Niseko Now: Saturday 15th February 2025
- Feb 15, 2025
- 4 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 646cm
Posted on Saturday 15th February 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Wind is still being pesky on this Saturday morning and affecting top lifts, but we do have some sunshine, blue sky and good visibility.
The top lifts being closed is probably making lower lifts busier. All gondolas apart from the Annupuri one are coping.
Calmer tomorrow? (I am hoping).
Someone wrote in asking about the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet Pop-Up Store & Bar at Hanazono. I think they might have been pulling my leg when they said they were planning to visit Niseko just to get one of those posh bags for their bottle of whisky!
Well, the structure is still there. As far as I know, it was to be open until the end of January. Kind of interesting in itself. But other than that, I really don't know. Sorry.
It would certainly be a shame not to use the building for the rest of the season. I've spent a few seconds carefully considering all the various possibilities, and the obvious thing to do is refit it.
Many visitors to Niseko clearly have pressing toast yearnings and requirements, so how about a morning toast bar?
It could be called Toast.
Or perhaps a charity shop, with all proceeds benefiting people in need.
Still on the subject of Hanazono and on a more serious note:
The lifts at Hanazono were due to be open until 6th April this season.
The ski area has announced their plan to extend the season by one week until 13th April 2025.
Hurray!
And surely all the more reason to get Toast up and running!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -6℃, strong wind but light snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -8.1℃, NW16m/s, huge cornice development, snowdrifts are dense and reached 150cm in some aspects. Miakeri 750m: NW5.0m/s, snowpack is growing and good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -11.4℃, W9.4m/s, blizzard above 1000m elevation. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -11.2℃, N8.1m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW13m/s, Kamui cape NW13m/s, 1014hPa, 2.5m waves.
Cornices and snowdrifts are developing massively in leeward slopes above 800m. Strong gale persisting above 1000m at 7am. The wind and the wave height on the shore seems to be slowly calming down, however the newly formed slabs above 1000m elevation are extremely unstable and could crush and let go with its own weight at any time. There might be people thinking of going out of bounds since the sun’s out, but it is highly recommended to avoid riding leeward aspect slopes at least until the wind calms down to 12m/s, and the windload slabs consolidates. Avalanches are very likely to occur regardless of the presence of a weak layer today. Hazard level is extreme in the entire Backbowl (Kozan no sawa) , cornice slopes of Annupuri bowl (O-sawa) and all slopes in Higashi-One. All peak gates including #4 will be closed. Please refrain from hiking up from lower gates. Sneaking in the lift line is out of question. You are in a ski resort, please abide by the rules.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 15th February 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: 0cm
Base: 3cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 310cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 240cm (-15cm 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: 5cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 365cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 165cm (no 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: 240cm (+30cm change since yesterday) (!)
Base: 190cm (+25cm 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 snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 250cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 170cm (-20cm 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 Wednesday 23rd March 2025
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Saturday 15th February 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 646cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 69 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 136cm reported on 14 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.