Niseko Now: Friday 17th April 2020
- Apr 17, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 728cm
Posted on Friday 17th April 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
UPDATE AT 2PM:
Niseko Annupuri have made an announcement...
Today (Friday 17th April) is going to be the last day of the season for Niseko Annupuri.
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UPDATE AT 6PM:
And now Niseko Grand Hirafu have also made an announcement...
Sunday (19th April) is going to be the last day of the season for Niseko Grand Hirafu.
And therefore the last day of the season.
I will post a report tomorrow and my last report on Sunday.
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ORIGINAL EARLY MORNING REPORT @ 8:12AM:
Good morning from Niseko.
The sun is out.
Blue skies.
The mountains are looking beautiful.
It is a lovely spring day and we can probably expect fine weather over the weekend too with mild conditions... perhaps wind will be an issue tomorrow.
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Bit of an announcement from me.
I have been wrestling with this for a while now. With everything going on at the moment - since yesterday, there is now a nationwide 'state of emergency' in Japan - it is just feeling increasingly inappropriate posting a report each morning.
Various ski areas in Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Yuzawa, etc have all cut their seasons short due to the situation we are in.
The Japanese government is asking people to drastically decrease the amount of people contact they have (by 80%), and to cut back on all non-essential outings.
Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Annupuri remain part open, and for the moment they seem intent on continuing.
While I totally realise that it is not for me to instruct anyone else how to go about their daily life or run their business, for me personally it just does not feel right to continue as normal.
So regretfully I am going to pull back on my Niseko Now reports. While those two areas remain open, I intend to post a fresh update on Mondays and Fridays.
Luckily we are in that last stage of the season when we are settling into spring and so there isn't much to report anyway - so I am thankful for that. I will not miss recording any snowfall and if there are any announcements I will bring them to you. (I will check each morning).
If you are disappointed by my decision, I am sorry.
I just need to do what I feel is right.
Thanks.
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Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 35cm
The following lifts are scheduled to be operating:
- Hirafu Gondola (* weekends only)
- Ace Number 2 quad center four
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- The following upper courses are scheduled to be open:
- Detour for Beginners
- Shirakaba
- Center
- Large
- Holiday
- Rinkan
- Jumbo
- Dynamic
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 150cm
- Base: 35cm
The following lifts are scheduled to be operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- 8 courses scheduled to be open
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- The Niseko HANAZONO and Niseko Village areas are now closed for the season.
- Night time floodlit operations have closed for the season.
Niseko Now 2019-2020 season |
Data as of Friday 17th April 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 728cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 85 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 33cm (21st January) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 207cm reported on 21 days January 2020 snowfall 224cm reported on 20 days February 2020 snowfall 143cm reported on 19 days March 2020 snowfall 59cm reported on 12 days April 2020 snowfall 10cm reported on 3 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.