Niseko Now: Saturday 29th January 2022
- Jan 29, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 18cm
Snowfall at base this season 682cm
Posted on Saturday 29th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Enjoyed a few hours out there yesterday in that fun mix of weather conditions we had.
Another respectable amount of fresh light snowfall to report this morning, with more to come over the weekend and into early next week. Interesting to see Hanazono reporting over 40cm of snow. So far I have reported 290cm of snowfall during January 2022. That compares with 387cm last January, so a bit of a difference in the total number. While the numbers might not be as high, there has generally been consistency. Anyway, more on that when I look back at the season so far sometime next week.
It's still snowing now with variable visibility and wind is not a problem. The Holiday (Hirafu) and Jumbo 3 (Annupuri) lifts are up and running too for the weekend.
There are more people around this morning, though hardly what would used to be 'normal' a few years ago, of course. I wonder when we'll be able to get back to those times...
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -7℃, moderate W winds, 20cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -11℃, W10m/s, light snow wind, 30cm new snow, no significant snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -13℃, W10m/s, 40cm new snow. Hirafu peak ridge 1250m: -13℃, W10-12m/s, 40cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW14m/s. Kamui Cape: W12m/s, 1009hPa, wave 1.8m.
We are in a typical winter weather pattern with mild blizzard conditions on the western slopes and cold air flowing in. Over the last 3 days snowfall has mostly been heavy snow up to 40cm in some locations. Snowdrifts are slowly increasing in depth. Snow is expected throughout the day with poor visibility at times. Assessing meteorological and coastal data the general avalanche risk is low. All gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the patrols instructions and be prepared before exiting the gates. Once you exit the gates you are not in the ski resort anymore, be cautious. Avoid stimulating knolls and under cornices. Do not ride SE slopes more than 1 at a time. A fractured surface slab can trigger an avalanche deeper in the snowpack. The snow is deep and good in the trees. Take care not to hit trees or fall in cracks. Do not hang around in the valley bottom. Is your beacon on? Have a good weekend.
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Planned ski area operations: Saturday 29th 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 (no change)
- Base: 190cm (+15cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
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
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- 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: 315cm (+25cm)
- Base: 245cm (+35cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 41cm
- Base: 47cm
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: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
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 3 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 Saturday 29th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 682cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 57 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 290cm reported on 28 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.