Niseko Now: Friday 28th January 2022
- Jan 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 16cm
Snowfall at base this season 664cm
Posted on Friday 28th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's good news this morning too as we venture back into double digits of new snow since the previous day. Yey! Down here near Hirafu base I have just been out and measured 16cm of fresh snow and ski areas are reporting up to 26cm (Hanazono) on the mountain. Sounds like that might be a good reset to me.
Feels pretty cold out but there's not much wind. It has been a cloudy start but there is increasingly some blue sky showing through and cheeky bits of sunshine. Then again, it's snowing lightly over at Hanazono as of 8:25am. Who knows how the morning will pan out. I think an investigation is required. Don't worry, I will do that on your behalf. ;)
Just looking ahead beyond today, we should be being snowed on over the weekend.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, 20cm new snow, light wind. Moiwa 800m: -7℃, N10m/s, 40cm snowdrift in some locations. Annupuri 1150m: -9℃, NW10m/s, 15cm new snow, snowdrift development. Hirafu peak ridge 1250m: -10℃, 15cm new snow to dawn, snowdrift development. Coastal data Benkei Cape: NNW10m/s, Kamui Cape: NW8m/s, 1013hPa, 1.1m waves.
We are in a typical winter weather pattern, high to the west and low to the east. Isobars are wide apart and a light snow wind is on the mountains. There is little significant snowdrift development and the general avalanche risk is low. The mountain is mostly reset above 700m and snow is good in the trees. All gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols instructions and be prepared before exiting the gates. It is strongly recommended you wear a working beacon and helmet. Do not enter strictly off limits areas Haru no Taki and Yu no Sawa. Do not ride under the lift line from Gate 7, this is not allowed for safety. Please respect this rule. Niseko Rules were made to give you the most freedom available. This is a dangerous sport, always be cautious. The good snow continues.
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Planned ski area operations: Friday 28th 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: 370cm (+20cm)
- Base: 175cm (+10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
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: 290cm (+10cm)
- Base: 210cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 26cm
- Base: 15cm
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: 12cm
- Base: 12cm
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 Friday 28th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 664cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 56 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 272cm reported on 27 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.