Niseko Now: Tuesday 1st April 2025
- Apr 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 783cm
Good morning from Niseko.
It is a lovely morning with lots of blue sky and some friendly looking clouds. The sun is shining through my window.
Hanazono actually seems to be reporting up to 8cm of snow on upper areas (and 1cm) at base which is interesting. I think some investigation is required!
(My 1cm in this report is from yesterday... it was snowing quite nicely at one point!)
OK, so Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu ski area is now closed for the season, and has turned off webcams.
Niseko Hanazono, Niseko Village, Niseko Annupuri and Niseko Moiwa all still remain open.
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A look back at the season so far: until the end of March 2025
I can hardly believe that we are already into April. I suppose that is probably always my thoughts when it gets to this part of the season. Cliché alert, but time goes so fast. (I suppose that means I must have been having fun!)
At the same time, I have been writing these daily reports for the best part of 5 months now, so that seems like a (very) long time! I'm at that stage where I am still enjoying it all, but also starting to look forward to a proper rest in about a month or so.
It's a tradition that I start my recap with important points to keep in mind when reading my data and comments. As a reminder and also for any newcomers who have only recently found these reports.
The snowfall numbers I am introducing in these reports are all the snowfall measurements I observed near the base of Hirafu. The monthly and annual numbers in these reports are comparable because they are coming to you from the same spot and being observed by the same person every day over the last 13 seasons. Also, 'Observed snowfall at base' is not the whole story of how the season is going, and it does not take into account the fact that there is often more snow at higher elevations or snow quality.
Here are my observed snowfall numbers for March 2025:
March 2025: 76cm
March 2024: 70cm
March 2023: 32cm
March 2022: 81cm
March 2021: 79cm
March 2020: 59cm
March 2019: 45cm
March 2018: 49cm
March 2017: 83cm
March 2016: 109cm
March 2015: 139cm
March 2014: 113cm
March 2013: 164cm
Snowfall was reported on 15 days in March. We got some quite decent snowfall around mid-month (and also the snowfall for the last day of the month).
That provided some very excite time for the people still here to enjoy it. Yey!
Overall, the numbers for March were about average for the the last decade or so. And I really can't think of much else to say.
Here are the total snowfall numbers for the season so far:
2024/2025 season up to the end of March 2025: 782cm
2023/2024 season up to the end of March 2023: 879cm
2022/2023 season up to the end of March 2022: 1006cm
2021/2022 season up to the end of March 2021: 1135cm
2020/2021 season up to the end of March 2020: 1201cm
2019/2020 season up to the end of March 2019: 718cm
2018/2019 season up to the end of March 2018: 945cm
2017/2018 season up to the end of March 2017: 1247cm
2016/2017 season up to the end of March 2016: 686cm
2015/2016 season up to the end of March 2015: 983cm
2014/2015 season up to the end of March 2014: 1141cm
2013/2014 season up to the end of March 2013: 1150cm
2012/2013 season up to the end of March 2012: 1459cm
At the beginning of each season, I always hope that I will get to observe/report over 10m of snow. (Remember: observed at base, not up top). Alas, it was not to be, and that was becoming apparent in January. I doubt we'll get 2+m over the next few weeks.
Here's how much snowfall I have recorded during previous seasons in April. The numbers in brackets show the total observed snowfall at the end of the season.
April 2024: 5cm (884cm)
April 2023: 0cm (1006cm)
April 2022: 2cm (1137cm)
April 2021: 9cm (1210cm)
April 2020: 10cm (728cm)
April 2019: 6cm (951cm)
April 2018: 13cm (1260cm)
April 2017: 0cm (686cm)
April 2016: 6cm (989cm)
April 2015: 3cm (1144cm)
April 2014: 13cm (1163cm)
April 2013: 32cm (1491cm)
So, we shouldn't expect much more this season. Anything from now through Golden Week in early May is just a fun bonus.
All the statistics can be found here and here.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu ski area is now closed for the season. I usually get to say that in early May, so it feels very odd saying that right at the beginning of April. The official reason for the early closure is that they want to start work on construction work, including the King Number 3 lift. (It will be 'reborn' as a 6-seater high-speed lift in December this year).
I recently read that 13,748 people used the Asahigaoka ski area (behind Kutchan Station) this season. That is the largest number of people using that ski area in 15 years. I have mentioned Asahigaoka before in these reports. It is only small and not on the main mountain, but lift tickets are way (way) cheaper than the resorts and it gets nowhere near as busy. Obviously, it doesn't have that expensive resort status 'appeal' (?) - there are no pop-up shops selling posh bags for whiskey there! And you can buy over 10 full one-day tickets at Asahigaoka for the price of one 29 minute early bird ticket at Hanazono just a few km up the road. (It's mad when you think of it like that, right?)
Asahigaoka feels more like a flashback to 'normal ski areas' in Japan.
Perhaps it is a sign that some visitors are increasingly open to check out other places. (I think that is a good thing. I recommend it). Perhaps more people are getting wary of crowds and everything being very expensive. (Yes, I know some overseas visitors still do not see Niseko as being particularly expensive). Or it could be a sign there are Japanese locals who still want to ski and avoid the expense of the famous destinations. For many, those feel increasingly out of reach.
Anyway, I plan to continue posting reports daily until the last ski lifts of the season close. All being well, that will be on Tuesday 6th May.
Gambarimasu!
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Individual ski area information for Tuesday 1st April 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 8cm
Base: 1cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 285cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 175cm (-3cm change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
All 4 lifts are open
Planned closing date:
Sunday 13th April 2025 (extended from original planned closing of 6th April)
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Hirafu is now closed for the 2024-2025 season
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 120cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
4 lifts operating
Upper Village Gondola, Community Chair, Banzai Chair and Morino Chair are closed
Planned closing date:
Sunday 6th April 2025
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 260cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 100cm (no change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
4 lifts operating
Jumbo Number 2 pair lift and Jumbo Number 3 pair lift are closed
Planned closing date:
Tuesday 6th May 2025
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
2 lifts operating
Quad lift is closed
Planned closing date:
Sunday 6th April 2025
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Night skiing
Floodlit 'night' skiing finished for the 2024-2025 season on Sunday 23rd March
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Tuesday 1st April 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 783cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 95 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (6th February) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 196cm reported on 24 days March 2025 snowfall 76cm reported on 15 days April 2025 snowfall 1cm reported on 1 day |
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.