Niseko Now: Saturday 8th March 2025
- Mar 8, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 3cm
Snowfall at base this season 726cm
Posted on Saturday 8th March 2025 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
As I write this it is now snowing in some places, though the sun is shining through in others (Hanazono).
Oh yes, and we have a few more cm of snowfall. With 10cm being reported by 10cm, a personal investigation is required. I'll do it for you.
'Night skiing' (or, as I call it, 'evening skiing', coz it stops at 7:00pm/7:30pm) is scheduled to continue until Sunday 23rd March. Just over two more weeks.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moutain base: -10℃, 15cm snowfall in 12h, calm and good visibility. Moiwa 800m: -9.3℃, WNW2.1m/s, N15m/s@9-10pm and calming down in the morning, cornices and snowdrifts developing slowly. Mikaeri 750m: -12℃, WSW1.3m/s, snowpack growing, light wind and good visibility. Annupuri 1100m: -12.5℃, W4.1m/s, Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -12.1℃, SSE2.1m/s, light wind and small snowdrifts. Coastal data: Benkei cape S3m/s, Kmaui capeSSW9m/s, 1025hPa, 0.7m waves and decreasing.
The weather at sea and the mountains is calm under a high pressure system. There is a hoar weak layer under the recent snowfall due to the temperature difference between the warm low-pressure snowfall and the cold northerly snowfall that followed. The windload slabs start to stabilize as the wind drops below 10m/s, however 50cm thick slides are to be expected in Kozan no Sawa (Backbowl) and O-sawa (Annupuri bowl) upper area. It is highly recommended to avoid those slopes until the snowpack consolidates and stabilize. Windload slabs are dense and heavy, They can fracture instantaneously and are likely to be a devastating avalanche. Peak gates are scheduled to open. Please ask the ski patrol some advice. Do not traverse steep slopes today. If you trigger a slide, many people underneath you will be caught in it. Do not also stay at the bottom of the valleys. Outside the gate is not the resort. Always be cautious. Beware of glide cracks at the west-ridge and Mikaeri Bowl as the new snow is hiding the cracks. Is your avy beacon switched on? Have a nice day.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 8th March 2025
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 5cm
Base: 3cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 305cm (+3cm change since yesterday)
Base: 215cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 10cm
Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 350cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 130cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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: 230cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 165cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
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 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 0cm (possibly just not updated, but who knows...)
Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 270cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
The Jumbo Number 1 quad lift is scheduled to be open until 7:30pm
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Night skiing
Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Sunday 23rd March 2025
Niseko Now 2024-2025 season |
Data as of Saturday 8th March 2025 Total snowfall at base so far 726cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 85 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (6th February) November 2024 snowfall 38cm reported on 8 days December 2024 snowfall 311cm reported on 28 days January 2025 snowfall 161cm reported on 19 days February 2025 snowfall 196cm reported on 24 days March 2025 snowfall 20cm 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.