Niseko Now: Monday 16th February 2026
- Feb 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 792cm
After the rather (too) mild day yesterday, we have had some fresh snow overnight. Results may vary, thanks to westerly winds, but it looks like less over at Moiwa/Annupuri with Hanazono reporting up to 14cm on upper areas. My own measurement for this report is 6cm.
It is snowing as I write this, and quite nicely actually, and lifts all appears to be preparing to open as scheduled.
Sun is forecast for tomorrow. And then snow again on Wednesday.
I had a good chat with Mr. SnowJapan yesterday and got a bit of peek at what is being prepared for next season.
Get ready for in-your-face flashing ads, annoying popups and hype-tastic clickbait chasing headlines!
Of course, I'm kidding.
It's not my place to divulge too much, but I'd say be prepared for another all-new and 'refined' iteration of SnowJapan. I very much approve of what I saw and can't wait to see how it all develops in time for the 2026-2027 season.
(Just to be clear, do not expect in-your-face flashing ads, annoying popups and hype-tastic clickbate chasing headlines. You will be disappointed!)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -5°C, minimal snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -7.4°C, NNW 8.4m/s, 20m/s gusts between 4:00-5:00 AM, cornices and snowdrifts developing. Annupuri 1100m: -9.9°C, W 4.2m/s. Niseko Village 1000m: -8.4°C, NNW 5.0m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -9.3°C, N 3.2m/s, 10cm snowfall from midnight to dawn. Hanazono 800m: -6.8°C, NNW 4.3m/s. Sea of Japan Benkei Cape NW14m/s, Kamui Cape NNE3m/s, 1013hPa, 1.5m waves.
Following the passage of the low-pressure system, a winter pressure pattern has set in. Snowdrifts developed from midnight to dawn due to the westerly winds. The new snow sits on top of the Feb 15th temperature gradient layer. You will feel the firm base underneath in some spots. Accumulation on knolls at 1000m elevation is 50-100cm; the avalanche risk this morning is relatively high. If the winds subside and lifts begin operating, the main gates will open. Follow the instructions of the ski patrol. Be cautious as fast-moving avalanches caused by shallow (40cm) wind-slab fractures are likely on the Osawa cornice face (1100m) and the Kozan-no-sawa sidewalls (1000m). Snow conditions improve as you descend into the trees. Watch out for tree collisions; you won’t win against a tree. Niseko permits out-of-bounds skiing and operates under the Niseko Rules. Always be cautious when outside the resort boundaries. Do not be overconfident in your experience or knowledge. Furthermore, you must never enter the strictly prohibited areas defined by the rules. Please respect the Niseko Rules for the sake of the freedom to ski out-of-bounds. Do you have your beacon, shovel, short rope, and probe? The mountain condition is not bad. Have a great day.
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 14cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 305cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 205cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
4 of 4 lifts
Gondola 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: 390cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 170cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
9 of 9 lifts
Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 290cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 200cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
7 of 8 lifts (not Country Road)
Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 0cm
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 280cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 200cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
6 of 6 lifts
Jumbo Number 1 quad until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Planned lift operations:
3 of 3 lifts
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Monday 16th February 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 792cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 72 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (on 12th January) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 189cm reported on 23 days January 2026 snowfall 451cm reported on 28 days February 2026 snowfall 123cm 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.