Niseko Now: Sunday 30th January 2022
- Jan 30, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 24cm
Snowfall at base this season 706cm
Posted on Sunday 30th January 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning everyone and it is a snowy start to this Sunday.
As of 8:30am, there's have 24cm of new snowfall to report from base and it's still coming down. I can imagine there will be that and a fair bit more higher up, with some very fluffy conditions to enjoy. It is also a very cold morning and visibility.
Unfortunately the top lifts and the Annupuri gondola are on hold due to windy conditions.
It's snowing at Hanazono, better visibility at Hirafu and there's some blue sky even over towards Mt Yotei. I should have more snow to report tomorrow though.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -9℃, light winds, 25cm new wind effected snow. Moiwa 800m: -13℃, W15m/s, 40cm new snow, snowdrift development, poor visibility. Annupuri 1150m: -15℃, strong W winds, heavy snowfall, snowdrift development. Hirafu peak ridge 1250m: -17℃, strong winds, heavy snowfall, rapid snowdrift development, poor visibility. Coastal data: Benkei Cape: NNW15m/s. Kamui Cape: W10m/s, 1009hPa, wave 1.9m.
The atmospheric pressure gradient is steep, above 800m there has been major rapid snowdrift development. On SE faces above 900m snowdrifts are yet to stabilise and the avalanche risk is high. Best to stay off >30deg leeward snowdrift slopes today. Expect up to 60cm fracture faces on rider stimulated surface avalanches. Peak gates will be closed. Moiwa Gate 6 undecided. Please follow the patrols instructions. Although winds will ease this afternoon the high avalanche risk will continue throughout the day. From Gate 8 Osawa 1000m, do not go across to Osawa cornice slope. The 1st Japanese snowboard avalanche death occurred under similar conditions to today. Conditions change daily, yesterday's safe slope may not be today. Snow in the trees is good but deep and heavy. Do not wait in avalanche paths at valley bottoms. Have a good day.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 30th 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: 200cm (+10cm)
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: 320cm (+5cm)
- Base: 250cm (+5cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 28cm
- Base: 33cm
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: 30cm
- Base: 30cm
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 Sunday 30th January 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 706cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 58 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 314cm reported on 29 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.