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Niseko Now: Saturday 6th May 2017

  • May 6, 2017
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 3, 2025

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido


New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 686cm

Posted on Saturday 6th May 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here


Good morning on this last Saturday of the ski season here in Niseko.


It's cloudy with a few spots of rain this morning. There's some fog up top too as well as windy conditions.


A bit of resort news:


The top Jumbo Number 4 pair lift at Niseko Annupuri won't be operating today and tomorrow, so it's just the Gondola and Number 3 lift over there with the Utopia course available.


At Niseko Grand Hirafu, the top King Number 4 lift is on hold at the start of the day and the King Number 3 lift is moving at reduced speed - this is due to windy conditions (and apparently limited visibility up top).


All rather limited and not many people about. The season ending tomorrow feels right.


I will be posting my last report of the season tomorrow - please note that it may appear be a bit later than usual.


Clearer skies and maybe sunshine should be back for the morning but if you are planning on being out and about do keep an eye on the wind and official resort info. Would be good if we could have a complete last day with good weather.


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Individual resort information: Saturday 6th May 2017:


Planned resort operations - subject to change.


Niseko Grand Hirafu

Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.

You need to get the Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift or Gondola back down to base.


Official snow depth:

Top - 160cm

Base - 0cm


Courses that remain open:

Detour for beginners

Shirakaba (Spring Park)

Center

Large

Rinkan

Dynamic


Planned operating lifts:

King Number 3 (8:40am until 4:30pm)

King Number 4 (8:50am until 4:30pm)

Ace Number 2 Center Four (8:30am until 4:00pm) * to get up to and back down from open courses *

Gondola (8:30am until 4:00pm) * to get up to and back down from open courses *


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Niseko Annupuri

Niseko Annupuri plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.

You need to get the Gondola back down to base.


Official snow depth:

Top - 130cm

Base - 0cm


Courses that remain open

Utopia


Planned operating lifts:

Annupuri Gondola (8:30am until 4:30pm)

Jumbo Number 3 (8:45am until 4:15pm)


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Niseko Village are operating their Niseko Gondola over the Golden Week period. The Gondola is operating but the ski courses at Niseko Village are not available - you can take the Gondola up and then walk over to the top area of Niseko Grand Hirafu and ski/board in that area.


Niseko HANAZONO Resort has closed for the season.



Niseko Now 2016-2017 season

Data as of Saturday 6th May 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 686cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 85 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 152cm reported on 18 days February 2017 snowfall 160cm reported on 19 days March 2017 snowfall 83cm reported on 12 days April 2017 snowfall 0cm May 2017 snowfall 0cm



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.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



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