Niseko Now: Thursday 27th January 2022
- Jan 27, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 648cm
Posted on Thursday 27th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
This morning the sun is shining through my window just now. There's an increasing amount of blue sky above Hirafu.
I have just a near handful cm of snowfall to report to you again today. I have had some snow to report in each of the last 7 reports, but they have all been single digits. The snow rate has slowed down this last week or so, but hopefully this period will just be a temporary lull and we'll get back to some bigger numbers and regular resets soon. The forecast is looking quite promising in that respect.
All areas and gates should be open.
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For the moment I'm taking out the new snowfall numbers on the Village listing below. They just don't seem to get updated, and are potentially causing more confusion than they should.
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Someone commented on the use of the word 'epic' in a report a few days ago, saying they didn't think I'd use such a word.
I don't! And I didn't. And I won't. It was in the Avalanche Report, which I do not write. I make a point of avoiding words like that. Personally, I just think they sound hype-y and a bit cheesy*; and generally overused in the world of skiing (marketing). Using superlatives sparingly has much more of an impact.
* Don't get me wrong, I love cheese. Cheese and toast go very well together. Mmmmmm.
Anyway, sorry for being a bit silly today.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, 5cm snowfall, no snowdrifts. Moiwa800m: -7℃, W10m/s, cornices and snowdrifts developing. Annupuri1150m: -9℃, W10m/s, moderate westerly wind and snow until pre-dawn and poor visibility. Hirafu peak ridge: -11℃, W10m/s, light snow. Coastal data Benkei cape: NNW9m/s, Kamui cape: W9m/s, 1013hPa, 1.0m waves. Other weather data on seprate website.
The small low-pressure system sitting above northern Shakotan has made some warm air flowing in. A moderate westerly wind is making snowdrifts grow slowly above 800m elevation. Looking at the observations result and weather data, the avalanche risk in common slopes is low. All gates will open in the morning. Please follow the patrollers’ instruction. The snow condition is ever-changing. Avalanche risk is moderately high in wind affected slopes above 1000m elevation due to new formation of slabs. Open steep faces, cornice slopes and knoll terrain found in areas like the Backbowl can be hazardous. Do not stop riding under such slopes. Mountain on the Japan Sea side, where repeated snowfall occurs, have a more frequent layer formation in the snowpack compared to inland/pacific side mountains where it’s colder and sunnier more often. Avalanches slide from a weak layer, however risk evaluation from studying the layers can be very challenging in this area. We certainly hope that pit-checks aren’t just for fashionable posing. Avalanche risk evaluation in Niseko is done by daily snow-cat inspection of snowdrifts formation and stability as well as studying the daily weather and snowfall transition. Stimulations are instantly transmitted through rapidly formed thick snowdrifts. When such conditions are present, it is highly suggested not to stimulate leeward slopes and knoll terrains and deadly surface slab avalanches could occur anytime. This information is issued to prevent accidents of all resort users. Still good snow conditions found today.
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Planned ski area operations: Thursday 27th January 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 350cm (+10cm)
- Base: 165cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (+5cm)
- Base: 205cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm (no change)
- Base: 185cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 3cm
- Base: 3cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Thursday 27th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 648cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 55 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 256cm reported on 26 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.