Niseko Now: Wednesday 12th December 2018
- Dec 12, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 207cm
Posted on Wednesday 12th December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
There's just 5cm of fresh snow to add to the report this morning (from yesterday), and it is a rather overcast start to the day. It is not snowing now but should be later on with snow clouds above through Friday.
I spent a few hours on the slopes yesterday after posting my report. Very nice snow conditions, it was a lot of fun. We are still waiting for the upper lifts and courses to open up as well as a few other areas here and there, but there's plenty open to enjoy now. With more and more expectant folk turning up daily now (including Santa), we want it all open.
As there are now more courses open than closed at Niseko Grand Hirafu, I thought I'd swap the info round (below) so now the list is of courses that are not yet open.
Nighta operations at Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri started from yesterday evening. For the moment I have added the planned closing times for each of the ski lifts in the information below.
I thought I'd add one more thing to check every morning! ;)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6.00am: -8°, no new snow, calm. Moiwa 700m: -8°, light winds, no new snowfall, good visibility. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: S4m/s. Kamui Cape: NNW2m/s, 1021hPa, wave 0.7m.
A shallow atmospheric pressure gradient is causing both sea and mountains to be calm. No new snowfall and no cornice or snowdrift development. General avalanche risk is low.
The edges of the course are all cut up, take care. Today the groomers are in good shape, great for practising turns. If you cant do it on the groomers, you wont survive the backcountry.
Don't duck ropes to ride out of bounds. Niseko Rules protects your safety and freedom to ride out of bounds. Please respect the Niseko Rules.
Snow is coming soon, have a good day.
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Ski resort operation information: Wednesday 12th December 2018
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 70cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad (until 8:30pm)
- Ace Number 2 Center Four (until 8:20pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair (until 3:30pm)
- Hirafu Gondola (until 4:30pm)
- Holiday Number 1 Pair (until 4:30pm)
- King Number 3 quad (until 3:30pm)
- Swinging Monkey (until 3:00pm)
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Mostly open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 120cm
- Base: 80cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad (until 3:30pm)
- Hanazono Number 2 quad (until 3:30pm)
- Hanazono Number 3 quad (until 3:00pm)
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Courses:
- All courses apart from the below courses are now open
- Path to King
- Onsenzawa
- Large
- Konayuki
- Miharashi
- Dynamic
- Hanazono Park
- Crystal Garden
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 110cm
- Base: 60cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola (until 3:15pm)
- Dream Number 1 quad (until 5:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 8:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 3 pair (until 3:15pm)
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 120cm
- Base: 80cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola (until 3:00pm)
- Upper Village Gondola (until 8:00pm)
- Village Express (until 8:00pm)
- Community Chair (until 4:30pm)
- Banzai Chair (until 8:00pm)
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Night time operations until 8:30pm are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas.
There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO resort area.
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Wednesday 12th December 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 207cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 17 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (23rd November) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 123cm reported on 9 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.