Niseko Now: Saturday 13th December 2025
- Dec 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 22cm
Snowfall at base this season 147cm
Good morning from Niseko.
More lovely fresh snow to report this morning and there is a lot going on. Including the Niseko Gondola at Niseko Village ski area getting going and the Jumbo Number 2 pair lift at Annupuri also joining in the fun.
There is a bunch more courses opening up, too.
Varying snowfall numbers coming in from the ski areas this morning ranging from 20cm-40cm at base levels and up to 50cm at peak. They all sound good to me.
Forecasts show more snow to arrive across the coming days, so things are going well at the moment.
Nice and snowy.
Also, hurray, today is the first day of 'nighta' floodlit skiing.
As the lifts close up at either 7:00pm or 7:30pm, I prefer to call it 'evening' ski.
I have talked about this previously, but in the past night skiing continued much later into the actual night. I was hoping that the ski areas might go back to keeping open a bit later again this season, but that is not the case.
I have added info on which lifts are scheduled to be open for night skiing to the list below.
Just one early season personal observation. The Hirafu ski area has been reporting some rather large snowfall numbers. By that, I mean more than the other ski areas, the Avalanche Report and also more than I am seeing with my own eyes. I'm keeping a nerdy eye on those. (You can, too, in the below list). I would be more than pleased if they are always spot on correct (rather than, er, 'rounded up'). Let's see how that continues...
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base at 6am: -7℃, light wind, 20cm new snow over last 12 hours, light winds, good visibility. Hanazono 800m: -9.8℃, NNW5.0m/s, 20cm new snow. Moiwa Mikaeri 800m: -10℃, NNW1.7m/s, light snow. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW9m/s, Kamui CapeW8m/s, 1025hPa, 2.3m waves.
The isobar width is widening and ocean wave height and winds are both decreasing. Snowfall above 800m has reached 50cm in some places, with snow cornices forming in some areas. As the wind and snow calm down, the snow will change from broken crystals to crystalline snow, causing snow to slide. Based on observation data, the overall avalanche risk has decreased. On 40-degree leeward slopes above 800m there is still a possibility of surface avalanches with a 50cm fractured surface thickness in some places. Caution is required on ridge drops and gullies in mountainous areas. Skiing out of bounds from within the ski resort is still prohibited.
Follow the Niseko rules and listen to the advice of the ski patrol. There have been many injuries on the slopes. Be careful of reckless riding and falling. There is no safety in this sport. Have a nice day.
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 30cm
Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 150cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Base: 85cm (+7cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
All 4 lifts
Planned open courses:
All except Setsuzoku and Legend of Shinya
Planned night skiing:
Gondola
Until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 50cm
Base: 40cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 185cm (+20cm change since yesterday)
Base: 75cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
Ace Gondola
Ace Family quad
Ace Number 3 pair
King Gondola
King Number 3 six
Swinging Monkey
Planned open courses:
Family
Sennoki
Alpen
Beginners access
Green
Shirakaba
Center
Kokutai
Rinkan
Jumbo
Planned night skiing:
Ace Family quad
Until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 120cm
Base: 60cm
Planned lift operations:
Niseko Gondola
Upper Village Gondola
Village Express
Community Chair
Banzai Chair
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 40cm
Base: 40cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 110cm (+50cm change since yesterday)
Base: 60cm (+30cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
Annupuri gondola
Dream Number 1 quad
Jumbo Number 1 quad
Jumbo Number 2 pair
Planned open courses:
Utopia
Shirakaba
Paradise
Junior
Family
Junior
Planned night skiing:
Jumbo Number 1 quad
Until 7:30pm
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Saturday 13th December 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 147cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 17 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 12th December) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 118cm reported on 10 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.