Niseko Now: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Updated: 2 hours ago
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 1cm
Good morning.
I've been wondering this morning whether I can justify calling the first 1cm of the season. It's been a kind of hail-like slush, depending on where you are, but there was almost 1cm of 'stuff' at my trusted measuring spot. Calling it 'snow' feels rather generous, but I think it should be part of the record.
Take a look at the photo from Hanazono below and see what you think. You can see the autumn foliage, the wetness and some of the slushy stuff on the vehicle.
I'm hearing of snow on some roads in Hokkaido this morning - including Nakayamatoge - and no doubt more at higher elevations. Good! That is what we like to hear.
Before I go any further, can I please ask you to scroll down the page to the table of info near the bottom. That table of information will be updated as each report is posted throughout the season. For reference, here's how that table ended up on the last day of the 2025-2026 season (report):
Total snowfall at base so far
878cm
Number of days snowfall observed at base
92 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
5cm reported on 2 days
May 2026 snowfall
0cm
I'm clearly going to have to use all my wide-ranging degree-level mathematical skills to add up the numbers each morning. (That's where the pre-report toast comes in essential).
Before the 2026-2027 season gets going, this report page will be modified slightly (to include things like the temperature at time of report and a link to the 'current season' data page on the site).
I wanted to add a bit to my discussion regarding ticket prices in my last report, which you can read here:
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort is, of course, the fifth ski area on the mountain, but outside of the Niseko United collective. Their one day lift ticket for this season - at the ticket window - is 13,000 yen. That was, I believe, under 5,000 yen in the 2021-2022 season. Again, cheaper tickets are available online.
Someone pointed out that while cheaper tickets are now available online, discounted tickets are not a new concept. That is definitely worth mentioning. Cheaper tickets sold at convenience stores and other locations were most certainly a thing for many years, and may well still be, even if they have been overtaken by the online phenom. Whether they were as chunky as some of the modern-day discounts or not, I don't know. I'm going to have to look around for that. (I don't usually use convenience stores!)
I was sent a few images of old guide books to supplement the information in my last report and for the geeks amongst you I thought I would share some further info. Don't worry, I'm not going to be banging on about lift ticket prices all the time. It's pre-season, there's not much snow to talk about!
In 1976, Hirafu was called Niseko Kokusai Hirafu and had 12 ski lifts. One ride cost 130 yen a go. As far as I can tell, there was one pair lift and the others were all 1-person single lifts. (Let's try to refrain from complaining about quad lifts and gondolas).
In the same year, what is now Rusutsu Resort was called Yamato Rusutsu 大和ルスツスキー場. I did not know that. The kanji can be read either Daiwa or Yamato, but it seems in this case it was the latter. In 1982, that changed to Rusutsu Kogen, before becoming the current Rusutsu Resort in 1989.
A lift ticket at Yamato Rusutsu in 1976 for the then 10 lifts was also 130 yen a ride (and 2,000 yen for one day). One other thing I noticed about Yamato Rusutsu was that it had a planned season until late April. Modern-day Rusutsu Resort closes in late March or early April as they quickly switch into 'green season' mode. No Golden Week ski lift shenanigans at Rusutsu Resort!
The story of skiing and ski areas in Japan is long, complicated and really interesting.
Niseko Now2026-2027 season |
Data as of 22nd October 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 1cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 1 day Most snowfall observed in 1 day 1cm (on 22nd October 2026) October 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 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.