Niseko Now: Monday 19th December 2022
- Dec 19, 2022
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 17cm
Snowfall at base this season 258cm
Posted on Monday 19th December 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's cold out there! There's also another 15-20cm of fresh snow since yesterday around base as the regular deliveries continue. Marvellous.
As I write this, light snow is falling outside my place. It doesn't feel too windy this morning, not down here anyway. Just cold. We might even get some periods of sun today in places.
The only operational changes I can notice this morning since yesterday is that Onsenzawa at Hirafu is now open.
And talking about Hirafu...
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A few days ago, I commented on the fact that night skiing in Niseko is now open until 7:00pm or 7:30pm, depending on the ski area. And I recalled the floodlit slopes in the past being open until later in the night.
I wanted to check but didn't know how to confirm such information. Then, I remembered that a certain Mr Lea, who created this website, is a walking encyclopedia on anything related to Japanese ski areas and has guidebooks dating back over 30 years. It turns out that since he started his SnowJapanHistory website in 2020 covering old ski areas (definitely worth a visit, by the way), he has been gradually acquiring older ski area guidebooks, building his collection to over 200 (!).
Anyway, after contacting Andrew and thanks to the information in his books, I have confirmed a few details. It turns out that, at one time, night skiing was indeed available at Niseko Grand Hirafu until 9:30pm.
1986 season: night skiing until 9:30pm
1987 season: night skiing until 9:00pm
1993 season: night skiing until 9:30pm
1996 season: night skiing until 9:30pm
2003 season: night skiing until 9:00pm
2012 season: night skiing until 8:30pm
2021 season: night skiing until 8:00pm
2022 season: night skiing until 7:00pm
2023 season: night skiing until 7:00pm
The reasons for the changes are unclear. However, I am told that night skiing has been scaled back at many ski areas throughout Japan in recent decades. So such a change is not unusual. (Perhaps the last few years are explained by the covid situation?)
I was treated to a few other bits of Hirafu trivia. I’ll post that in my report tomorrow.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -11℃, light storm, 20cm snowfall in 12h. Moiwa 800m: -13℃, stormy, 20cm snowfall in 12h with snowdrift development. Annupuri 1000m: -15℃, 20cm snowfall in 12h, strong westerly wind with snow and snowdrifts development. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW18m/s, Kamui cape W13m/s, 1009hPa, 2.3m waves. Hanazono 1000m: -16.3℃, ESE2m/s.
Wintery pressure distribution continues and the isobars tightened momentarily generating typical winter storm conditions on the ocean and the mountains. Snowdrifts are developing in leeward slopes above treeline and the avalanche risk is high at Annupuri West ridge’s cornice 900m area, knoll slopes, O-sawa and East ridge’s cornice slopes. Risk is lower in the trees, however it is highly recommended to avoid riding the gully bottoms. The snow in the forests is wind-affected and slightly heavy. Many of the avalanche accidents occur in knolls, open slopes, gullies’ sidewalls and bottoms where unstable snowdrifts develop during storms. There are no unavoidable accidents. Always be prudent. Don’t casually duck ropes. This is a ski resort and many people are present. One track under a rope will lead others to follow it and be the cause of an accident. It’s very cold today, beware of frostbites and hypothermia. Skiing and snowboarding are inherently dangerous sports. Gates will need some more time to open. Have a nice day.
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Ski area information for Monday 19th December 2022
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.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 190cm
- Base: 95cm
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
Courses:
- All courses are now open except Large, Konayuki, Miharashi and Dynamic
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 135cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 105cm (+8cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 135cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 105cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 100cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Monday 19th December 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 258cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 23 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 21cm (17th December) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 241cm reported on 18 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.