Niseko Now: Monday 31st March 2025
- Mar 31, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 8cm
Snowfall at base this season 782cm
Good morning from Niseko.
A nice surprise making for a fine end to the month with 8cm of snow on the ground and colder conditions.
At higher elevations, Hirafu is reporting 10cm and Hanazono is reporting 12cm of fresh snowfall. Annupuri is saying up to 7cm. (And Village is, of course, going with its usual 0cm).
It is still snowing at higher elevations though struggling down at base areas. I can see a few small patches of blue sky, though it remains mostly cloudy.
But, yes... nice! That takes us up to 76cm for the month, and beating the snowfall number from March last season. Yey! I will post my monthly review thingy tomorrow morning.
Sun is expected tomorrow, along with warming temperatures again.
A big thank you and otsukaresama deshita to the good folks providing the Avalanche Reports, the last one of the season below.
And, remember, this is also the last day for operations at Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu this season.
Anyway, I'm going to go and enjoy this fresh snow!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Mountain base -6℃, 10cm new snow, good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -8.6℃, NW10.3m/s, cornice and snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -10.7℃, WNW11.7m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -10.1℃, SSE4.3m/s, 5cm new snow, good visibility. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW16m/s, Kamui Cape W13m/s, 1024hPa, wave 1.5m.
Cold air has come in and winter has returned. Above 800m, 15-30cm snowdrifts have formed slabs on the lee side of ridges. From data evaluation, there is the possibility of up to 40cm surface avalanches on cornice slopes this morning. If the wind drops, peak gates are expected to open. Please respect the patrol’s judgment. The snow is good, but you will still hit the bottom. The risk of full-depth avalanches continues on the open, steep slopes of Osawa, Kozan no Sawa, Higashi-one, Moiwa Bowl, etc. In particular, cracks are beginning to widen on Kozan no Sawa sidewalls and the West Ridge around 1,100m. Avoid going near them. Always use good judgment off the trails and in the mountains. Although it is not mandatory, carrying a beacon is recommended. Having one will increase the chances of saving your life and the lives of your friends. This is the last avalanche information for this season. There is no safety in this sport. We would like to thank the resort ski resort patrols and snow groomer operators who work hard every day to prevent accidents.
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Individual ski area information for Monday 31st March 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 12cm
Base: 8cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 280cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 178cm (+9cm change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
All 4 lifts are open
Planned closing date:
Sunday 13th April 2025 (extended from original planned closing of 6th April)
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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: 345cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Base: 85cm (no change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
7 lifts operating
Ace Number 3 pair lift and Ace Number 4 pair lift are closed
Planned closing date:
TODAY!
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 210cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 110cm (no change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
6 lifts operating
Morino Chair lift is closed
Planned closing date:
Sunday 6th April 2025
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 7cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 260cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Base: 100cm (no change since yesterday)
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
4 lifts operating
Jumbo Number 2 pair lift and Jumbo Number 3 pair lift are closed
Planned closing date:
Tuesday 6th May 2025
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Current operations (scheduled as per official site; subject to change):
2 lifts operating
Quad lift is closed
Planned closing date:
Sunday 6th April 2025
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Night skiing
Floodlit 'night' skiing finished for the 2024-2025 season on Sunday 23rd March
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Monday 31st March 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 782cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 94 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (6th February) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 196cm reported on 24 days March 2025 snowfall 76cm reported on 15 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.