THE most sustained snowfalls to hit Niseko in years have relentlessly belted the Hokkaido ski town with close to 3m of accumulated powder in the past  ...

5th Of December Lifts Opening

Hanazono Quad Lift #3 Swinging Monkey Hirafu Gondola King Hooded Triple Lift #3

Lift Operate Hours Ace Quad Lift#2　　　    8：30〜15：20　　down lift 　〜16：00 Ace Pair Lift#3　　　　   8：40〜15：30 Hirafu Gondola　　　　   8：30〜15：20　　down lift 　〜16：00 Swinging Monkey　　　 8：40〜15：10 Hanazono Hooded Quad lift#3　　　　 9：00〜15：30 Courses Open

Center Shirakaba Jumbo – Expert only – Narrow with hazards such as sasa grass (bamboo) etc Yotei Sunset – Expert only – Narrow with hazards such as sasa grass (bamboo) etc Parallel – Expert only – Narrow with hazards such as sasa grass (bamboo) etc

Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.Opening Lift Updates

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We have had a few messages on Twitter (twitter.com/Nisekowebzine)  in the last few weeks from people wanting to know what Niseko is like in Spring. Well as I was wasting time on YouTube today I found this video from April 2009 of some locals out enjoying some sun and snow. As you can see there is still a base to have a slide on but what most don’t know is the parks are much bigger, they build them up for the Freestyle Camp that is held every year.

Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.Niseko In Spring

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Well last night delivered the biggest snowfall of the week! A massive 3 cms in the village and 6-10 up top if lucky. The outlook is nothing special at the moment, expected to be fine tomorrow, Friday the 4th, possibility of light snow late  Saturday afternoon and continuing till late March 2010!
Start with the snow sacrifices, do what you have to do to make it snow! The hill needs a few big snow falls in the next two week to be ready for the arrival of guests in mid to late December. Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.Niseko Snow Report 3rd of December

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It was a massive opening weekend on and off the hill. To get the season officially underway the super crew at Wild Bills kicked it off with their opening, crazy as always! The 2000yen nomihodi (all you can drink) filled the bar with a mix of locals and new and old seasonal staff. As with all the Wild Bills parties the place was packed and Brett was laying inexperienced campers out with his killer drink mixing abilities. When most of the town woke up on Saturday (some are still recovering) the on hill part of the season was underway with one epic opener. Grand Hirafu hit the switches at 8.30am with hundreds of skiers and boarders turning out to work off the summer cobwebs. Up top there is a base of around 1 meter and that was plenty to have some fun with, check out some pics. Originally uploaded to Flickr by simon ramsay

Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.Opening Weekend 2009/10

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The super efficient Niseko powder provided a fantastic open day for this years season kick off. Niseko properties have been blanketed the past week with around two feet of powder - topped off with sunshine and Yen2000 lifts tickets, many a local were grinning ear to ear. Niseko accommodation in peak season is looking very close to full in many parts of the village. This season looks set to be a blinder with at least three new bars opening in the top village, two new apartment complexes and a host of new guest services.

HEAVY snowfalls the past couple of days primed Niseko's powdery slopes for the much-anticipated season opening today.As promised, the Grand Hirafu lif...

IT’S official. Tomorrow it will be game on for the 09-10 season! At 8.30am tomorrow, the highly anticipated switching on of the lifts will ...

Monday and Tuesday has seen some pretty consistent snow falls, with a solid 25cm + in the village and a reported 60cms up on the mountain! With temps forecast to rise, it is likely the snow in the village will melt over the next few days. If you are in town watch out for black ice, this time of year can be pretty sketchy. Some die hard Niseko locals have already started hiking the mountain to get some turns and photos. Local Niseko photographer, Glen Clayton and Jess Ripper have already made the pilgrimage to the top of the Alpen Quad (center 4). They also discovered several other Japanese riders looking for turns. Take a look at some of the photos from the Glen and Jess epic adventure – http://bit.ly/1Jq4rT Other locals that have documented their first rides of the winter include Derek who posted a short video on the Niseko Promotion Board blog, check out the video below.

With the fall of snow has also seen a massive surge in locals to Homac and Foot Park for winter footwear. If you are working the season or visiting for a few weeks, go get some winter Gumboots to help avoid falling over while walking around the streets and keeping your socks and toes super warm! It will be the best decision you will make! Enjoy the winter everyone Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine.First Snow Report Of 09/10

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TWO days and nights of heavy snow have instantly plunged Niseko in to winter, and pumped locals have already hiked up to score the first waist-deep tracks of the season.   The first snow of the season at village level fell on Saturday afternoon, with a centimeter or two settling before melting back on Sunday.   Overnight Sunday temperatures plummeted well below zero, the heavens opened and by Monday morning Niseko was covered in its first solid blanket of snow with big dry flakes still coming down hard.  

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WHILE snow dusted the top of the 1500m+ peaks around Niseko almost a month ago, the first snow fell at village level (250m) this afternoon.

Just after 1pm, reports came in to Powderlife of the first sight of falling snow for the season in Kutchan and at Annupuri.

Light snow fell across Niseko throughout the afternoon, with about a centimetre or more settling by nightfall and remaining throughout the night.

It's forecast to rain tonight before cooling down again and snowing more over the next few days.

Well it is that time of year and Niseko Village (Higashiyama) have ended their lift service for the winter. If you didn’t get over to the new Niseko Village on your last trip you really should check it out next time. Luke and his staff have done a fantastic job of sprucing up the place with a super cool vibe for everyone. If you are dropping in during the summer bring your golf clubs and experience Niseko’s finest golf courses and a heap of other summer activities Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Village Shut Their Doors

The warm weather yesterday (around 16-20 deg) has really melted a lot of snow on the lower half of the mountain with some bear patches appearing. The mountain is still allowing you to rid down to the base, but it will be short lived if the warm weather returing towards the end of the week. Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Reoprt - 14th April 2009

For those of you that don’t know, Hirafu normally build a descent park to enjoy that last snow of the season and work on perfecting those last moves before  make your way to New Zealand or Australia. This year is no different, it is now open on skiers right of Ace #3. Make sure you have your peeps ready wih the cameras! Hanazono have shut down operations for the season, but if you fancy a hike you can still get some spring pipe riding in, Niseko Village (Higashiyama) have also closed up until Golden Week. Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Report - 5th April 2009

Niseko really turned it on this month with some big dumps and sunny days, it has without doubt been the best part of the season! More snow fell yesterday with almost 10cm being recorded. At village level it was pretty wet snow for Niseko but you have to take what you can get at this time of year! Tonight is the last chance  to enjoy a night ski until next season, always the sades day of the season for us night rider fans! If you need to get into K-Town after working on your goggle tan from tonight you will have to find another form of transport as the free Kutchan night go bus will no longer be trucking! Time to give the thumb a workout! What will the rest of the season deliver? Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Report - March Round Up

Spring in Niseko is turning out to be all time, some would say it has been better then the middle of winter! With more snow falling last night we woke to an almost bluebird day. With a crowdless mountain it was not hard to get fresh pow all day. That will change tomorrow! With the begining of Japanese school holidays and more snow expected tonight it is expected to be a busy weekend, for this time of year anyway! Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Report - 27th March 2009

The extra snow that we had all been expecting missed us over night. 
Overnight the resort did get a small dusting up top so that is where you will find the best snow conditions. From the peak the southerly and western faces will be a little crusty form the sun, so your best chance for pow is rocking the northerly face. Be prepared for a long traverse/hike out from Jacksons and make sure you take your avi gear and a buddy for safety and to snap some phat pics! Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Reoprt - 26th March 2009

What is going on? With another 15 or so cms over night today was a fantastic spring day. A great day to get up the peak or into the back country for those last pow turns, make sure you take your avi gear! With the weather pattern looking pretty good for the next few days you should make the most of the conditions. Your Checking A Post From Niseko Webzine. Niseko Snow Report - 25th March 2009