Niseko snow report for Hirafu, Village, Annupuri and Hanazono: base depth, snow in the last day, a seven-day snowfall forecast, temperature and wind, plus live cameras showing the actual snow surface.
The four Niseko United areas share one mountain, but wind direction and elevation change the surface daily. The table below shows current base depth, snowfall in the past day, the seven-day snowfall total, temperature and wind for each area. Figures refresh hourly, and the cameras underneath show what the light and visibility are actually doing.
Niseko generally runs from late November to early May. It averages around fifteen metres of snowfall a season, and base depth peaks between mid-January and mid-February.
December terrain is limited until the base settles; from March the afternoons warm and the snow gets heavy. Come in January for powder, in March for open runs and clearer skies.
Base depth is measured near the bottom of each area. Upper slopes usually hold more, while wind-scoured ridges hold less.
Snowfall forecasts are 24-hour totals. Around 0°C the same precipitation produces very different amounts of snow, so read the temperature column with it.
On windy days the upper lifts and gondolas hold, and everyone moves into the tree runs.
When is the snow deepest in Niseko? Early to mid-February in most seasons. From mid-January onwards a base over three metres is not unusual.
When is the best chance of powder? January. Temperatures stay low and storms arrive back to back, so fresh snow stays light.
Do the four areas get different snow? Total snowfall is close to identical. Hanazono and the north-facing terrain sit out of the worst wind; Annupuri's southern aspects change first in sunshine.