Niseko Now: Tuesday 4th February 2025
- Feb 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 530cm
Posted on Tuesday 4th February 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
Just under 4cm of snow for the report today and it is snowing lightly as I am about to post (the sun also seems to be trying to appear).
Not prime Niseko quality snow, I might add, but perhaps this is just the starter - forecasts still look good for colder conditions and consistent snow for the rest of the week.
Hopefully wind will not be too much of an issue. But having said that, unfortunately, it is an issue early this morning. All the top lifts on hold, as well as the gondolas at Village and Annupuri. The two gondolas at Hirafu and the one at Hanazono appear to be opening as planned.
After all the words yesterday, I feel like I've run out of them for today. I will revisit that early bird pass thing sometime, after some more thought and seeing some of the comments sent in.
If you missed that and my monthly recap, you can read them here.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa Mountain base -1℃, 3cm new snow. Moiwa 800m: -3.3℃, ESE8.0m/s, wind increasing from 4am. Mikaeri 750: -7℃, WSW1.3m/s, low pressure snowfall beginning. Annupuri 1100m: -5.1℃, ESE9.5m/s. Hirafu Hanazono: -4.8℃, SSE11.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape S3m/s, Kamui Cape E11m/s, 991hPa, wave 0.7m, Aonae Cape, Okushiri Island SW11m/s, 988hPa
The wind and snow is expected to intensify as a low pressure passes Okushiri Island. There is no significant avalanche risk from morning observations, but if this low pressure snowfall exceeds 30cm, avalanches on 35 deg slopes with unclear fracture surfaces are likely to occur. Be careful as these avalanches can occur at any altitude including forested areas. If the wind gets stronger and the weight of the new slab exceeds the shear stress, the possibility of large surface avalanches will increase dramatically. This type of avalanche is dangerous because a wide area of the snow surface will break instantly and move downhill at high speed. Many accidents have occurred due to this type of avalanche. Snow changes everyday. What was good yesterday is not good today. Accidents are caused by assumptions, overconfidence, and blind trust in knowledge and skills. It is best to avoid valleys, gullies and creeks in bad weather. If there are no people there, no accidents will occur. Gate openings are undecided yet. Do not duck ropes. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Tuesday 4th February 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: 5cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 245cm (-5cm change since Wednesday)
Base: 190cm (no change since Wednesday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
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: 5cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 275cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 115cm (-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: 185cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (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 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 5cm
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 Tuesday 4th February 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 530cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 58 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 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 20cm reported on 3 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.