Niseko Now: Wednesday 2nd February 2022
- Feb 2, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 19cm
Snowfall at base this season 745cm
Posted on Wednesday 2nd February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
The snow haul since my last report here at base is a pleasing 19cm and with probably more than that in higher areas (indeed Hirafu are reporting 30cm) I imagine the conditions should be really very good this morning. It's cloudy at the moment and actually quite bright in places, with light snow lingering in others. The sun might even say hi.
Consistent snow is likely through into next week.
The gondola at Hanazono is out there on the cables and it's moving but not opening at 8:30am, perhaps just a delay.
(Hanazono official numbers not updated yet at time of report).
Sorry I neglected to take out the 'weekend only' lifts from the report list yesterday. My bad.
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It's the Chinese New Year period now, isn't it. Happy New Year.
It's amazing thinking about it - that period is usually one of the busiest of the season here, and it's a huge event for businesses. It shows just how much things are different right now that I almost didn't know about it...
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -7℃, 10cm of crystal snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -8.9℃, light snow wind WNW 9.9m/s, 30cm snowfall, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -11℃, westerly 4.5m/s, 10m/s gusty wind at times, snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m: -13℃, Westerly light snow wind with 40cm snowfall, light snowdrift development. Coastal data: N9m/s, Kamui cape: NNW9m/s, 1012hPa, 0.8m waves.
Slightly heavy snowfall with slow development of snowdrifts on the east side of the mountain range (Hirafu side) until dawn under a weak winter pressure pattern. Based on the observation and weather data, avalanche risk in the out of bounds slopes below 30 degrees is low. The treeruns under 900m elevation is blanketed with little wind affected light and fast crystal snow. All the peak gates will be open. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. It’s better not to stimulate the south-east facing slopes at the Backbowl side wall (Kozan no sawa) at around 1200m elevation. Large slabs have formed in those slopes and risks of thick and wide avalanches are still present. Avalanches sweep down the valley. Do not stay in the gully bottom. Weather conditions are different below and above 1000m elevation. Be careful. Do not stimulate knolls. Stay away from cornices. Snow in the treeruns remains good. Have you switched your beacon on? Having a beacon may save yours and other’s lives. Low visibility at times. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Wednesday 2nd February 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: 385cm (+25cm)
- Base: 215cm (+15cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 30cm
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: 312cm (-)
- Base: 237cm (-)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: -cm
- Base: -cm
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: 260cm (+10cm)
- Base: 190cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
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
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 280cm
- Base: 200cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Wednesday 2nd February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 745cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 61 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 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 28cm reported on 2 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.