Niseko Now: Friday 28th February 2025
- Feb 28, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 706cm
Posted on Friday 28th February 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It is getting on for 11am as I write this. I know, I am naughty.
There has been a dusting of snow, but not enough for me to add any cm to this final report of February 2025.
My total observed snowfall for the month stands at 196cm.
I will put my thoughts together over the weekend and post my monthly update thingy on Monday.
OK so this morning has been bright and sunny with a fair amount of cloud too. Kind of hazy looking over towards Mt Yotei at the moment. And it is rather warm. Japan Meteorological Agency is saying it was 5.5C at 10am at their Kutchan measuring station (away from the mountain).
Top lifts on hold again this morning, I'm afraid, due to pesky WSW winds.
As the Avalanche Report says there is (or was!) some windload snow in the tree runs.
The Hanazono Number 1 lift was moving earlier this morning, but is has stopped and the chairs have been taken off the cable. I do not know what the problem is there. But as you can see from the image below, people are waiting to be taken elsewhere so it doesn't look like it will be opening up again anytime soon. (They really should charge more to use that lift... you know, for maintenance, or something. Perhaps they could also open it for some 'night skiing' - after 'evening skiing' closes - and charge 25,000 yen per person. I'm full of jolly good ideas this morning!).
Sorry, I'll try not to be silly for my monthly review. ;)
Things should be getting colder again from Monday and hopefully we will get fresh snow.
Have yourself a lovely day. My report will be late again tomorrow but I should be back to more normal times next week.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -6℃, no snowfall, clear sky and radiative cooling. Moiwa 800m: -3.5℃, ESE 0.5m/s, 40cm snowdrifts and cornice development from yesterday’s wind, good visibility. Mikaeri 750m: -9℃, WSW2.4m/s, calm, good visibility and slight snowfall. Annupuri 1100m: -5.3℃, WSW6.5m/s, light snowfall and cornices development. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -4.8℃, SSW8.6m/s, no snowfall, good visibility, snowdrifts development in some areas. Coastal data: Benkei cape SSW2m/s, Kamui cape SSW20m/s!!, 1013hPa, 1.4m waves.
Strong SW wind is persisting in high elevation and making cornices grow. There’s no new snowfall, but winddrift slabs of 20-50cm are forming in leeward slopes. Looking at test results and weather data, the avalanche risk is relatively low today. Gates opening is not decided, please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Windload snow, up to 20cm, is covering the tree runs. Pretty good but beware of the firm bottom. It looks like Spring is just around the corner. Unstable slabs are developing in Mt Yotei 1200m SE aspects due to SW wind coming from the looker’s left. Windload snow are made of accumulations of firm crystals, making it dense and heavy. These are structurally very unstable while they accumulate. They can fracture instantaneously and cause a surface slab avalanche. It is highly recommended to not stimulate knolls and steep slopes. Avoid gullies today. Don’t duck ropes to seek fresh tracks in strictly off limits areas. Significant slabs are forming due to temperature rise and sun exposure and are likely to slide. This information is issued for the safety in and around the resorts. Safety is never guaranteed in the mountains, however most accidents can be avoided if everyone is being cautious. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Friday 28th February 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
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: 300cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 232cm (-3cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 0cm
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 350cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (-15cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 240cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 200cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 2cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 270cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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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 28th February 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 706cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 79 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (6th February) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 196cm 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.