Niseko Now: Tuesday 9th January 2024
- Jan 9, 2024
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 24cm
Snowfall at base this season 503cm
Posted on Tuesday 9th January 2024 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
As of 8:30am I had measured another 24cm of snowfall on top of what we got on the previous report.
It is still snowing so there will be more to add tomorrow too. (To be clear: my count is up to 8:30am, any after that will be in the next report).
It probably goes without saying but snow conditions are currently, I humbly suggest, fantastic.
Unfortunately, yesterday the top lifts were closed and unfortunately they are this morning too (not counting the 'top' lift at Hanazono). Talking of which...
Someone asked what that tent-like thingy is that you can see on the webcam close to the lifts at Hanazono. (Sorry, HANAZONO). No, it is not a discount bunk-bed type backpacker accommodation. A bit too posh looking for that, right?
It is, in fact, the 'Louis Vuitton Niseko Winter Resort Pop-up Store'. I kid you not. Yet one more fabulous reason to choose Niseko! But don’t go in there expecting to find some toast or onigiri. You’re better off at Seico Mart for those. (Well, the onigiri, anyway).
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 7am: -6℃, 10cm snowfall in 12h, 80cm in 24h, moderate visibility. Moiwa 800m: -10.5℃, WNW1.1m/s, 150cm snowfall in 24h. Mikaeri 764m: -9℃, W2m/s, 250cm snowpack. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -9.9℃, 50cm snowfall in 12h, 100cm in 24h, SSW4.5m./s. Hanazono#3: -9.2℃, ENE3.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei cape WNW11m/s, Kamui cape W19m/s, 1011hPa, 1.2m waves.
50cm in 24h, 100cm in 48h, heavily wind affected dense snow. The last 15cm in 12h is light and not so much affected by the wind. According to observations and weather data, the stabilisation of the new slabs above 800m elevation is delayed and the avalanche risk will remain high during the morning. Caution in O-sawa 1100m cornice slopes, Backbowl sidewalls, Nishi-One (west-ridge) 1000m cornice slope, Mikaeri Bowl, Higashi-One (East ridge) cornice slope. The risk will be high all day in south facing slopes strictly off-limits areas of Haru-no-taki, Yu no sawa. The new snow is deep and dense. It is recommended to carry snowshoes/skins and poles even in the sidecountry. All gates opening is undecided. Please follow the ski patrol’s instructions. Do not duck ropes to enter backcountry areas, stay away from gully bottoms. Beware of collisions in and out of bounds. The snow is really good. Have you switched your beacon on?
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Individual ski area information for Tuesday 9th January 2024
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 and subject to change.
** TOP LIFTS ON HOLD **
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 45cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 300cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 140cm
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (until 7:00pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Holiday Number 1 pair (until 7:00pm)
- 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: 35cm
- Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 240cm (+10cm since yesterday)
- Base: 180cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (until 7:00pm)
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 170cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 150cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (until 7:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 250cm
- Base: 175cm
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Upper Village Gondola (until 7:00pm)
- Village Express (until 7:00pm)
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair (until 7:00pm)
- Morino Chair
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair
- Number 2 pair
- Quad
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Floodlit night skiing is planned daily until Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Night skiing is usually until 7:00pm at Hirafu, Hanazono, Village and until 7:30pm at Annupuri.
Niseko Now 2023-2024 season |
Data as of Tuesday 9th January 2024 Total snowfall at base so far 503cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 42 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 62cm (8th January) November 2023 snowfall 120cm reported on 11 days December 2023 snowfall 247cm reported on 24 days January 2024 snowfall 136cm reported on 7 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.