Niseko Now: Wednesday 15th January 2025
- Jan 15, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 13cm
Snowfall at base this season 446cm
Posted on Wednesday 15th January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I am happy to be able to report 13cm of lovely fresh snowfall this cold morning, arriving during the daytime yesterday and some more overnight.
Hirafu is reporting 20cm of fresh snowfall and the Avalanche Report is also reporting 20cm at Moiwa base.
Needless to say, early morning tracks today should be excite fun!
It has been snowing early morning, though there has also been some blue sky on view amongst all the cloud. Visibility seems variable, ranging from good (at times) at lower elevations to more limited higher up. Just before this report was posted it was sunny over at Hanazono for a while. As you can perhaps gather from this perhaps confusing description, conditions have been changing quite a lot already this morning, and by the minute. (I have actually been re-writing the report while still putting it together!)
Unfortunately, wind seems to be an issue this morning. At the start of the day all the top lifts are on hold, as well as the Annupuri Gondola.
Snow is generally forecast across the next several days, ranging from light to (some forecasts say) heavy at times. I particularly like the sound of the latter as a deeper layer would be most welcome.
That snow is due to ease off in time for the weekend.
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After posting some thoughts yesterday (you can read them here if you missed them), well over 100 of you took the time to send in comments to me via the contact form. I was very surprised at that response. I even got a few comments from Japanese readers (in Japanese), which, I think, was a first.
When I wrote those words, it was not with the view of trying to drum up supportive comments, honest! Like I said, I just wanted to get a few things off my chest. Having said that, I can’t deny that it was really lovely to read all the kind words of support.
I would not want you to all think that we get inundated with negativity. Most people, when they do contact us, are friendly and show support. I suppose the grumbly and rude types stick out and always seem to be much louder.
I totally generally agree with the comment some of you made that negative people and trolls are best ignored. (Indeed, they never get a response if they use the site contact form to send such comments). At the same time, perhaps like the comments I made on 'self-proclaimed influencers' the other day (link), I think it might sometimes be interesting (for normal decent people) to know some of the characters and shenanigans that can go on 'behind the scenes'. Thankfully, the only exposure I usually get to that kind of thing is when I speak to the person running this site and the comments that are sent to me. In my personal life, I actively try to avoid or block out all that kind of nonsense.
I can't make individual replies to the comments, sorry, but I (and SnowJapan) sincerely thank everyone who did send messages. Arigatou gozaimashita.
I wish I could take some of you up on your kind offers of lunch, beer or communal toast munching, but I do like to retain my anonymity. (I might talk about that again in another report.)
Many of you asked how you can support these reports and SnowJapan.
Well, sending me huge wads of cash in large unmarked envelopes aside, just letting other people know about this Niseko Now report and SnowJapan (sharing a link to the site or telling friends, etc) is always a very supportive and friendly thing to do.
Oh no! That was the bit where I did the 'Hey you guys, please subscribe, click on the like button, and hit the bell' thing, wasn't it?! Shudder. Sorry. ;)
And, oh yes, please continue reading the reports after your Niseko visit, too. It's very naughty to stop reading them once you have come here. I am still here through early May, trying - at times struggling! - to find things to write every morning, and it's nice to think that some people are still reading them!
Thanks again, everyone.
(I will try not to venture into this kind of topic again this season).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -6℃, 20cm snowfall in 12 hrs. Moiwa 800m: -10.5℃, NW5.3m/s, 15m/s gusts continued with 20cm snowfall overnight. Wind has come down after 6am. Cornice and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -12.8℃, WNW7.6m/s, cornice and snowdrift development. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -12.7℃, NNE1.7m/s, cornice development in Higashi One, 30cm snowdrift. Mikaeri 750m: -10℃, WNW4.1m/s, snowing. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW15m/s, 21m/s at 23:25. Kamui Cape WNW4.1m/s, 1010hPa, wave 2.2m.
Blizzards on the seas and mountains with a wintery pressure pattern. Sea waves are slightly higher at 2.2m, cornice and snowdrift development on the slopes over 800m elevation due to the 15m/s wind and snow from yesterday noon to this morning. Cornice development in Higashi One, Kozan no Sawa (backbowl), and Osawa. Although they may be only 30-40 cm thick, they are easily broken in test. Knolls and newly formed leeward side wind slabs are easily broken in the morning. All the gates will be open. Please listen to ski patrols’ instructions when you go out of the gates.
Good snow in the valley, but you will still be hitting the rough bottom in places. Beware of avalanches on the newly formed wind slab slopes next to wind blown crusty slopes by stimulating them. It is dangerous when the slabs are formed with a lot and heavy new snow. The slab density and weight depend on the wind strength. It will continue to snow all day. Poor visibility. Beware of frost bites. Although it is not mandatory to have a beacon, it is strongly recommended that you do. Having one can increase the chances of survival and rescue. Have a good day.
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Individual ski area information for Wednesday 15th 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.
*** TOP LIFTS AFFECTED BY WIND THIS MORNING ***
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 15cm
Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 215cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Base: 180cm (+12cm 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: 20cm
Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 250cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 125cm (+15cm 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 Wednesday 15th January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 446cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 47 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 97cm reported on 11 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.