Niseko Now: Friday 9th January 2026
- Jan 9
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 23cm
Snowfall at base this season 354cm
Our positive January snowfall news continues with a good fresh layer again over the last 24 hours, with more consistently lined up on the forecast for the coming week.
Here's how much snowfall the ski areas are reporting since yesterday morning:
Niseko Hirafu: 35cm
Niseko Hanazono: 25-28cm
Niseko Annupuri: 15cm
Niseko Village: 0cm
(I know I might be being a bit naughty putting the Niseko Village 'non-reporting' there. I won't persist with that much longer as I think the point has been made).
It's interesting to see the Niseko Avalanche Report reporting 40cm of fresh again.
As I have said before, numbers aside, we can all enjoy some lovely snow conditions right now. So... lets.
All lifts are now moving at Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, with the Ace Number 4 pair lift at last joining the party. (Lazy!)
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base 6am: -9℃, light wind, 40cm snowfall. Moiwa 800m: -12.3℃, NW9.1m/s, 40cm new snow, snowdrift development. Annupuri 1100m: -14.7℃, WNW5.6m/s. Village 1000m: -13.3℃, NNW3.9m/s. Hirafu Hanazono 1000m: -13.9℃, N2.7m/s. Hanazono 800m: -11.0℃, NNW4.2m/s. Coastal data: Benkei Cape NW12m/s, Kamui Cape NW14m/s, 1013hPa, 2.2m waves.
Isobar are moving apart and ocean waves are dropping. Winds have dropped at 1000m with snowdrifts developing and stabilizing. Although it’s been heavy snowfall, observations and testing indicate a general low avalanche risk. Gates will be open at limited times. Please follow the patrol’s decisions. Outside of the gates is NOT part of the ski resort. Yesterday, someone lost control and fell into Moiwa Mikaeri creek. The Moiwa Patrol, familiar with the area, rescued the victim alive. We are grateful to all those who cooperated in the rescue. Rescue efforts in low temperatures require immediate action. Skiing off-course in Niseko is not officially permitted. However, under the Niseko Rules, it is possible only with the understanding and common sense of everyone. Don’t overestimate your knowledge or skills. Stay out of the valley bottoms, these are avalanche paths. Avoid stimulating knolls or cornice slopes. Avalanches are natural phenomena. Accidents don’t happen without people. Do you have a beacon? Do you have a probe, shovel, emergency food, and rope? There is no safety in this sport. Have a nice day. The avalanche that occurred the day before yesterday below Hirafu summit is believed to have been caused by heavy accumulations below the ridge due to strong southerly winds. It is unprecedented, and investigations are ongoing.
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 28cm
Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 212cm (+17cm change since yesterday)
Base: 138cm (+13cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
4 of 4 lifts
Gondola until 7:00pm
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Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 35cm
Base: 35cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 270cm (+15cm change since yesterday)
Base: 105cm (+20cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
9 of 9 lifts
Ace Gondola, Ace Family quad, King Gondola and King Holiday pair until 7:00pm
Planned open courses:
Courses not available are Large, Konayuki and Miharashi
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 190cm (+17cm change since yesterday)
Base: 114cm (+22cm change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
7 of 8 lifts (not Country Road)
Upper Village Gondola, Village Express and Banzai Chair until 7:00pm
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 15cm
Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
Peak: 160cm (no change since yesterday)
Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Planned lift operations:
6 of 6 lifts
Jumbo Number 1 quad until 7:30pm
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Planned lift operations:
3 of 3 lifts
Niseko Now2025-2026 season |
Data as of Friday 9th January 2026 Total snowfall at base so far 354cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 39 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 24cm (on 12th December and 2nd January) November 2025 snowfall 29cm reported on 7 days December 2025 snowfall 189cm reported on 23 days January 2026 snowfall 136cm reported on 9 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.