Kozako then made it official, calling it "extremely difficult" to keep shouldering the massive ongoing investment needed to stay open.

Last season (December 2025 to February 2026) drew just 15,345 visitors—the lowest turnout since the resort opened, leaving the town to cover a shortfall of around 70 million yen. Total town spending on the resort for fiscal 2025 hit 140 million yen. The aging snow machines needed an expensive overhaul, seasonal staff got harder and harder to hire, and the resort simply couldn't guarantee enough operating days to make it work.

35 years that mirror the decline of Japanese skiing

The rise and fall of Gokase Highland is basically the story of Japan's ski industry in miniature. It opened in 1990, at the tail end of the country's bubble economy, riding a nationwide skiing craze that peaked in the 1993 season with 102,283 visitors. A town newsletter at the time described the resort as a dream the community had chased for years.

Then came the long slide down. Visitor numbers kept falling after the bubble burst, and even a rise in overseas tourists couldn't turn things around. When Kuju opened in Oita in 1996, it siphoned off more of the crowd. In 2022, a typhoon wrecked the surrounding roads and forced the resort to close, and it didn't reopen for three full seasons, finally coming back in 2024. It set a target of 30,000 skiers a season, but a mild, snow-starved winter shortened the operating period and it landed at roughly half that. Between a shrinking skiing population and a warming climate, there was simply no path back. Worth noting too: Tenzan Ski Resort in Saga shut down in 2022, part of a steady disappearance of Kyushu's slopes.

So where can you still ski in Kyushu?

Kuju Forest Park (くじゅう森林公園スキー場) is now the only ski resort left in Kyushu. It sits in Kokonoe, Oita Prefecture, and with Gokase gone, it inherits the title of Japan's southernmost ski resort.

Set at the foot of the Kuju mountain range at around 1,300 meters, the resort has 2,500 meters of runs across five trails, from beginner to advanced, plus snow machines. It typically operates from December through late March. You can rent skis, snowboards, and snow gear on-site, which makes it easy for travelers coming from Fukuoka or Yufuin who'd rather not haul their own equipment. There's a separate sledding area for kids away from the main slopes, so it works well for families too. Nearby hot spring areas like Sujiyu Onsen make for the classic combo, ski, then relax in onsen.

Driving (a rental car) is by far the easiest way to get there: exit the Oita Expressway at Kokonoe IC, then follow the Shikisai-no-Michi road toward Sujiyu Onsen for about 24 kilometers. The mountain roads can require snow tires or chains in winter, so check conditions before you set off.

What happens to the old site?

Gokase plans to reinvent the area around the resort: the Mukozakayama Forest Park, as an outdoor hub centered on hiking and mountain trekking. The land itself is government-owned, so the town will negotiate with national authorities over how it's used, and the fate of the ski lifts and other infrastructure is still under review. In other words, the mountain will keep welcoming visitors in a new form—just without the ski runs.

The essentials: Kuju Forest Park Ski Resort

FAQ

When is Gokase Highland Ski Resort closing? The town council passed the closure resolution on July 7, 2026, and the mayor confirmed the decision the same day. It won't operate from the 2026–27 season onward, and winter skiing won't return.

Are there any ski resorts left in Kyushu? Yes, just one: Kuju Forest Park in Oita Prefecture, with five runs and snow machines, generally open from December to late March.

Can you rent gear at Kuju Forest Park? You can. Snow wear, skis, snowboards, and accessories are all available to rent, so you can show up empty-handed and still hit the slopes. Check the official website for the latest rental rates.

Which is Japan's southernmost ski resort now? With Gokase closed, the title passes to Kuju Forest Park in Oita Prefecture.

Can you still visit the old Gokase site? The town plans to convert the Mukozakayama Forest Park area into a hiking and trekking destination, though the details are still being worked out. Keep an eye on Gokase's official announcements before you go.

The loss of a single ski resort is really a story about climate change and shifting demographics. For travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you want to ski in Kyushu this winter, your options just dropped from two to one. Kuju is still running, but how long it can hold on is anyone's guess. So if you love to ski and have Kyushu on your list, it might be worth going sooner rather than later.