Niseko Now: Sunday 3rd May 2026
- May 3
- 3 min read
Updated: May 6
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 878cm
Good morning from Niseko.
Lifts are operating this morning, with the three at Hirafu and two at Annupuri scheduled to be open.
I haven't been out there skiing for a little while now, so I cannot tell you how conditions are on the open ski remains. But I think it's safe to say that we can expect them to be limited and... of limited appeal. I'm still intrigued that the ski areas are reporting a snow depth of 165cm and 180cm as of today. Annupuri was on 130cm on this day last year and 100cm the year before. Both are intent being remaining open until the planned closing date of Wednesday 6th May.
A bit further afield, but today is going to be the last day of the season at Kiroro Snow World to the north in Akaigawa. (Kiroro also planned on being open until 6th May).
Yesterday I was looking back at some of my reports from this season and I noticed in one recent report I started with... 'Good morning from Hakuba'.
!!
I don't know what was going through my mind when I wrote that one! Perhaps I had just been reading the Hakuba report or something. Anyway, I'm really surprised that no-one mentioned it. Even in this very late section of the season, perhaps unbelievably, quite a lot of people are reading these things every day. I think some of you enjoy watching me struggle to write stuff in these last few weeks. Perhaps you thought it was one of my silly jokes! (It wasn't. Sorry for that oddity).
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 165cm
Base: 0cm
Lifts planned to operate (subject to weather):
Ace Gondola
King Number 3 six
King Number 4 single
Planned last day of the season:
Wednesday 6th May
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 180cm
Base: 0cm
Lifts planned to operate (subject to weather):
Annupuri Gondola
Jumbo Number 1 quad
Planned last day of the season:
Wednesday 6th May
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Asahigaoka ski area (near Kutchan Station) closed on 8th March.
Niseko Moiwa closed on 5th April.
Niseko Village and Niseko Hanazono closed on 12th April.
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Sunday 3rd May 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 878cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 92 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (on 12th January) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 189cm reported on 23 days January 2026 snowfall 451cm reported on 28 days February 2026 snowfall 154cm reported on 19 days March 2026 snowfall 50cm reported on 13 days April 2026 snowfall 5cm reported on 2 days May 2026 snowfall 0cm |
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.