Niseko Now: Thursday 6th December 2018
- Dec 6, 2018
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 124cm
Posted on Thursday 6th December 2018 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I am happy to report that things are starting to feel somewhat better this morning with some exciting stuff just ahead of us - the forecast for the coming week is looking good, starting from tomorrow.
For now, I have another 4cm of snow to report on the ground along with colder conditions with snow on and off possible for the day today. The rather hard base should now make a good foundation for all that fluffiness that should be falling in the coming days.
Unfortunately, as we wait for the fresh snow, the Rinkan Course and Silver Dream Course at Hirafu/HANAZONO were closed from yesterday morning. (That news coming in after I posted my report - one good reason why I usually aim for my report to go live around 8:30am during most of the season).
I was reading some of the other Now reports here on SnowJapan yesterday - it seems that most of Japan is still waiting for snow with other major resort areas still bare. Up here in Hokkaido we have been doing relatively well. I recommend checking out the other reports, once the season gets going anyway.
Things should be quickly changing for the better soon though. Let's hope that this coming weekend doesn't disappoint and that the Japanese mountains will be covered in a nice big fluffy blanket of snow. Those of you who have been reading my reports over the years will know that while I love Niseko (of course), I do not spend any time bad-mouthing other ski regions of Japan. They're not 'rivals' - well, not for me anyway! - and I hope for a fine winter season throughout Japan. One day I'd love to take a season-long trip around other Japanese ski resorts.
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Ski resort operation information: Thursday 6th December 2018
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 85cm
- Base: 30cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Number 3 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
- Ace Number 2 Center Four (for transport to open area)
- Hirafu Gondola (for transport to open area)
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 40cm
- Base: 15cm
- Not updated yet today at time of writing
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
Hirafu & Hanazono Courses open:
- Shirakaba Course
- Center Course
- Beginners Access
- Jumbo Course
- Yotei Sunset
- Parallel Course
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 40cm
- Base: 20cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
- Dream Number 1 quad
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by resort):
- Peak: 50cm
- Base: 25cm
Ski lifts operating:
- Upper Village Gondola
- Community Chair
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Night time operations are planned to begin at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resort areas from Tuesday 11th December.
Niseko Now 2018-2019 season |
Data as of Thursday 6th December 2018 Total snowfall at base so far 124cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 11 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 25cm (23rd November) November 2018 snowfall 84cm reported on 8 days December 2018 snowfall 40cm 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.