Niseko Now: Monday 5th December 2016
- Dec 5, 2016
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 117cm
Posted on Monday 5th December 2016 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Hello from a mild and foggy Niseko. Poor visibility here this morning, down to village level.
There is no new snowfall to report.
It is an obvious thing to say of course, but we are very much in need of fresh snowfall. The courses that are open really need it with the mild weather over the last few days (and of course the courses not yet open also really need it!)
It seems that lower courses that had been open on the Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono side of the mountain are now having to close due to the snow conditions (Setsuzoku, Stairway to Heaven, Crystal Garden, Renraku).
The exciting news is that the forecast is looking very good starting from tonight and then basically through into at least next weekend. Lots of snowfall lined up in the coming week, so we all just hope that it happens like that. Might get stormy at times.
I look forward to bringing you heroic stories of required snow shovelling (something those of us who live here need to do before we can strap the skis or boards on!)
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It is very early season yet but I have already received a 'complaint' from someone new to my reports, apparently over my 'lack of excitement'.
Well, I'm really not here to hype up my reports and give you some kind of distorted dream-like account of what is happening here. I'm here to provide reports on what the weather is doing, how much snow is falling and generally any related news I can.
And I do get very excited - when things call for genuine excitement. I may also have a little light-hearted moan or two if that's what conditions call for.
Bottom line, I love Niseko (and Japan in general) and I just want to share what is happening here with people visiting in an honest way. There's plenty marketing-speak brochures out there if you want to read one of them.
Anyway, I very much hope to be excited a lot this season. I'll try to keep it under control though! ;)
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What is planned to be open today?
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Ace Family Pair
- Ace Number 2 Center Four
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 triple
- Swinging Monkey
- Hanazono 1 quad
- Hanazono 2 quad
- Hanazono 3 quad
Courses planned to be open:
- Beginners access course
- Shirakaba course
- Center course
- Jumbo course
- Parallel course
- Silver Dream
- Yotei Sunset
Niseko Annupuri
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Annupuri Gondola
Courses planned to be operating:
- Utopia
Niseko Village
Lifts planned to be operating:
- Community Chair
- Upper Village Gondola
- Village Express (used as a connection)
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Official resort snow depths as of Monday 5th December 2016:
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Top - 95cm
Base - 35cm
Niseko Village
Top - 30cm
Base - 10cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 55cm
Base - 30cm
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Planned season dates for the four main Niseko United ski resorts:
Niseko Grand Hirafu: until Sunday 7th May 2017
Niseko Annupuri: until Sunday 7th May 2017
Niseko Hanazono: until Sunday 2nd April 2017
Niseko Village: until Sunday 2nd April 2017
Night skiing is planned from Saturday 10th December until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Annupuri, Grand Hirafu and Village resort areas.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Monday 5th December 2016 Total snowfall at base so far 117cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 16 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (25th November) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 7cm 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.