Niseko Now: Friday 29th April 2022
- Apr 29, 2022
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 1137cm
Posted on Friday 29th April 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko. It's Friday but it's a national holiday and the first day of Golden Week.
This is how the national holidays line up over the coming days:
29th April is Showa Day
3rd May is Constitution Memorial Day
4th May is Greenery Day
5th May is Children's Day
This morning it is kind of fine, but not in that lovely blue sky kind of fine. Lighter blue with thin cloud is perhaps the best explanation? Hirafu and Annupuri should be opening as planned.
Sunshine is due tomorrow but there's some more rain due at times the few days after. Not perfect Golden Week weather, for sure. Fingers crossed it ends up being better than the forecast.
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While enjoying my toast this morning at 7:30am I caught an NHK piece about Niseko.
It was less than 30 minutes long, but ended up being a rather thoughtful look at Niseko. About the beauty of nature and our snow and why Niseko has become so popular. About how the area has changed over recent years, especially with the 'inbound' thing starting up. About how things are really quiet at the moment right now due to you-know-what, but investment and development still continues. About how local Japanese owners of accommodations and businesses have gradually disappeared (to be replaced by big-money companies). About how some people question what everything means, both in personal terms and the bigger picture. Is it all just about money?
I didn't think it wasn't downbeat. More... thoughtful. I found myself nodding and agreeing with various points being made.
I definitely know the kind of lifestyle I choose.
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Planned ski area operations: Friday 29th April 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: 235cm (-5cm)
- Base: 10cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
Courses still open:
- Detour for Beginners
- Shirakaba
- Center
- Large
- Boyo
- Holiday
- Rinkan
- Jumbo
- Dynamic
Planned season:
- Open from 8:30am until 4:30pm
- Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm (no change)
- Base: 25cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
Courses:
- All are still available apart from the following:
- Dynamic
- Marchen
- Challenge
- Fukayuki Rinkan
Planned season:
- Open from 9:00am until 4:00pm
- Niseko Annupuri plans to be open until Thursday 5th May
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort, Niseko Village Ski Resort and Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort are now closed.
Night skiing has finished for the season in Niseko.
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Friday 29th April 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 1137cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 99 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December and 22nd February) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 337cm reported on 25 days March 2022 snowfall 81cm reported on 14 days April 2022 snowfall 2cm reported on 1 day |
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.