Niseko Now: Wednesday 1st April 2026
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 873cm
Good morning and a very early report today. I woke up early and had my early morning walk and it was really lovely out there. Too early for specific updates from the ski areas, so the list below remains as it was yesterday.
The sun is out and it feels calm. I'm going to get myself up on the mountain this morning.
The following lifts are now closed:
Hirafu: Ace Number 3 pair, Ace Number 4 pair
Village: Morino Chair
Annupuri: Jumbo Number 2 pair, Jumbo Number 3 pair
A look back at the season so far: until the end of March 2026
Another month has passed and here we are in April already. Just where did all the time go?
Here are my observed snowfall numbers for March 2025:
March 2026: 50cm
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
I was able to report snowfall at base on 13 days in March, mostly coming in the first half of the month, with a total of 50cm for the month. Looking at records since 2013, 50cm is on the lower end of the scale. I probably say this every year, but look at that 164cm in March 2013! That’s more than we got this year in February. How I’d love to see that kind of March again, but it feels increasingly… muzukashii!
Here are the total snowfall numbers for the season so far:
2025/2026 season up to the end of March 2027: 873cm
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
(I’ll do the ‘sorted most to least’ thing again in my final report).
And here is how much snowfall I have recorded during previous seasons in April.
April 2025: 1cm
April 2024: 5cm
April 2023: 0cm
April 2022: 2cm
April 2021: 9cm
April 2020: 10cm
April 2019: 6cm
April 2018: 13cm
April 2017: 0cm
April 2016: 6cm
April 2015: 3cm
April 2014: 13cm
April 2013: 32cm
I doubt I’ll get to add any more this season.
We are now approaching the end of the season. Niseko Moiwa plans to be open until 5th April. Hanazono and Village plan to continue until 12th April, with Hirafu and Annupuri hoping to be open until 6th May. It remains to be seen if they will be able to do that.
Interestingly, the official snow depth on the mountain at Hirafu today (well, yesterday actually: 325cm) is actually higher than 1st April last year (285cm). I found that rather surprising. So maybe they can.
I plan to be reporting until the last of the ski lifts close for the season.
------------------------------------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 260cm
Base: 135cm
Planned last day of the season:
Sunday 12th April
------------------
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 325cm
Base: 70cm
Planned last day of the season:
Wednesday 6th May
------------------
Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 219cm
Base: 106cm
Planned last day of the season:
Sunday 12th April
------------------
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 270cm
Base: 90cm
Planned last day of the season:
Wednesday 6th May
------------------------------------
Niseko Moiwa has a planned closing date of Sunday 5th April.
Asahigaoka ski area (near Kutchan Station) closed on 8th March.
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Wednesday 1st April 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 873cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 90 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (on 12th January) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 189cm reported on 23 days January 2026 snowfall 451cm reported on 28 days February 2026 snowfall 154cm reported on 19 days March 2026 snowfall 50cm reported on 13 days April 2026 snowfall 0cm |
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.