Niseko Now: Thursday 30th January 2025
- Jan 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 497cm
Posted on Thursday 30th January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have measured a further 7cm of snowfall since my last report. The Avalanche Report report is mentioning 10-20cm of fresh snow on mountain; Hirafu ski area is reporting 10cm across the mountain. (No snowfall numbers from Hanazono as of 8:30am. Added later: 10-15cm)
It sounds like there has been a (mini) reset, so conditions should be fun this morning. There is indeed a big line of people waiting for that first Hirafu gondola!
As I'm putting this report together it has been a mixed bag of weather going on out there. It has been snowing in places, ranging from hardly at all to moderately. But there has increasingly been some blue sky opening up and sun too, and it feels like we are going to be getting more of that.
Forecasts still tell us to expect more snow at least today and tomorrow, which sounds good.
The Hanazono 1 lift is scheduled to resume operations this morning, though the ski area has said that there may be delays 'due to weather conditions or necessary adjustments'. I don't know what the problem was/is... apparently some kind of 'mechanical trouble'. (The lift has not opened as of 8:35am and they actually seem to be in the process of detaching the cabins/chairs).
Last report of January tomorrow. According to my careful calculations, the next day it will be February. Can you believe that?!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -4℃, 10cm new snow, a slightly heavy wind-driven snow slab, good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -7℃, NNW8.6m/s, cornice and snowdrift development, good visibility. Mikaeri 750m: -7.0℃, NNW1.7m/s, 20cm new snow, good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -9.5℃, WNW7.1m/s, cornice and snowdrift development, 20cm new snow, good visibility. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -9.2℃, NNW6.3m/s, 20cm new snow. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNW9m/s, Kamui Cape NW8m/s, 1009hPa, wave 2.1m.
Wind averaged NW 12m/s for 8 hours, formed slightly damp 30cm snow slabs on the leeward side slopes over 800m elevation. From the tests and data, those slabs are starting to stabilise. Mountains are reset, snow in the tree runs is good.
The old surface is hard due to no snow for 10 days, and having the new snow on the layer seems an avalanche is likely to occur. However, the avalanche risk depends on how the snow falls. Today’s snow layer was formed with weak wind and snow and slowly consolidated as it piled up. Slabs break with skier’s stimulation on steep slopes over 1200m elevation. However, the avalanche risk is low on the slopes under 1000 elevation and in the tree runs. Do not ride simultaneously. Do not stay in the gullies. Avalanche is a natural phenomenon, but accidents occur when people are involved. There is no 100% safety in this sport. Beware of the sudden weather change. Finally, it snowed. Have a good day.
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Individual ski area information for Thursday 30th January 2025
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.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 15cm (added later)
Base: 10cm (added later)
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
The Hanazono Number 1 lift is due to resume operations this morning
The gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 10cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 255cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 175cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 135cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 200cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 23rd March 2025
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Thursday 30th January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 497cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 54 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 23cm (16th December) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 148cm reported on 18 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.