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Niseko Now: Saturday 4th May 2019

  • May 4, 2019
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 951cm

Posted on Saturday 4th May 2019 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here


Good morning from Niseko.


Fine weather for the day yesterday with mostly blue skies, some white clouds at times. More of the same is due today and indeed tomorrow as well, and temperatures at base may reach 20C.


Not much wind is forecast so lifts should be moving as planned.


Niseko Annupuri couldn't quite keep that lower course open until the end of Golden Week. There's not enough snow left now and so that base course is now closed. Just the Utopia course now remains open and you need to get the Gondola back down to base.


Operations at Hirafu appear to be unchanged.


Have a good Saturday.


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It is currently 'Golden Week' in Japan. This year GW is a 10 day period until the last day of the ski season on Monday 6th May.


What's today?


>> Today is Greenery Day (midori no hi) - it is a day to 'commune with nature and to be thankful for blessings'.


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Ski resort operation information: Saturday 4th May 2019

Planned resort operations - subject to change due to weather conditions


Niseko Grand Hirafu

Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 185cm

- Base: 0cm


Planned ski lift operations:

- Hirafu quad [8:30am - 4:30pm]

- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [8:30am - 4:30pm]

- King Number 3 quad [8:40am - 4:30pm]

- King Number 4 [8:50am - 4:30pm]


Courses that remain open:

- Detour for Beginners

- Shirakaba

- Center

- Large

- Rinkan

- Jumbo

- Dynamic


* All other courses are closed

* You can no longer ride back down to base, take the lift


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Niseko Annupuri

Niseko Annupuri plans to be open until Monday 6th May 2019


Official snow depth (reported by resort):

- Peak: 120cm

- Base: 20cm


Planned ski lift operations:

- Annupuri Gondola [8:30am - 4:30pm]

- Jumbo Number 3 pair [8:45am - 4:15pm]


Courses that remain open:

- Utopia


* You can no longer ride back down to base, take the Gondola

* The Gondola is also open for 'sightseeing' (ie. without skis or boards)


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Niseko Village and Niseko HANAZONO areas are now closed for the 2018-2019 season



Niseko Now 2018-2019 season

Data as of Saturday 4th May 2019 Total snowfall at base so far 951cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 94 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (29th December) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 333cm reported on 26 days January 2019 snowfall 285cm reported on 25 days February 2019 snowfall 198cm reported on 20 days March 2019 snowfall 45cm reported on 12 days April 2019 snowfall 6cm reported on 3 days May 2019 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.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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