Niseko Now: Wednesday 27th December 2023
- Dec 27, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 356cm
Posted on Wednesday 27th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello and good morning from Niseko.
You want some more fresh snow? Well, this morning I have another 15cm of it to report this morning from base. Hirafu is reporting 30cm of new snowfall at peak which sounds good (but, er, 0cm at base. Doh!)
I am liking the consistency we have enjoyed over the last 10 days or so. May it continue... as we still need more! Forecasts seem to be indicating that it might tail off, though, for the last few days of the year.
I don't yet have any news to report regarding the opening of top lifts and gates. When I know, I'll let you know!
It is snowing and visibility looks varied at the start of the day.
And that's about it for today, really. See you tomorrow!
------------------
Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 7am: -6.5C, 15cm snowfall in 12h, 40cm snowdrifts. Mikaeri 764m: -9C, westerly 10m/s, snowdrifts development and 220cm snowpack. Annupuri1000m: -10C, strong westerly wind making wind affected snowdrifts grow 30cm on average, up to 100cm in some spots. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -12.1C, WSW3.8m/s, 25m/s, at 10pm. Hanazono#3: -9.5C, NNW6.3m/s (up to 15m/s). Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW14m/s, Kamui cape W11m/s, 1021hPa, 2.1m waves.
Strong wintery pressure distribution with tight isobars spacing. Snowdrifts are largely growing, up to 100cm, in the western aspects above 800m elevation. Cornices are also developing. The avalanche risk is very high in Kozan no Sawa (Backbowl) high elevation leeward sidewalls (1100-1200m). Better not try to approach these slopes from Goshiki side. The snow in the trees is slightly firm dur to the wind and fun to ski. However, bushes are still thick at the bottom of the gullies and is very difficult to come out of there. Highly recommended to remain inbounds and not duck ropes into the side country area. The snow in the western side of the mountain is wind affected and dense. Ski carefully. The snow is lighter and good in the eastern (Hirafu/Hanazono) side. We’re anticipating the opening of gates on New Year’s day. Please help us make it happen by respecting the Niseko Rules. Visibility is intermittently going bad. The new snow on the course side is catchy, be careful. This information is issued based on the reports from the ski patrollers, the cat operators and the institute. Have a good day.
------------------
Individual ski area information for Wednesday 27th 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: 30cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 95cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
------------------
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 160cm
- Base: 115cm
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (until 7:00pm)
------------------
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (+10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
------------------
Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 155cm
- Base: 104cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
------------------
Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
------------------
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.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Wednesday 27th December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 356cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 31 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (18th December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 236cm reported on 20 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.