Niseko Now: Thursday 11th March 2021
- Mar 11, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 1194cm
Posted on Thursday 11th March 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
A few cm to add on from yesterday morning. After that less than lovely start, things did clear up during the day, thankfully, and this morning we are greeted with some beautiful clear blue skies.
The wind is a bit of a downer still but at least the gondolas are starting the day. As of 8:30am the top lifts at Hirafu, Village and Annupuri are on hold. All other (planned) lifts running.
There is quite a lot of clear skies on the current forecasts, but I see a bit of snow there in the first part of next week. Interesting to see how that will turn out.
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Planned closing dates for the ski areas are as follows, subject to change of course.
Niseko HANAZONO - Sunday 28th March
Niseko Village - Sunday 4th April (may re-open 1st-5th May)
Niseko Annupuri - Wednesday 5th May
Niseko Grand Hirafu - Wednesday 5th May
I haven't heard any talk of possible changes so far. Hopefully it will go as planned.
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Coastal Data 6:25am. Cape Benkei:WSW6m/s. Cape Kamui: SSW17m/s, 1023hPa, wave 1.4m. Hanazono 1000m: n/a. Hanazono 720: -3.5℃, W4.8m/s. Moiwa 800m: -4.5℃, WNW6.2m/s. Annupuri 1100m:-7.9℃, W9.7m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -7.0℃, SW5.6m/s. Mizuno no Sawa Top: -6.3℃, W6.1m/s. Kutchan Town: -10.4℃, E1.5m/s, 6cm snow in last 24hrs, snow depth 188cm. Moiwa Base 300m: -6℃, no new snow in last 12hrs, clear.
There is no snow quality/snowdrift stability data available this morning from the Moiwa Mikkaeri site. Climbers and out of bounds riders please refer to the automatic data above. Peak gates are expected to be open.
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Planned ski area operations: Thursday 11th March 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning from official sources.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 470cm (-20cm)
- Base: 220cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 5 lifts today - Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, King Quad 3, King 4
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 325cm (-5cm)
- Base: 225cm (-5cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 3 lifts today - Hanazono 1, 2 and 3
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Niseko Annupuri
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 320cm (-20cm)
- Base: 200cm (-10cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 4 lifts today - all apart from Jumbo 2 and 3
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Niseko Village
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 341cm (+5cm)
- Base: 220cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: 5 lifts today - Niseko Gondola, Village Express, Community, Banzai, Wonderland
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Night skiing has now finished for the 2020-2021 season
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Thursday 11th March 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 1194cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 89 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 48cm (17th February) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 387cm reported on 27 days February 2021 snowfall 325cm reported on 24 days March 2021 snowfall 72cm reported on 7 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.