Niseko Now: Wednesday 1st January 2025
- Jan 1, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 5cm
Snowfall at base this season 354cm
Posted on Wednesday 1st January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I wish you all a Happy New Year! Let us hope it will be a good one, in as many ways as possible.
I have already enjoyed my traditional 'hatsu-toast' (first toast of the year) and some strong coffee, and now am ready to get going with 2025.
We have started the year with some early morning sunshine. There is a fair amount of cloud around, but some blue sky and the sun shining through my window at the moment. Just to confuse matters, it is also snowing lightly in places (I can see snow falling on the Hanazono webcam as I write this). It feels like the sun part of that mix might not last.
I have 5cm of lovely fresh snow to add to this first report of the year.
We are expecting regular snow through the weekend.
The Niseko Annupuri gondola did its early morning thing and all lifts on the mountain are opening as planned at the normal opening time this morning.
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A look back at the season so far: until end of December 2024
As is the tradition, at the beginning of each month (through May), I will take a look back at the season so far, along with a closer look at the snowfall data that I have recorded.
For those unfamiliar with how this works, the numbers I am introducing below are all the snowfall measurements I observed near the base of Hirafu. The monthly and annual numbers in these reports are comparable. That is because they are coming to you from the same spot and being observed by the same person every day over the last 13 seasons.
It is important to always keep in mind that 'snowfall numbers at base' is by no means the full story of how the season is going. That data does not take into account the fact that there is more snow at higher elevations or, indeed, snow quality. (More information on snowfall numbers here).
While statistics may be interesting, and the numbers themselves may be comparable, as explained above, much more insight into the season can be followed in the commentary I write in the daily reports. Remember to look beyond the numbers.
And on that note...on to the numbers!
First up, November. This is how much snowfall I have measured during November since 2012.
November 2024: 38cm
November 2023: 120cm
November 2022: 17cm
November 2021: 85cm
November 2020: 62cm
November 2019: 85cm
November 2018: 84cm
November 2017: 188cm
November 2016: 110cm
November 2015: 61cm
November 2014: 30cm
November 2013: 123cm
November 2012: 118cm
I reported snowfall on 8 days in November 2024.
This year, November was disappointing in terms of snowfall especially after the excite showing of 1.2m of snow in November 2023. I only reported reporting 38cm. The first base snowfall was recorded on 7th November 2024. That was actually earlier than in the previous season when I reported the first snowfall on 11th November 2023. But in November 2023, we got about 60cm of snowfall over the following several days, followed by more good numbers towards the end of the month. That seemed to make a big difference.
Next up, December. Here's my observed snowfall numbers for December 2024:
December 2024: 311cm
December 2023: 247cm
December 2022: 336cm
December 2021: 307cm
December 2020: 348cm
December 2019: 207cm
December 2018: 333cm
December 2017: 406cm
December 2016: 181cm
December 2015: 244cm
December 2014: 519cm
December 2013: 275cm
December 2012: 418cm
That is more than last year, and about the average snowfall for December over the last 13 years. (The average of the above numbers is 318cm).
Hirafu, Village, Annupuri and Moiwa ski areas all managed to open on 1st December, while Hanazono waited for more snow and opened on 4th December.
I reported snowfall on 28 out of the 31 days in December 2024 and every day since 11th December. The most snowfall in one report was 23cm on 16th December. Snowfall has generally arrived in smaller numbers since then, but, importantly, it has been regular and consistent. (I’d prefer some larger numbers myself, but perhaps I’m just greedy).
We enjoyed some particularly good conditions around that mid-month period; those few days are my pick of the season so far, anyway. I enjoyed some truly excellent conditions. As is expected, of course.
Most people I have spoken with sharing lift rides over the last month or so have been delighted with their Niseko experience, which is always great to see/hear.
OK, so here are the total snowfall numbers for the season so far (November + December):
2024/2025 season up to the end of December 2024: 349cm
2023/2024 season up to end of December 2023: 367cm
2022/2023 season up to end of December 2022: 353cm
2021/2022 season up to end of December 2021: 392cm
2020/2021 season up to end of December 2020: 410cm
2019/2020 season up to end of December 2019: 292cm
2018/2019 season up to end of December 2018: 417cm
2017/2018 season up to end of December 2017: 594cm
2016/2017 season up to end of December 2016: 291cm
2015/2016 season up to end of December 2015: 305cm
2014/2015 season up to end of December 2014: 549cm
2013/2014 season up to end of December 2013: 398cm
2012/2013 season up to end of December 2012: 536cm
It might be surprising that 349cm is over 50cm less than the average snowfall I have observed here over the last 13 years. The average has been 404cm. 349cm is a respectable number, for sure, but it is certainly not record-breaking.
Looking back at previous seasons, here is how much of the total snowfall for the whole season we have already received by the end of December. This might give us an idea of what to expect over the coming months:
By the end of December 2023, as a % of the season total: about 42%
By the end of December 2022, as a % of the season total: about 35%
By the end of December 2021, as a % of the season total: about 34%
By the end of December 2020, as a % of the season total: about 34%
By the end of December 2019, as a % of the season total: about 40%
By the end of December 2018, as a % of the season total: about 44%
By the end of December 2017, as a % of the season total: about 47%
By the end of December 2016, as a % of the season total: about 43%
By the end of December 2015, as a % of the season total: about 31%
By the end of December 2014, as a % of the season total: about 48%
By the end of December 2013, as a % of the season total: about 34%
By the end of December 2012, as a % of the season total: about 36%
And here's how much snowfall I have recorded during previous seasons in the month of January:
January 2024: 298cm (665cm)
January 2023: 332cm (685cm)
January 2022: 325cm (717cm)
January 2021: 387cm (797cm)
January 2020: 224cm (516cm)
January 2019: 285cm (702cm)
January 2018: 305cm (899cm)
January 2017: 152cm (443cm)
January 2016: 303cm (608cm)
January 2015: 257cm (806cm)
January 2014: 461cm (859cm)
January 2013: 443cm (979cm)
(The numbers in brackets show the total observed snowfall in each season until the end of January.)
In January 2024, the 298cm of snowfall observed was reported on 24 days of the month.
Remember, all this data is available to you at any time on the Snowfall Analysis and Seasonal archive pages of this report. See the tabs at the top of the report.
January has come round so quick; it doesn’t seem that long ago when I was trying to get back into the daily report routine in November.
We have over four months of the ski season ahead of us. My personal opinion is that it has been a good early season and I look forward to that continuing (and getting even better). There is tons of fun and excite(ment) to look forward to.
Let's see if Nature will bless us with 3-4m of lovely snowfall this month.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -6℃, 5cm new snow, stormy at times. Moiwa 800m: -8.5℃, WNW9.8m/s, 20m/s at 4am. Mikaeri 750m: -8.0℃ NNW 2.3m/s, heavy snowfall, poor visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -10.6℃, WNW5.2m/s, stormy at times, poor visibility. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -10.1℃, NNE7.7m/s, 10cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNW7m/s, Kamui Cape N10m/s, 1011hPa, wave 1.1m.
The above data is from around 6am, and to predict avalanches it is important to understand the snowfall trends over the previous 12 hours. The sea data shows that the isobars are beginning to widen and the wave height is decreasing. Winds are also decreasing above 1500m elevation.
From observations, shallow slabs caused by northerly winds are easily broken by the accumulation of hard wind-formed snow crystals. Even below 800 m elevation, be careful on slopes where the sidewalls exceed 40° such as Mikaeri Bowl. Do not stimulate knolls. Do not stay on the gully bottoms. Ski one person at a time. There are times when northerly winds are dominant, and 40 cm slabs are formed in a short amount of time on the upper part of the sidewalls of Kozan no Sawa at 1200m elevation. Better stay away from those areas even the gates are open today. For the past 30 years, Niseko has succeeded in preventing avalanche accidents by focusing on direct action avalanches, which are directly caused by snowstorm, as well as second action avalanches, which are caused by weak layers. I’m glad to see that this logic is becoming a global standard, particularly in Europe. Avalanches are a natural phenomenon and most accidents can be prevented if we all take precautions. There is no safety in winter mountains. And this sport is dangerous to begin with. Happy New Year.
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Individual ski area information for Wednesday 1st 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: 7cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 205cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 180cm (no 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: 10cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 240cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 125cm (no change since yesterday)
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: 150cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 100cm (no 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: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are scheduled to be 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 lifts are scheduled to be 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 Wednesday 1st January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 349cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 37 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 5cm 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.