Niseko Now: Friday 6th January 2023
- Jan 6, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 442cm
Posted on Friday 6th January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
It doesn't feel quite as cold this morning, but it's still cold.
When I first got up much earlier this morning it wasn't snowing. Since then, though, we have had a few cm of snow and it is still snowing at 8:15am. And quite heavily too. While there's not much of it forecast for today and over the weekend, that sometimes doesn't stop the weather above our mountain! Perhaps we might get to enjoy some clearer weather today? Let's see.
Anyway, today is a big day with various side country gates set to open for the first time. Have fun, but always remember to take care out there.
Weather permitting, Niseko Annupuri will be doing the First Run thingy tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. This is where the Annupuri Gondola is open from 7:20am until 8:20am. The service costs 1,500 yen per person. (Unfortunately, it was cancelled over New Year due to weather conditions).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -5C, no new snow, calm. Moiwa 800m: -7.6C, W7.1m/s, trace new snow, snowdrift development to dawn. Annupur1100m: -10.9C, WNW6.3m/s,snowdrift development. Mizuno no Sawa top: -9.4C, NNW4.3m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -10.8℃, ESE0.3, no new snow, good visibility. Coastal data: Benkei cape NNW11m/s, Kamui cape WNW5m/s, 1018hPa,1.7m waves.
Annupuri Gate No2, Hirafu Peak Gate No3 and Fujiwara Gate No1 will open this morning. Gate No1 a little while after 2 and 3. Gates 5 & 8 opening will be decided by patrol. Poor snow coverage above 1000m this winter has caused a delays in preparations to get tops lifts running which in turn delayed opening the peak gates. Snow below 700m is a lot different to snow above 900m. The avalanche risk below 900m is dropping however the risk on cornice slopes, knolls and steep open slopes above 1000m has not decreased. Do not carelessly traverse under cornices. This can simulate deeply into the snowpack causing large avalanches. Avalanches follow the valley bottoms. Don't ever wait in the bottom of valleys. Please listen to the patrols instructions at the gates. Do not duck ropes. Beacons are not compulsory, but they can save your life. Carrying probes and shovels are also strongly recommended. Dont blindly follow unknown tracks. There is no bus service back from Goshiki Onsen, check your route before descending N and NW slopes from the peak. Do not enter strictly off limits areas Haru no Taki or Yu no Sawa to avoid crowds. Even if you survive, you will be banned from the ski resort. Have a good day.
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Ski area information for Friday 6th January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 12cm
- Base: 12cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 285cm (-15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 110cm (-10cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Ace Number 4 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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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: 225cm (-10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (-8cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 150cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 125cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* normally open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 135cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 125cm (no change yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Friday 6th January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 442cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 38 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 89cm reported on 6 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.