Niseko Now: Friday 14th March 2025
- Mar 14, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 734cm
Posted on Friday 14th March 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
It is not particularly cold, but we have some fresh snow this morning! Hurray!
Hanazono is reporting 20cm up top (5cm at base), though Hirafu is going with an even 10cm. The others just haven't apparently bothered updating their information.
It is of course very nice to see a fresh layer out there.
Alas, wind is an issue again today and all top lifts and some more mid-to-upper are also closed. Only the base quad at Annupuri is open. The Hirafu gondolas are both operating at reduced speed, as is the gondola at Hanazono.
Hopefully by tomorrow it will be more calm... and I will have more cm to report as well.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -1℃, strong wind, 10cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -4.6℃, NNW15.3m/s (30m/s@4am), Mikaeri 750m: -4℃, WNW3.9m/s, blizzard. Annupuri 1100m: -6.6℃, WNW8.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -6℃, N10.1m/s (30m/s@4am), 10cm snowfall on the course. Coastal data: Benkei cape N17m/s, Kamui cape NNW15m/s, 1013hPa, 2.9m waves.
The atmospheric pressure gradient has steepened at night, waves started to swell on the Japan Sea and the mountains are under a big storm. Heavy westerly wind has created snowdrifts and wind-sweeps above 800m elevation. Avalanche risk is extreme today. The hazard level is not relative to the amount of snowfall, avalanches occur when the conditions align. The new snow is blown away in many places but windloads are present in unexpected spots. These windload slabs created by strong wind are extremely unstable and could easily let go by ski-stimulation even in low elevation tree-runs. Do not stay at the bottom of the valleys such as O-sawa. If an avalanche occurs from the cornice slopes at 1000m, it will sweep down the whole valley. Please be patient and wait until the storm passes before going out of bounds. Late season fresh tracks will be available once the wind calms down. Do not duck ropes and sneak out, others will follow you and end up in an accident. The strong wind is causing NEID’s avalanche experiments to have some difficulties. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 14th March 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 20cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 295cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 198cm (-7cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 10cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 340cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 135cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 220cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 0cm * probably just not updated
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 260cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Sunday 23rd March 2025
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Friday 14th March 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 734cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 86 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (6th February) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 196cm reported on 24 days March 2025 snowfall 28cm 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.