Niseko Now: Saturday 30th December 2023
- Dec 30, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 363cm
Posted on Saturday 30th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Lovely period of sunshine yesterday. It was so lovely.
Anyway, since that there has been just over 4cm of fresh (and very light) snowfall to report at base this morning. Ski areas aren't reporting any more than that (even in higher elevations).
It is kind of overcast this morning. Tomorrow should bring us perhaps more snow and New Years Day is looking set to be very cold.
The Avalanche Report is saying that the 6 and 11 gates will be opening today. Yey!
I'm going to be getting in all my supplies today to celebrate the New Year in style. With toast, of course.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain Base 6am : -3C, 5cm new snow over last 12hrs, light winds, good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -6.7C, NW7.1m/s (max15m/s@4am). Mikaeri 764m: -6C, W10m/s, snow depth 180cm. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -7.5C, WNW3.7m/s. Hanazono 3 : -4.3C, WNW5.2m/s (max15m/s@4am). Coastal data: Benkei Cape:NNW12m/s. Kamui Cape: WSW9m/s, 1020hPa, wave 1.3m.
Although there is a moderately strong westerly at sea, the mountains are calm and there has been no significant cornice or snowdrift development. The avalanche risk below 1000m is low. However above 1100m on cornice slopes and around knolls the danger persists. Snow depth is still shallow, the bushes below 500m are still thick and the creeks have not filled in yet. The mountain has been reset fairly well, but be careful of hidden undulations and vines hanging out of trees. Gates 6 and 11 will open today, please follow the patrols instructions. There's not much snow, but it's not bad. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 30th December 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing and subject to change.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 205cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 85cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 145cm (-5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 105cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (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: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 155cm
- Base: 105cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Saturday 30th December 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 363cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 34 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 31cm (18th December) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 243cm reported on 23 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.