Niseko Now: Sunday 21st February 2021
- Feb 21, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 1063cm
Posted on Sunday 21st February 2021 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Much of Japan might well be experiencing sunny skies and very spring like weather this weekend, but here in Niseko we are still covered in cloud.
It feels colder this morning and the numbers show that too. And looking outside my window just now it is snowing and actually some nice big flakes coming down. Forecasts don't tell us to expect much during the day today.
A bit of a warm up probably tomorrow before temperatures drop back down again from Tuesday onwards... when we should be getting some decent snowfall.
Today starts with the top lifts at Niseko Grand Hirafu, Village and Annupuri closed, presumably due to windy conditions up there. The Avalanche Report mentions gates likely to open; hopefully those lifts will get moving.
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OK, so I checked on the night skiing lift situation at Hirafu.
The plan for the season was for the Ace Family Quad and the Ace Number 2 Center Four lifts to both be operating for night skiing. However, since 1st February the Family lift has only been open on Saturdays, so it's just the Center Four lift operating for night skiing on weekdays and holidays. I did actually mention these changes in operations myself in an earlier report, just got a bit mixed up with the various changes. Doh!
By the way, thanks to the people who actually took the time to send in mails to SnowJapan to help with that information. That was very kind of you.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
6:25am Benkei cape: NW15m/s, Kamui cape: W10m/s, 1006hPa, 2.3m waves. Hanazono 1000m: -11.2℃, S3.1m/s. Hanazono 720m: -8.4℃, NW6m/s. Moiwa 800m: -8.7℃, NNE9.2m/s. Annupuri 1100m: -11.6℃, W7.8m/s. Yu no Sawa 1100m: -11.1℃, WSW3.2m/s. Mizu no Sawa top: -10.2℃, WNW5.1m/s. Kutchan Town: -4.0℃, W5.6m/s, 180cm snow depth. Moiwa base: -6℃, 3cm snowfall in 12h.
The wind has calmed down and the snowdrifts development has slowed down. Snowdrifts have reached up to 100cm thickness in some places, cornices are thin and very unstable. The snow is thin below 500M elevation, however 40cm thick wind-affected slabs have blanketed leeward slopes above 700m. According to observations and various weather data, these slabs are seen to stabilize around 11am. Peak gates are scheduled to open, however it would be wise to avoid Kozan no Sawa (Back bowl) sidewalls, Osawa (Annupuri bowl) cornice slopes and Higashi-One (East Ridge) upper section during the morning. Listen to the ski patrol’s advice and be well prepared before stepping out of the gates. Get your helmet and beacon ready.
The Niseko Rules are regulations for keeping safety outside the resort boundaries and this safety is backed by the ski ptarol’s work. They are not your enemy or any other kind of disturbance. The weather has not been cooperating this season and the days when the gates are open might be seldom, however the ski patrol has been working hard in order to open the gates as much as possible. Please respect the Rules and the patrol’s decisions. Careless actions lead accidents and most of them can be avoided. There will never be 100% safety in winter sports. Better not overestimate your knowledge, skills, experience and equipment. Always remain prudent and humble towards nature. The snow is not not bad today.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 21st February 2021
The below information is manually checked each morning from official sources.
The numbers in brackets show the change in the official snow depth numbers since the previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 455cm (-5cm)
- Base: 235cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: (7 lifts) - Ace Family Quad, Ace Quad Center 4, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Pair, King Quad 3, King 4, Swinging Monkey
- Night skiing: Ace Center Four quad (every day) and Ace Family quad (Saturdays only at the moment)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 7cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 305cm (+0cm)
- Base: 215cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: (3 lifts) - Hanazono 1, 2 and 3
- There is no night skiing at Hanazono
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Niseko Annupuri
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 2cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm (+0cm)
- Base: 210cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: (6 lifts) - All lifts
- Jumbo Number 1 quad lift operates for night skiing
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Niseko Village
24 hours new snowfall (as reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 270cm (+0cm)
- Base: 230cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts:
- Planned: (4 lifts) - Niseko Gondola, Community, Banzai, Wonderland
- Community Chair lift operates for night skiing
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Sunday 21st February 2021 Total snowfall at base so far 1063cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 76 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 48cm (17th February) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 348cm reported on 25 days January 2021 snowfall 387cm reported on 27 days February 2021 snowfall 266cm 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.