Niseko Now: Friday 6th January 2017
- Jan 6, 2017
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 300cm
Posted on Friday 6th January 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
I have just 1cm of fresh snow to report to you from base this morning.
The good news is that it is not as windy this morning and so I expect all four of the resorts to be open as planned from 8:30am. With some lifts and areas not being available yesterday because of the wind halting them, there should be some fresh to be found this morning.
It is a cloud-covered start to the day here and I can't see any of Mt Yotei, other than the very lower parts. Perhaps though we might see a bit of sun at times today?
The next snowfall is due late Monday and I think everyone is hoping it will be the start of a run of snowy days. For the weekend we will very probably be playing in what we got. Temperatures are remaining cold and so conditions should be keeping, but a lot of tracks are being made out there so without regular top-ups, conditions will probably be getting rather tracked out by the time that fresh snow arrives.
The 'Early Morning' service at Niseko Grand Hirafu starts from tomorrow and continues until 29th January. Basically it involves the Ace Number 2 quad lift operating from 8am until 8:20am and the Super, Furiko, Green (part), Alpen and Sen-no-ki courses available. It costs 500 yen - please note that this is not covered by a season pass or a normal lift pass. It's premium!
Annupuri also offers a similar early morning service tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. On those days the Gondola will be operating between 7:20am and 8:20am and the charge is 1000 yen.
(It's a pity that - for this weekend at least - it doesn't look like there'll be any (newly fallen) fresh snow to play in).
With Monday being a national holiday in Japan and of course early January being peak season, I suspect that it is going to be a very busy weekend out there...
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Niseko Avalanche Report:
Niseko base 6am: -6℃, no snowfall. Moiwa800m: -8℃, mild wind, no snowfall, but 60cm snowdrift development. Annupuri1150m: -10℃, 15cm snowfall, NNW5m/s, snowdrifts developing. Hirafu1200m: -8℃, mild wind and light snowfall. Kamui cape lighthouse: WNW4m/s, 1024hPa, 1.8m waves.
The snowdrifts developed yesterday have stabilized and the general avalanche risk is low. Beware of falling cornices. Gate 1, 8 and 10 are scheduled to open today. Snowpack is insufficient and bushes are thick. Be careful not to break your goggles. You won’t be able to come back to the course if you drop the line too far down. Snowboarders better carry snowshoes.
The Niseko Rules are being officially put into practice with the understanding of all related organizations in order to protect the freedom and safety of all guests. It seems some companies are interpreting it as a gray zone of the Japanese Law, neglecting it and trying to run a business in a selfish assumption. The National Park Law authorizes anyone to use the parks. Even if a business has been approved by a local authority to operated in those park areas, they must act in accordance to the law. Monopolizing the use of a public area, running snowmobiles or snowcats outside the leased land and/or oppressing and exclusive attitude to other park users are all against the law in Japan.
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Official resort snow depths as of Friday 6th January 2017:
Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono
Top - 245cm
Base - 80cm
Niseko Village
Top - 140cm
Base - 100cm
Niseko Annupuri
Top - 150cm
Base - 95cm
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Night skiing is planned until Monday 20th March 2017 at the Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village resort areas. There is no nighta in the Hanazono area.
Niseko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Friday 6th January 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 300cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 38 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 36cm (16th December) November 2016 snowfall 110cm reported on 14 days December 2016 snowfall 181cm reported on 22 days January 2017 snowfall 9cm 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.