Niseko Now: Friday 27th December 2024
- Dec 27, 2024
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 307cm
Posted on Friday 27th December 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I am happy to report improved conditions this morning.
It is noticeably colder this morning and I have also noticed 18cm of snow at my measuring point. One tends to notice these things!
What's more, it is snowing very nicely just at the moment. That means limited visibility, but we need to put up with that at times to receive the precious goods.
I am hoping wind isn't going to be too pesky, though note that the Annupuri gondola is not opening on time. Otherwise, lifts seem to be moving as planned.
Actually, let me update that in real-time... just as I was about to publish this report, all top lifts are now showing as being on standby.
The snow is forecast to continue through tomorrow and perhaps Sunday too.
We should be ending the year with fine conditions. As it should be.
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I noticed an interesting comment on the Yuzawa Now report yesterday about staff shortages at ski areas that is (potentially) preventing some ski lifts from opening:
This subject is still regularly mentioned in local and national media. Apparently, the staff shortage issue of recent years is still real here in Japan. Perhaps even getting more severe?
I remember hearing last year how the hourly pay rate for part-time work, particularly here, had been dramatically increasing to entice people to come. You'd think that would indeed encourage people to come and work here. Perhaps it has. I'm sure there are more than enough foreign types who would be very excite at the prospect of living here over winter and getting to ski often.
And I would guess some Japanese people would value the 'overseas work experience' of working in Niseko! (Ba-dum tish!)
Not being 'in business' myself, my only experience of all this is as a customer. I don't stop for lunch or drinks at the ski areas and obviously don't stay in hotels, etc., so I don't have any personal experience of how busy and understaffed those services might be this season. (Keen to hear any stories if you want to share them).
Sorry, I'm being a bit useless on this particular issue, aren't I?! Perhaps I should stick to talking about toast.
We are now in the last handful of days in 2024 and the run-up to New Year. There are lots of people around, as you might expect. Before we know it, it will be January as we get into the 'peak season' territory, both in terms of number of visitors and, usually, snow. No longer does the 'early season' phrase apply. (* If you look at lift ticket prices, 'early season' finished on 13th December! :)
Here's to continued regular snowfall and very fine conditions throughout the season.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -8℃, 15cm snowfall in 12h, wind-affected snow. Moiwa 800m: -12.4℃, NW9.5m/s (20m/s @ 4am), snowpack is growing and slabs are developing. Mikaeri 750m: -11℃, WNW6.1m/s, slabs developing, 280cm snowpack. Annupuri 1100m: -15.1℃, WNW 10.6m¥s, strong winds developing 100cm slabs and cornices. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -14.6℃, ESE3.8m/s, windload snowpack growing. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW18m/s, Kamui cape W13m/s, 1004, 2.1m waves.
The isobaric line width is narrow but the wave height did not rise as much as expected. 20m/s westerly wind is constantly blowing above 900m elevation, developing wind-affected slabs. No notable fractures have been observed this morning, however the avalanche risk in SE 1000m cornice slopes will rise as the snowfall strengthens and the slabs grow thicker. The snow in the Tree-runs is getting better. Don’t stay put at the gully bottoms, don’t party-run on questionable slopes, don’t traverse under cornices and be flexible with your plans. The westerly wind is cold, beware of frostbites on your left cheek. Wishful thinking can sometimes lead to accidents. Don’t be overconfident and plan according to numerical data. Numbers are facts. The snow is pretty good, but the visibility is bad. Have an awesome day.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 27th December 2024
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.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 15cm
Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 190cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 155cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All four lifts are scheduled to be operating
The gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 20cm
Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 220cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating apart from Ace Number 4 pair
The Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts apart from Country Road are scheduled to be operating
The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are scheduled to be operating
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
All lifts are scheduled to be operating
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 23rd March 2025.
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Friday 27th December 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 307cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 32 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 23cm (16th December) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 269cm reported on 24 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.