Niseko Now: Monday 6th January 2025
- Jan 6, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 4cm
Snowfall at base this season 409cm
Posted on Monday 6th January 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It may be relatively mild this morning, but it has started snowing again and there are some nice big flakes coming down at the moment. Visibility doesn't seem too limited out there, for the moment anyway.
There might not be that much snowfall forecast over the coming several days, but it will be getting colder than today.
One great thing about Hokkaido in general is how, even when we get some 'mild' spells in mid-season, it usually still keeps pretty cold and we rarely get temperatures rising into positive numbers that melt snow. (There have been times when there have been exceptions, of course).
At the start of the day, some top lifts seem to be on hold. It doesn't seem windy today and I can't find any notices posted by the ski areas, so not sure what is going on there. Might well be a temporary start-of-the-day thing.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 0℃, light snowfall, calm. Moiwa 800m: -3.3℃, SE3.4m/s, light snowfall. Mikaeri 750m: -6℃, SE1.7m/s, 20cm slab development from the south. Annupuri 1100m: -5.1℃, S2.0m/s. Coastal data: Kamui Cape E2m/s, 1015hPa, 0.6m waves.
The isobars in front of the approaching low pressure system are wide, the weather at sea and on the mountains is calm. The base of the mountain is warm, at around 0℃, above 800m temps drop to -4℃. Yesterday's tracks remain but the snow is still good. From tests, the general avalanche risk is low. However, be careful of valleys over 40 degrees, like Mikaeri Sawa, as the snow temperature may rise and the snowpack may fracture at deeper layers. If you get buried at the bottom of one of these valleys, you will not be able to breathe due to chest compression. Cold air continues to flow in from higher levels and frost is forming in the forest. This is good. All gates are scheduled to be opened. Please listen to the opinions of the patrol. Once you go through the gates you are not in the ski resort anymore. The snow is piling up on the roofs and it's time to start clearing them off. Be careful not to fall and get buried, use ropes. Children shouldn't be playing around the house either. Is your beacon on? Be careful of a sudden change in the weather. Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Monday 6th January 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 8cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 230cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Base: 190cm (-5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are scheduled to be operating
The gondola is scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 7cm
Base: 5cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 260cm (-15cm change since yesterday)
Base: 150cm (-20cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 130cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All lifts are operating
The Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair lifts are scheduled to be open until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 180cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 130cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
All scheduled lifts are operating
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 23rd March 2025.
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Monday 6th January 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 409cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 42 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 23cm (16th December) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 60cm 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.