Niseko Now: Monday 3rd March 2025
- Mar 3, 2025
- 10 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 708cm
Posted on Monday 3rd March 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Another 'dusting' kind of snowfall this morning and it is (has been) snowing lightly. At 8:30am it has stopped where I am, but is continuing in some areas. It looks quite bright over at Hanazono, as if the sun is trying to appear.
Be sure to check out the Avalanche Report this morning (below) talking about wind affected snow from the wind we got yesterday.
It is noticeably colder this morning and both Annupuri and Village are reporting a temperature of -18C up top!
Visibility is pretty good and things seem very quiet at the start of the day. It feels like a lot of folks left us over the weekend...
By the way, the Ace Gondola is having some kind of work done on it today, so you'll need to get the King Gondola up the mountain.
And now for something completely different.
A look back at the season so far: until the end of February 2025
As always, I start my recap with some important points to keep in mind when reading my data and comments. The snowfall numbers I am introducing in these reports are all the snowfall measurements I observed near the base of Hirafu. The monthly and annual numbers in these reports are comparable because they are coming to you from the same spot and being observed by the same person every day over the last 13 seasons.
'Observed snowfall at base' is not the whole story of how the season is going, and it does not take into account the fact that there is often more snow at higher elevations or snow quality.
With that out of the way, here are the numbers and some thoughts, starting with the observed snowfall numbers for February 2025:
February 2025: 196cm
February 2024: 144cm
February 2023: 289cm
February 2022: 337cm
February 2021: 325cm
February 2020: 143cm
February 2019: 198cm
February 2018: 299cm
February 2017: 160cm
February 2016: 266cm
February 2015: 196cm
February 2014: 178cm
February 2013: 316cm
The average of the above stats for February over the last 13 years is about 234cm.
After that dry period in the second half of January 2025, I was able to report snowfall on 24 days in February 2025. It was good to see that we got more snowfall in February than in January, and it was consistent, if not spectacular.
I recorded the most snowfall in the reports on 6th -7th February (24cm and 18cm) and 19th February (23cm). On 6th February, Hirafu ski area reported up to 60cm of snowfall in upper areas, the season's biggest snowfall. On the same day, Annupuri was reporting 30-40cm at peak. They were some good days indeed.
The snowfall observed on the other days was largely modest.
People (including myself) have got to enjoy some very fine and fun conditions. As a whole, though, I have been struggling to justify committing more exciting words to this report than plain vanilla ones, if you see what I mean. Remember, this is me comparing Niseko directly with Niseko, not with another destination in Japan or overseas. My benchmark is here, so admittedly it is a pretty high one!
Here are the total snowfall numbers for the season so far:
2024/2025 season up to the end of February 2025: 706cm
2023/2024 season up to end of February 2023: 809cm
2022/2023 season up to end of February 2022: 974cm
2021/2022 season up to end of February 2021: 1054cm
2020/2021 season up to end of February 2020: 1122cm
2019/2020 season up to end of February 2019: 659cm
2018/2019 season up to end of February 2018: 900cm
2017/2018 season up to end of February 2017: 1198cm
2016/2017 season up to end of February 2016: 603cm
2015/2016 season up to end of February 2015: 874cm
2014/2015 season up to end of February 2014: 1002cm
2013/2014 season up to end of February 2013: 1037cm
2012/2013 season up to end of February 2012: 1295cm
The average of the above stats for the season so far until the end of February over the last 13 years is about 941cm, so this season, we are running over 2m below that.
We're not in 'classic season' territory here.
I think the numbers (and associated reports) speak for themselves, and I can't think of much more to add to what I already have written. If you missed the snowfall discussions in February, you can find them here:
20th February 2025
21st February 2025
22nd February 2025
Looking back at previous seasons, here is how much of the total snowfall we had received by the end of February. This might give us an idea of what to expect for the rest of the season:
By the end of February 2024, as a % of the season total: about 92%
By the end of February 2023, as a % of the season total: about 97%
By the end of February 2022, as a % of the season total: about 93%
By the end of February 2021, as a % of the season total: about 93%
By the end of February 2020, as a % of the season total: about 91%
By the end of February 2019, as a % of the season total: about 95%
By the end of February 2018, as a % of the season total: about 95%
By the end of February 2017, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2016, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2015, as a % of the season total: about 88%
By the end of February 2014, as a % of the season total: about 89%
By the end of February 2013, as a % of the season total: about 87%
Usually, by the time March begins, we have received over 90% of the snowfall we can expect for the whole season. I recall I mentioned this last year, but it is interesting to see that the percentage was below 90% (and the actual numbers larger) before 2018 than since then.
What can we realistically expect from March? Here's how much snowfall I have recorded during previous seasons:
March 2024: 70cm (879cm)
March 2023: 32cm (1006cm)
March 2022: 81cm (1135cm)
March 2021: 79cm (1201cm)
March 2020: 59cm (718cm)
March 2019: 45cm (945cm)
March 2018: 49cm (1247cm)
March 2017: 83cm (686cm)
March 2016: 109cm (983cm)
March 2015: 139cm (1141cm)
March 2014: 113cm (1150cm)
March 2013: 164cm (1459cm)
(The numbers in brackets show the total observed snowfall in each season until the end of March.)
The average of those numbers is about 85cm, but we haven't had that much in March since 2016. Since 2017, the average in March has been 62cm.
So that's where we are at the beginning of March.
This last weekend has been very mild throughout Japan, but we are hoping for a return to winter weather - colder temperatures and snowfall - this week.
March can deliver surprises, so a fine and snowy March would be most welcome!
I usually quite enjoy the season from March onwards. There may well be less powder, but there are way fewer people around, too. That gives the place a way more laid-back feel after all the bustle of mid-winter. In some ways, it takes me back to when I first came here, which is probably another reason I like it.
As always, all the data I have discussed here is available to you at any time on the Snowfall Analysis and Seasonal archive pages of this report. See the tabs at the top of the report.
There's over two months to go. I plan to be here with you daily until the scheduled last day of the season on 6th May.
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At times, some people have asked questions about yours truly and why I remain anonymous.
I prefer to remain anonymous and actively try to keep it so. Not even my friends know I am 'the Niseko Now reporter'. Sometimes, I even plant a few red herrings here and there to put people off the scent. (Or... do I?!?)
There are various reasons for this preference.
One major reason is that if everyone knew I was posting these reports, many would treat me differently.
I like being able to talk with people, whether they be locals or visitors, without them knowing my, er, secret identity. (I can only hope my special mask and flowing cape don't give it away).
I realise I might be missing out on some complimentary toast and beer, and perhaps even some brown envelopes stuffed full of used cash, but I'm willing to sacrifice those things.
Some people would almost certainly moan at me for (how I see it) just being honest. There are people out there who would prefer I treat these reports as a promotional tool for selling Niseko to the world. Clearly, that is not what these reports are about.
I chuckle (while sighing) when some people suggest I should be 'more positive' about Niseko.
Was I 'being positive' in the 2017-2018 season when I reported 1260cm of snowfall?
Was I 'being negative' in the 2016-2017 season when I reported 686cm of snowfall?
No, in both cases. That's just what was happening in those years.
It has nothing to do with being 'positive' or 'negative'; that thought really does not enter my mind when I write my reports.
I can only think such people must mean that they think I should be proactive about promoting Niseko. Even if that meant exaggerating, avoiding mentioning less desirable conditions, making stuff up, or not commenting on sensitive things like extremely expensive ski lift tickets that expire after 29 minutes and plain silly things like posh bags for bottles of expensive whisky.
It does make me sad to feel that in these times, just being honest and hype-free seems like some curious old-fashioned oddity rather than the expected and accepted norm. How did we get to that?
Oh yes. The other major reason is that I am shy. I do not like being the focus of attention and enjoy my privacy. The thought of being well-known is not at all appealing to me. And the thought of having my image in public (for example, like those social media ‘influencers’ gurning for thumbnails) truly horrifies me!
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Mountain base -9℃, 10cm wind affected snow. Moiwa 800m: -12.8℃, NNW9.9m/s(max15m/s), snowdrift and 30cm cornice development. Mikaeri 750m: -11℃, N2.7m/s, 30cm snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -15.1℃, NNW4.2m/s(20m/s @ 6pm), snowdrift development. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -13.8℃, NNE8.5m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NNE15m/s, Kamui Cape NNW10m/s, 1021hPa, wave 2.2m and rising.
A high pressure system to the west and a low to the east is bringing a strong flow of cold air into the area, weak wind and snow continues above 700m. Wind-driven snow slabs are accumulating on yesterday's hard snow surface and at sea, waves are rising. The avalanche risk will increase throughout the day as snow accumulates on the leeward sides of ridges and knolls. Avalanches do not occur only because the new snow piles up on frozen snow. The avalanche risk depends on how the snow falls, as well as the amount and weight of the snow. If the wind is strong, the amount of snow that accumulates is large and heavy. Rapid development of snowdrifts (wind-driven snow slabs) can cause surface avalanches as the weight of the slab itself exceeds its own internal strength. It should be common knowledge that avalanches are more likely to occur during or immediately after a strong snowstorm. Gate openings are yet to be decided. Please follow the patrols instructions. Do not duck ropes looking for new snow. One foolish set of tracks leads to others to follow, and eventually an accident occurs. This is a ski resort and users must follow the rules. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Monday 3rd 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: 0cm
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 290cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 210cm (-6cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: ?cm
Base: ?cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: ?cm (? change since yesterday)
Base: ?cm (? change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 230cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 190cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 3cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 270cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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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 Monday 3rd March 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 708cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 81 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 2cm 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.