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In the 2026–27 season, the only ski resort in Kyushu where you can ride a lift and ski is Kuju Forest Park Ski Area (Kuju Ski Resort) in Kokonoe Town, Oita Prefecture. Gokase Highland Ski Resort in Miyazaki Prefecture announced in July 2026 that it will not operate. At Kuju, an adult 8-hour set ticket is ¥6,500 on weekdays and ¥7,000 on weekends and holidays, and rental gear is ¥5,000 per set. It is about 2 hours by car from Fukuoka, parking is free during the season, and you can also go from Hakata Station by limited express train and a free shuttle bus. As of October 22, 2026, the opening day for this season had not been announced.
In short
- Kuju is the only Kyushu resort with lifts this season. Gokase Highland Ski Resort has stopped operating (announced July 8, 2026).
- Adult 8-hour set ticket (lift plus entry): ¥6,500 weekdays, ¥7,000 weekends and holidays. A family of 2 adults and 2 elementary children with rental: ¥38,000 on weekdays, ¥40,000 on weekends and holidays.
- Getting there: about 2 hours by car from Fukuoka via the Kuju Interchange. Bring tire chains in winter.
- Snow play only: an entry ticket is ¥2,500 (free for children under elementary school age with a guardian).
Checked with official pages on October 22, 2026 (Japan time).
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1. Kuju Forest Park is the only ski resort in Kyushu for 2026–27
Gokase Highland Ski Resort in Gokase Town, Miyazaki, announced on its official website on July 8, 2026 that it would give up operating “from this season”. The resort had run since 1990 (Heisei 2). It gave warming, aging facilities, hiring staff and the growing financial burden on the town as reasons. Notice on the end of ski operations (Gokase Highland Ski Resort, July 8, 2026; Japanese)
Tenzan Ski Resort in Fuji, Saga City also closed: its operator Tenzan Resort ceased business as of January 6, 2022. Saga’s only ski resort goes out of business (Saga Shimbun, January 10, 2022; Japanese)
2. Lift ticket prices at Kuju Forest Park (set ticket of lift plus entry)
Kuju Forest Park is an artificial-snow resort, with family slopes for beginners up to a challenge slope with a maximum gradient of 25 degrees, and a snow escalator with a total length of 150 m. On the official price page (checked October 22, 2026), an adult (junior high school and older) lift ticket is a set of lift and entry: the 8-hour weekday set is ¥6,500, and the 8-hour weekend and holiday set is ¥7,000. The lift ticket is an IC ticket. The price includes a ¥500 deposit, which is returned when you give the ticket back. Cashless payment such as credit cards, PayPay and transport IC cards is accepted. Prices and tickets (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
| Set ticket | Adult | Elementary school | Under elementary school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday, 8 hours | ¥6,500 | ¥3,500 | ¥2,500 |
| Weekday, 4 hours | ¥5,500 | ¥2,500 | ¥2,000 |
| Weekend/holiday, all day | ¥7,500 | ¥5,000 | ¥3,500 |
| Weekend/holiday, 8 hours | ¥7,000 | ¥4,000 | ¥2,500 |
| Weekend/holiday, 4 hours | ¥6,000 | ¥3,000 | ¥2,000 |
The prices in the table are as shown now on the official price page (checked October 22, 2026, including the ¥500 deposit). Every ticket is a set of lift ticket and entry ticket. Seniors (60 and older) pay ¥500 less than adults on every ticket and show ID with a date of birth. The weekend/holiday all-day ticket (the all-day long set) is sold only on night-operation days. Night skiing runs until 20:00 on weekends and holidays in January and February, and the second lift does not run. To change from an entry ticket or a 4-hour ticket to a longer one, you pay the difference plus a ¥500 change fee. Slopes and lifts (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
3. Total for a family of four for one day (lift tickets plus rental)
This is the total when 2 adults and 2 elementary school children buy 8-hour set tickets and everyone rents a 3-piece ski set or a 2-piece snowboard set.
| Day | Lift tickets for 4 | Rental for 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | ¥20,000 | ¥18,000 | ¥38,000 |
| Weekend/holiday | ¥22,000 | ¥18,000 | ¥40,000 |
The lift ticket prices include the deposit (¥500 each, ¥2,000 for 4), which is returned. If you rent wear, add ¥4,000 per adult and ¥2,500 per elementary school child.
4. Rental: a gear set is ¥5,000 for adults, wear is extra
According to the official rental prices (checked October 22, 2026), the 3-piece ski set (skis, poles, boots) and the 2-piece snowboard set (board, boots) are both ¥5,000 for adults and ¥4,000 for elementary school children. Wear (jacket and pants) is ¥4,000 for adults and ¥2,500 for elementary school children, a helmet ¥2,000, goggles ¥1,000, and gloves and a hat ¥500 each. For children, snowboard boots start at 13.5 cm, ski boots at 15.5 cm and wear at 90 cm. At the counter you show ID such as a driver’s license or health insurance card (one person’s ID for a family). Socks are not rented, so bring thick socks that reach below the knee (they are also sold at the shop). If you rent for two days in a row, the second day is ¥1,000 cheaper and the third day ¥1,500 cheaper. Rental (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
If you would rather bring your own wear, you can compare children’s ski wear on Rakuten Ichiba. Prices, sizes and delivery dates differ by shop. Find children’s ski wear on Rakuten Ichiba (ad, Japanese site)
5. From Fukuoka to Kuju Forest Park: about 2 hours by car, free parking in season
By car, from the Kuju Interchange on the Oita Expressway via Shikisai Road and Sujiyu Onsen, it takes about 2 hours from the Fukuoka direction. From Kumamoto City it is about 2 hours on National Route 57 and the Yamanami Highway, and from Oita City about 1 hour via the Yufuin Interchange. The car park has 1,500 spaces, is free in season including weekends and holidays, and is open 24 hours (sleeping in your car is possible). Roads freeze in winter, and the official site asks you to carry tire chains. You can check road conditions every morning on the official site’s live camera and the official X account. If you forget chains, the Makinoto Pass Rest House sells and fits them on site. Access (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
By train, the official site gives the limited express “Yufu 1” leaving Hakata Station at 7:43 (arriving Bungo-Nakamura Station at 9:45), and a free shuttle bus from the station to the resort (one bus only, leaving at 9:45 every morning, fully reservation-based, closed when full). Closures and chain restrictions on the Kyushu Expressway and Oita Expressway can also be checked at the Japan Road Traffic Information Center (JARTIC). JARTIC (Japanese)
6. Season and season pass
In 2025–26 the resort was open every day from December 12 until around the end of March. Winter hours are 9:00–17:00 on weekdays (lifts until 16:50) and 8:30–17:30 on weekends and holidays (lifts until 17:20), with night skiing until 20:00 on those days. As of October 22, 2026, the opening day for 2026–27 was not yet on the official site. Online purchase of lift tickets is planned to start this season. Kuju Ski Resort official site (Japanese)
If you plan to visit often, early-bird season passes for 2026–27 are sold only on the official site until November 30. The early-bird price is ¥50,000 for adults (18 and older), ¥40,000 for seniors, ¥15,000 for elementary to high school students and ¥10,000 for children under elementary school age, ¥5,000 cheaper than the regular price. You need ID and a face photo, and passes are mailed in order from November 2. Season pass page of the Kuju Ski Resort official site (Japanese)
7. Snow play only: entry ticket, kids park and the autumn leaves lift
If you only want to play in the snow without skiing, an entry ticket (¥2,500 as shown now on the official price page, including use of the snow escalator) gets you in. It is free for children under elementary school age with a guardian. The kids park inside has sledding and snowman making. Snow boots for snow play can also be rented for ¥1,500 for adults and ¥1,000 for elementary school children. Sleds and other gear without edges cannot ride the second snow escalator. Facilities (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
Before the snow season, the “autumn leaves lift” has been running on weekends and holidays since October 10, 2026 (9:30–16:00, adults ¥1,500, children ¥1,000, free for preschoolers). At the top of the first lift there is a “snow hill” about 3 m high where you can touch and play in snow. You cannot ski or snowboard during the autumn operation. Kuju Ski Resort notice of September 27, 2026 (autumn leaves lift; Japanese)
Address: 612-1 Yutsubo, Kokonoe-machi, Kusu-gun, Oita · Google Maps · Tel: 0973-79-2200
Official information checked on October 22, 2026 (Japan time).
Sources
12 pages we checked
- Notice on the end of ski operations (Gokase Highland Ski Resort, July 8, 2026; Japanese)
- Saga’s only ski resort goes out of business (Saga Shimbun, January 10, 2022; Japanese)
- Prices and tickets (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
- Slopes and lifts (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
- Rental (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
- Access (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
- JARTIC (Japanese)
- Kuju Ski Resort official site (Japanese)
- Season pass page of the Kuju Ski Resort official site (Japanese)
- Facilities (Kuju Ski Resort official site; Japanese)
- Kuju Ski Resort notice of September 27, 2026 (autumn leaves lift; Japanese)
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on October 22, 2026 (Japan time).
