Niseko Now: Tuesday 14th January 2025
- Jan 14, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 2cm
Snowfall at base this season 433cm
Posted on Tuesday 14th January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Just under 2cm of fresh to report today, so just a thin layer over what will probably be some rather hard conditions.
We have had nice blue sky and sun earlier this morning, but in the last hour it clouded over more and it is now snowing, yey!
I am looking forward to being able to report some good snowfall along with more appropriate cold conditions once again.
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I have a few thoughts.
About the timing of my reports
I usually aim to have my reports ready to post soon after the lifts open at the start of the day (8:30am), and on most days, that is when they are published. It depends on the day, of course, but an 8:30am report involves starting to put it together around 8:00am. Being human and with things going on in my life outside of posting Niseko Now reports, sometimes things happen, and I am unavoidably delayed.
Today is a good example. I had to attend an important meeting this morning, so I couldn't get my report ready at my normal time.
(And, by the way, when I make comments like this, I always prepare them the previous day).
It is worth repeating that I/we do not see these reports as primarily for people who are already at a location and heading out for first lifts. Instead, we see them as part of an ongoing commentary of the complete season. Reports posted too early in the morning would often mean inevitable missing information, and that is not what we are going for.
I try to bring you any good information I can find each morning as of opening time.
It's weird and annoying, given they are the companies offering the services and taking the money from visitors, but official sources do not always reliably update info each morning (or hardly ever in some cases!) The lack of priority put on those things is forever baffling. Obviously, there's nothing I can do about that.
Perhaps those operating companies could afford the necessary staff if they charged more for their lift tickets? Just an idea. ;)
About being nice
Before I make my main point for the day, I would first like to say that many people who write in are good-mannered, supportive and friendly. Thank you. Every year, I feel increasingly humbled at how valuable these reports are to many people. Some people comment on suggested improvements and the like, and that's just fine. My reports are not 'perfect', and they never will be. But I try to do the best I can every morning for 6 months.
About being not nice
Some people, though, seem to enjoy being rude and impolite. And to those people in particular, I would like to say a few things.
I'm sure you have noticed, but this entire website is free for you to use.
When you use it, you are not confronted with annoying advertisements and promotions. Let's play a quick game. You are now reading a page that gets thousands of page views daily for 5-6 months every year. Try finding an advertisement/promotion on this page. You can't. Because there are none.
These reports are 100% independent and are not affiliated with any ski areas or other business in any way, shape or form.
The reports are not published on anyone's behalf. (Even though I certainly believe that many benefit from them).
They are not sponsored.
No one has any say or sway over content.
SnowJapan has zero obligations to anyone/anything re: these Niseko Now reports. None. (The same applies to all other daily reports on this site).
And believe it or not, this website does not owe you anything either!
I hope that is all very clear.
If the person in charge of SnowJapan decided he'd had enough and wanted to shut up shop tonight, this would be my last report.
Thankfully, this whole project is very much a labour of love, and that is 100% why you are reading it. I can't adequately convey how much loving care and effort has been put into this website over the last 25+ years, and that is as true now as ever.
If you do not like my reports, my mentioning toast occasionally, my being 'late' on some days, my making various observations that you might disagree with, or whatever... you can always choose to just not read them.
If you dislike them enough to feel the need to send me/SnowJapan impolite or combative comments, I think I just kind of feel sorry for you. It’s a bit pathetic, no? Surely, there are better and/or more positive things to do with your time than sending your bad vibes to a group of people who are putting a sincere effort into providing a valuable and free service. And, indeed, a service that is wholly based on integrity and good intentions.
I believe a simple 'thank you' (or perhaps 'thank you, but no thank you') would be much more appropriate.
OK, so those are my thoughts. To all the reasonable and friendly people reading this, which I believe is most of you, please don't think I overly dwell on this sort of stuff. I really don't. It's just that, from time to time, I feel the need to say something.
Being nice doesn’t cost anything, ne.
Time for some toast. Which is always nice.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -6℃, 3cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -9.2℃, W1.5m/s, full moon, minor soft slab development. Annupuri 1100m: -8.8℃, W5.9m/s, light snowfall, minor cornice development, groomers in good condition. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -8.3℃, SSE6.8m/s, light snowfall, groomers in good condition. Mikaeri 750m: -9℃, SE1.2m/s, thin reset. Coastal data: Benkei Cape S6m/s, Kamui Cape SW15m/s, 1011hPa, wave 1.4m.
This avalanche forecast for the Niseko Range is based on daily 5am mountain observations combined with data from meteorological instruments at four locations on the mountain, the Japan Coast Guard and various weather charts. Many accidents in Japan occur during bad weather. Niseko has been predicting avalanches for 30 years, on the basis that structural weaknesses in leeward slabs formed during wind and snow are the cause of avalanches. However, avalanches are a natural phenomenon, and if there are no people there, no accidents will occur. The avalanche risk today is low and all gates are expected to open. Although please remember that open gates do not mean everything is safe. Wind speed data from the ocean is important for predicting avalanches in the mountains along the Sea of Japan. Ocean wind speed , free of obstacles, is always accurate in indicating changes in atmospheric pressure. We are grateful to the Japan Coast Guard for publishing this information. There is not much new snow, be careful of the old rough snow under it. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Tuesday 14th January 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 2cm
Base: 2cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 200cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 168cm (-2cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are scheduled to be operating
The gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 0cm
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 240cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 165cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are operating
The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 190cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 130cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 23rd March 2025
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Tuesday 14th January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 433cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 46 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 23cm (16th December) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 84cm 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.