Niseko Now: Thursday 14th March 2024
- Mar 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 860cm
Posted on Thursday 14th March 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
There was slightly under 1cm of snow that I can justify reporting this morning.
Earlier on it was pretty cold and overcast, but now that is some blue sky and sun and temps are milder. What's more, the wind isn't being as naughty and all scheduled lifts are open. Hurray!
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Yesterday, it came to my attention that visitors will be paying 'up to 2000 yen per night' on a new just-approved tax on accommodation in Niseko Town starting in November of this year.
This new excite tax is expected to raise over 160 million yen for the local government. The funds will be allocated 'to improve local transportation and other measures to improve tourism'. (If I am not mistaken, I think a similar kind of tax was introduced in Kutchan Town in 2019*).
The amount to be paid will range from 100 yen to 2,000 yen based on the nightly room charge per person, as below:
Accommodation fee below 5,001 yen: 100 yen tax
Accommodation fee between 5,001-20,000 yen: 200 yen tax
Accommodation fee between 20,000-50,000 yen: 500 yen tax
Accommodation fee between 50,000-100,000 yen: 1,000 yen tax
Accommodation fee over 100,000 yen: 2,000 yen tax
So don't worry; to be caught in the 2,000-yen zone, your accommodation charge must be 100,000 yen a night or more. I guess such people can very easily afford an extra 2000 yen. (They might even still be able to buy posh bags and stuff when they come).
My initial thought was shock that some people might be paying over 100,000 yen per person per night to sleep up the road from my place. I hope it includes a jolly good breakfast with quality toast options**.
Another thought: I'd prefer this method of increasing funds to keep motoring on with all the 'progress' rather than my local resident taxes being increased.
Another thought: Some accommodations in Niseko charge less than 5,001 yen for a night?! (Really? Honto ni?)
Like I said before, it sure feels like things are changing........
* I am not involved in accommodation or tourist businesses. If you are reading this and feel I have any of these details incorrect, please let me know, and I'll adjust and explain as necessary. I do not wish to mislead!
** Actually, no. This tax will be on accommodation charges only and will not include charges for meals or other expenses.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -4℃, no snowfall and frozen. Moiwa 800m: -4.3℃, WNW5.9m/s, snowdrifts developing. Mikaeri 764m: no data. Annupuri 1100m: -6.1℃, WNW9.1m/s, cornices and snowdrifts developing. Village 1000m: -5.3℃, WSW5.8m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -5.5℃, NNW2.9m/s. Hanazono 800m: -2.5℃, NNE0m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape WNW10m/s, Kamui cape WSW8m/s (1m/s before dawn), 1009hPa, 0.9m waves.
The isobars are starting to spread, however a strong westerly wind will persist above 1150m during the morning. Gate 2 & 3 will not open during the morning. The wind is strong but the snowfall is scarce. Snowdrifts generated by wind-blown snow have accumulated in the gullies and caution is required in gullies around 1000m elevation. Shallow avalanches are to be expected in some areas, and skiing gullies should be avoided. The season is shifting to Spring, however winter continues in the mountains and safety is never guaranteed. You should not put your life in stake for skiing powder snow. Death terminates all possibilities. Thinking that you’ll be fine is just being overconfident, and Nature will have no restraints punishing your mistakes. The Niseko Rules have been made out of necessity after experiencing many accidents. If you are using the resort’s chairlifts, you must abide by the Rules. Niseko respects the freedom to ski out of bounds, but the rules must be honoured to keep it that way. The groomers condition is epic today. Have a good one.
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Individual ski area information for Thursday 14th March 2024
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 and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm
- Base: 100cm
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from King Number 1 pair and King Number 2 quad (normal operations)
- The Ace Family quad, Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four), Hirafu Gondola and Holiday Number 1 pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 1cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 160cm (-5cm since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Hanazono Symphony Gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 220cm (no change since a long time ago)
- Base: 140cm (no change since a long time ago)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts
- The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 231cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 138cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts (scheduled):
- All lifts apart from Morino Chair and Country Road
- The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Thursday 14th March 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 860cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 87 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 298cm reported on 24 days February 2024 snowfall 144cm reported on 20 days March 2024 snowfall 51cm reported on 8 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.