Niseko Now: Thursday 8th December 2022
- Dec 8, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 14cm
Snowfall at base this season 130cm
Posted on Thursday 8th December 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
It's snowing outside (light at times, moderate at times) and gradually building up nicely. I measured 14cm to add to this report, as observed since yesterday morning.
As far as I can tell, lifts and runs open this morning remain the same as yesterday. We have 2 ski lifts open at Hirafu, 4 at Hanazono, 3 at Village, 3 at Annupuri and 2 at Moiwa (14 in total).
Official snow depth numbers published by the ski areas are all now in the range 75cm-95cm, with base numbers coming in at 60cm-75cm.
After today there may be less snow for a few days, though even so, it might still be incoming. As the avalanche report says, there's certainly no need to be impatient. Many areas of Japan are still looking at the skies and waiting for their first proper snowfall of the season, so I think we're doing pretty good up here.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 6am: -4℃, calm and light snowfall, 7cm snow in 12h. Annupuri 1000m: moderate westerly wind, 10cm snowfall. Coastal data: Benkei cape WNW8m/s, Kamui cape W8m/s, 1011hPa, 1.8m waves.
The cold airmass inflow has weakened and snowfall is minimal. The atmospheric pressure gradient is steepening from time to time, making westerly winds momentarily blow strongly above 1000m elevation. The avalanche risk is lowering in leeward slopes of the south and southeast aspects of the mountain.
The snowpack is growing steadily. The light is weak and the slopes’ undulations are difficult to see, please ride carefully. Overspeeding can result in bad injuries.
Bushes and bamboos are still thick outside the groomed runs, better not push too hard seeking fresh snow. The season forecast is looking favorable for a good snow condition throughout the mountain. It’s still beginning of the December and there’s the whole season ahead, don’t waste it by being too impatient.
We might be able to open a few gates by Christmas if the snow keeps falling at the current pace.
Have a great season.
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Individual ski area operations: Thursday 8th December 2022
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.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 85cm (-30cm) (!)
- Base: 60cm (+5cm)
Planned lift operations:
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (8:30am-3:10pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair (8:40am-3:30pm)
Planned courses available:
- Center Course
- Beginners access (part open)
- Kokutai
- Green (part open)
- Alpen (part open)
- Sennoki
- Family (skiable but not serviced by ski lift)
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 95cm (+8cm)
- Base: 75cm (+20cm)
Planned lift operations:
- Hanazono Number 1 (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Number 2 quad (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Number 3 quad (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (8:30am-4:00pm)
Planned courses available:
- Juicy Fruit
- Yotei Sunset
- Mango Salad
- Silver Dream
- Crystal Garden
- Stairway to Heaven
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Niseko Annupuri
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 85cm (+15cm)
- Base: 60cm (-5cm)
Planned lift operations:
- Annupuri Gondola (8:30am-3:15pm)
- Dream Number 1 quad (9:00am-4:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (8:30am-4:00pm)
Planned courses available:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Junior
- Beginner course by the Dream lift
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Niseko Village
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 75cm (no change)
- Base: 60cm (no change)
Planned lift operations:
- Village Express (8:30am-4:00pm)
- Community Chair (8:30am-4:00pm)
- Banzai Chair (8:30am-4:00pm)
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Niseko Moiwa
Planned lift operations:
- Number 1 pair lift (8:30am-3:30pm)
- Number 2 pair lift (8:30am-3:30pm)
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Night skiing:
Floodlit night skiing is planned from Saturday 17th December 2022 until Sunday 19th March 2023.
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Thursday 8th December 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 130cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 13 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (2nd December) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 113cm reported on 8 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.