Niseko Now: Saturday 18th January 2025
- Jan 18, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 19cm
Snowfall at base this season 484cm
Posted on Saturday 18th January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I was out having a stroll with some friends near the base of Hanazono yesterday evening around 5pm. For a short while, some big snowflakes were coming down at a really good rate. The 'evening ski' floodlights were on, and the gondola was moving. That moment in time didn't last long, but while it did, it all felt very special and magical. Beautiful.
19cm of fresh to add to the report on this cold morning, with Hirafu and Hanazono ski areas reporting up to 35cm on the slopes. Very nice. Even Niseko Annupuri and Niseko Village are reporting snowfall this morning! (20cm and 10cm respectively).
The morning is starting largely cloudy but bright, with some snow falling in places and also some light blue sky to see in places too. It's a mixed bag of weather at the moment at lift opening, but it feels like the weather might clear up.
Whatever, snow conditions out on the slopes should be very pleasing indeed this morning.
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I had a fun chat with the Hakuba Now reporter yesterday. Always good to catch up. We shared some stories and chuckled over a few things.
One interesting thing was how, in previous seasons, they had been accused of 'under-reporting' snowfall. That was in season(s) when Hakuba wasn't getting so much snowfall, particularly down at the village/base level (where all the Now reports come from).
This season, Hakuba is getting some very good and consistent snowfall.
Curiously, rather than being told they are 'under-reporting', this time round they have been told they have sometimes done some 'over-reporting'.
The thing is:
Same person.
Same location.
Same methods.
It has just snowed more this season! Simple as that.
Just my own observation, but I'm guessing there's a good chance the people talking about 'under-reporting' are different people from those talking about 'over-reporting'.
I will refrain from sharing the exact details of my daily routine and location near Hirafu base. I will also not show the world my big stick. (I'm not one to boast, but it is rather large). It seems too grand to call it such, but my 'method' is straightforward, with a view to simply keeping an honest record of how much snow has fallen since the previous report every day.
And just like Hakuba... same person (me), same location, same methods for many years.
Someone else's observations, even at nearby locations, may differ. If you ask five different people, 'How much snow has fallen in the last 24 hours, in units of 1cm', you will likely get five different answers. Particularly if they are not paying close attention. (After all, most people are wisely out there enjoying it rather than nerding out over cm of snow!)
But among people paying close attention, and if they are being truthful, they can all be 'correct', even with different observations.
What we know as Niseko is, after all, a large area, and obviously, there is no all-encompassing exact/correct answer.
Of course, if I lived at the top of the mountain, the snowfall numbers would undoubtedly be larger. (People often say 'at least 1.5 times more'). But I don't live up there, no-one does, and anyway, all the Now reports come to you from base areas as a rule.
In addition to my own observations, I also try to include the snowfall data reported by ski areas as well as the Avalanche Report every day. Hopefully, with all that information, readers can get a pretty good, balanced idea of what is going on.
Please be assured that I take my daily responsibility seriously and put a lot of care and thought into what I post. (Even the silly stuff!)
As with yesterday's comment about quantity and quality, though, I recommend not overthinking it all.
Let's enjoying.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -10℃, 15cm snowfall in 12h, calm. Moiwa 800m: -11.1℃, NNW5.3m/s, cornices have grown and 30cm thick slabs are present. Mikaeri 750m: -12℃, E1.0m/s, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -13.5℃, WNW3.0m/s, 20cm snowfall, good visibility. Hirafu Hanazono: -13.0℃, NNW3.5m/s, 20cm snowfall. The slopes have mostly been reset above 1000m and calm weather this morning. Coastal data: Benkei cape N15m/s, Kamui cape N10m/s, 1012hPa, 0.9m waves.
The isobars have spread out and the Sea of Japan and the mountain range is calm. There are no notable slab developments in the past 12h, test results show that the snowpack seems to be stable. The avalanche risk is relatively low. Good snow has blanketed the slopes above 700m and the slopes have been reset. All gates are scheduled to open. Carrying an avalanche transceiver is not mandatory in Niseko, however it is highly recommended to do so. Carrying a transceiver and rescue equipment will drastically improve your and your friends’ chances to survive in an avalanche. This information started out of necessity as Niseko experienced consecutive fatal avalanche accidents 40 years ago, and were issued in hopes to prevent these accidents. The basic theory in Niseko to evaluate the cause of avalanches focuses on the structural vulnerability of the slabs created during high wind and heavy snowfall. It seems that this theory is starting to be accepted as common sense throughout the world now, and the role of the Niseko Avalanche Information has been fulfilled. In any case, avalanches can occur naturally and will only be an accident if a person is in its way. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 18th 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.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 35cm
Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 250cm (+20cm change since yesterday)
Base: 198cm (+3cm 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: 35cm
Base: 35cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 290cm
Base: 150cm
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: 175cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 145cm (+5cm 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: 140cm (+10cm 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 Saturday 18th January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 484cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 50 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 135cm 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.