Niseko Now: Tuesday 23rd December 2025
- Dec 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 174cm
Just a dusting really since my last report, even if it did snow lightly at times during the day yesterday. So no new cm to add this morning.
Hirafu is claiming 5cm of fresh at base as well as upper. I don't know if that has been updated for today or left over from yesterday. Perhaps they did get 5cm.
We have largely cloudy skies this morning with some hints of sun breaking through in places. Maybe we will get sunshine today.
One question that people often seem to have is how much snow to expect around Christmas. On Thursday, I'm going to repeat the exercise I did on the first day of the season to see how we are faring this season re: snowfall at that point in time. (I haven't prepared it yet, but, advance warning, I don't think it's going to be excite).
More and more people are around now as Christmas fast approaches. At the same time, I sense a relatively low-gear atmosphere still. Perhaps it's just me as someone who loves to be able to report fresh snow and not really feeling it yet. And it's not as if I'm bar hopping and partying every night!
All the other reports from other regions of Japan also seem to be saying it, but.... Friday.
(No pressure on you at all, Friday.)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base -7℃, no snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -8.7℃, NNW0m/s, good visibility. Mikaeri 800m: -13℃, E1.6m/s, good visibility. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -10.2℃, N0.9m/s, calm. Hanazono 800m: -7.5℃, N0.5m/s. Sea of Japan Benkei cape W3m/s, Kamui cape W10m/s, 1032hPa, 1.0m waves.
The wind is calm under the high-pressure system and the mountain and sea is quiet. The past 12h snowfall is small without notable cornice and snowdrift development. Most common slopes are stable and the general avalanche risk is small. Snow is lacking at the bottom of the hills and many people need to share the narrow groomers. Beware of collisions. The backcountry gates are not yet open for out-of-bounds skiing from the resort. Do not duck the ropes or ski outside the resort boundaries. Please respect the Niseko Rules. These regulations are in place to ensure the safety of all resort users and are not intended to restrict your freedom. In case of any trouble, contact the ski patrol immediately.
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 1cm
Base: 1cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 118cm (+3cm change since yesterday)
Base: 50cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
4 of 4 lifts
Gondola until 7:00pm
Planned open courses:
All main runs apart from Setsuzoku, Legend of Shinya (and Hanazono Park)
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 25cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
7 of 9 lifts
Ace Gondola
Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
Ace Number 3 pair
King Gondola
King Holiday pair
King Number 3 six
Swinging Monkey
Planned open courses:
Family
Sennoki
Alpen
Super
Beginners access
Green
Shirakaba
Center
Kogen
Dai-ni no kabe
Kokutai
Holiday
Rinkan
Jumbo
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 100cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 30cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
6 of 8 lifts
Niseko Gondola
Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
Village Express (until 7:00pm)
Community Chair
Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
Morino Chair
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 0cm
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 90cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 45cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
5 of 6 lifts
Annupuri gondola
Dream Number 1 quad (until 7:00pm)
Jumbo Number 1 quad
Jumbo Number 2 pair
Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Planned lift operations:
3 of 3 lifts
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Tuesday 23rd December 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 174cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 24 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 12th December) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 145cm reported on 17 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.