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Niseko Now: Thursday 19th December 2019

  • Dec 19, 2019
  • 3 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido


New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 212cm

Posted on Thursday 19th December 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here


I am feeling rather better and more chirpy this morning.


There isn't a huge amount of snowfall to report to you - I have measured 6cm outside on the ground - but it is feeling colder. I am guessing that there might be 10cm or so of fresh at higher elevations, so perhaps worth investigating even if not deep yet.


The forecast is also looking much more Niseko-like, which is really great to see.


Santa-san is going to be visiting Niseko on 24th-25th December. Niseko is his main place of call you see; he will make appearances in various locations. And it sounds like he is going to bring us what we want. He's a good bloke. I will leave him a mince pie, a piece of toast and some carrots for his reindeer friends.


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At Niseko Grand Hirafu, the middle section of the mountain is currently mostly closed and you can either take the gondola or the Ace Number 2 Center Four lift back down.


A good few days of decent snowfall should get things going properly without the need to be worried about what is open and what is not open.


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In other news, you can buy a 'Snow Duck Builder' in the shops.


Don't all rush now!


Quite cute actually.


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Niseko Grand Hirafu


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 130cm

- Base: 45cm


Ski lifts operating:

- Ace Family quad

- Ace Number 2 Center quad

- Ace Number 3 pair

- Hirafu Gondola

- Holiday Number 1 pair

- King Number 3 quad

- Swinging Monkey


Courses available:

- Family

- Detour for beginners

- Shirakaba

- Center

- Kogen

- Boyo

- Holiday

- Rinkan (lower area)

- Jumbo


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Niseko HANAZONO Resort


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 80cm

- Base: 25cm


Ski lifts operating:

- Hanazono Number 1 quad

- Hanazono Number 2 quad

- Hanazono Number 3 quad


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Niseko Annupuri


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 80cm

- Base: 45cm


Ski lifts operating:

- Annupuri Gondola

- Dream Number 1 quad

- Jumbo Number 1 quad

- Jumbo Number 2 pair

- Jumbo Number 3 pair


Courses available:

- Utopia Course

- Silver Course

- Shirakaba Course

- Paradise Course

- Family Course

- Junior Course


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Niseko Village


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 80cm

- Base: 45cm


Ski lifts operating:

- Niseko Gondola ON HOLD

- Upper Village Gondola

- Village Express

- Community Chair

- Banzai Chair


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Night time operations are normally available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas. Subject to weather conditions. There is no nighta at the Niseko HANAZONO resort area.



Niseko Now 2019-2020 season

Data as of Thursday 19th December 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 212cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 21 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (6th December) November 2019 snowfall 85cm reported on 10 days December 2019 snowfall 127cm 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.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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