Niseko Now: Sunday 16th January 2022
- Jan 16, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 596cm
Posted on Sunday 16th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Just a dusting of snow really since yesterday and under my own strict guidelines I think can just about justify awarding 1cm to the report today.
I am happy to report that wind is not an issue and the top lifts are opening this morning and peak gates should be open too. Yey!!
(Note that the gondola at Hanazono is currently flagged as being not open, not sure what's going on there).
It's kind of fine, with thin cloud preventing that clear blue sky look. Should be snowing again by the end of the day...
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, no new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -6℃, light winds, no snowdrift development, trace new snow. Annupuri 1150m: -7℃, light winds, trace new snow. Hirafu Ridgeline: -7℃, light SE winds, good visibility. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: SSE 3m/s. Cape: SSE 4m/s, 1017hPa, wave 0.7m. Check https://note.com/niseko_nadare/for mountain data.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is shallow in front of an approaching low pressure and the seas and mountains are calm. From the morning observation the snow has stabilized and the general avalanche risk is low. The snow in the trees is good. Peak gates are expected to be open. Anbetsu Gate 10 is also expected to be open. Please listen to the Patrols advice and be prepared before exiting the gates. Do not enter Strictly Off Limits area Haru no Taki. Beware of hidden cracks around 700m, there is also the risk of full depth avalanches. From snowfall transition evaluation the risk of a large scale avalanche continues in Kozan no Sawa( BackBowl) area around 1100-1200m. If we do get a big one it will run out the entire valley bottom clearing everything in its path. Don't ride the sidewalls. Leave your beginner friends at the ski resort and don't hang out in the valley bottom. There is no safety in this sport. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 16th January 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 330cm (-5cm)
- Base: 160cm (-10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm (-8cm)
- Base: 198cm (-6cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 2cm
- Base: 2cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 270cm (no change)
- Base: 170cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- All lifts operating
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 260cm no change
- Base: 190cm no chang
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Sunday 16th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 596cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 45 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 204cm reported on 16 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.