Niseko Now: Thursday 21st December 2023
- Dec 21, 2023
- 6 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 25cm
Snowfall at base this season 267cm
Posted on Thursday 21st December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I bring you more good news and another very respectable amount of snowfall. 25cm this morning. It has been a good week so far... and there's more to come. It looks like all the main runs at Hanazono are now open, and there's a few more appearing on the list for Hirafu too. (Hirafu reporting 45cm of fresh snowfall on the mountain this morning, by the way).
It is a cold morning, but we actually have some sunshine in places at the start of the day. There is some light snow falling in place. So some varied weather conditions going on just at the moment.
Looking over to the east from town, Mt Yotei is looking stunning with a lot of blue sky and some clouds around the upper section.
Beautiful.
Anyway, here's some words I prepared yesterday.
------------------
Today, please allow me to have some fun responding to feedback sent over the last week or two. I want to emphasise that I'm writing this with a smile on my face. (After all, I just had some toast). OK, here goes.
You reported (insert Niseko Now number) cm of new snowfall yesterday. I am in Niseko, and there was (insert different number) cm. You were wrong! (It's an outrage, etc).
Perhaps we were both right? The complexities of nature and snowfall and stuff. For what it's worth, I know I was right, and I have absolutely no reason to try and mislead anyone. My measurements (place, time, person) have been consistent for many years now. And I accept that perhaps your number was also correct.
Why are you reporting 242cm (*as of 20th December) of total snowfall this season? There's nowhere near that amount!
The number is 242cm because that's how much snow I have measured since the beginning of the season. Lots of it has indeed melted. But it still fell. Please take a look at the Show snowfall and Show accumulated snowfall buttons on the graph below. Also, check the Snowfall analysis tab at the top of the page. I'm not sure what more I can say about that one.
You have been a bit negative on some days.
When you say 'negative', do you mean 'honest'? Guilty! It's important to realise that I am not here to be a tour guide, cheerleader, or marketing messenger proclaiming everything to be wonderful all the time. I am aware that thousands of people read these reports every day, and I take my responsibilities seriously. I try to comment (carefully) on how I see things, and it's as simple as that. Sometimes, I may cover topics or say things that someone with something to sell you might avoid. On a few occasions, businesses have actually voiced their displeasure at my writing. (Personally, I think people should value that defiantly independent stance). I sincerely hope that everyone who visits Niseko has a great time. Please don't take my day-to-day commentary of the season personally. The same applies to the other daily reports on this site, of course.
I certainly don't try to be controversial, and I will be suitably excite when conditions are indeed excite.
You keep on misspelling the name Niseko Tokyo Grand Hirafu!
I discussed this last year. Tokyu is part of the name of the company that operates the ski area. It's not Niseko Tokyo Grand Hirafu. (That would be a bit weird!). I am happy to be made aware of any factual mistakes I might make from time to time, and I will always correct them as quickly as possible. I'll even admit to them. (Like my 570cm snow depth typo for Annupuri yesterday, doh!)
Stop all the toast talk; it's silly.
Well, sometimes I like being a bit silly. And I love toast. I do try to keep it to a minimum, honest.
(Moaning about something).
If you are dissatisfied with my reports or the SnowJapan website in general, you can cancel your 'subscription' at any time. You will receive an instant refund of all monies paid, and no further payments will be made. It can't be much fairer than that, right? ;)
I really love this website. How can I help support it?
Thank you for taking the time to send me/us your kind comments. Of course, it's fun reading comments from anonymous people who appear to enjoy using a free service they dislike, but it's always lovely to hear supportive comments, too! But, seriously, the best way you can help and support SnowJapan is to tell your friends and spread the word.
Thank you!
------------------
Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base: -9C, light snow, 25cm snowfall in 12h, light wind with slightly poor visibility. Mikaeri 764m: -12C, light wind, 40cm snowfall. Hirafu Hanazono: -14.1C, SSW 3.7m/s. Hanazono#3: -10.6C, WNW2.4m/s, 30cm snowfall. Amazing powder snow. Coastal data: Benkei cape WNW8m/s, Kamui cape SW12m/s, 1009hPa, 2.1m waves.
Small low pressure system east of the Shakotan peninsula caused snowfall both at the sea and in the mountains overnight. Snow is light crystal snow and progresses the snow consolidation. From the observation and the weather data, the general avalanche risk is low. Not enough snow on the slopes under the 800m elevation, bamboos and other bushes are still sticking out and not suitable to ski. Bamboos can be like snare traps, so be careful. Out of bounds area is still closed but the snow around the piste is in an excellent condition. The light is weak to see the undulations. Beware of crashing into the trees. Most accidents occur under bad weather such as snowstorms. Snowdrifts can be an avalanche nest. Beware of how the snow falls. Accidents can be prevented if we are careful and not overconfident. Have a good day.
------------------
Individual ski area information for Thursday 21st December 2023
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 and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 45cm woohoo!
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+35cm since yesterday)
- Base: 85cm (+20cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad *
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
Courses:
- Center
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen
- Beginners
- Kokutai
- Holiday
- Boyo
- Green
- Jumbo
- Rinkan
- Shirakaba
------------------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 90cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola *
Courses:
- All open apart from Legend of Shinya
------------------
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 120cm (+20cm since yesterday)
- Base: 90cm (-)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo quad *
Courses:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Junior
- Possibly more?
------------------
Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 135cm
- Base: 84cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola *
- Village Express *
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair *
------------------
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Lifts marked with an asterix (*) are normally scheduled to operate for night skiing.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Thursday 21st December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 267cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 25 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (18th December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 147cm reported on 14 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.