niseko guest data 2012-13

flake counting 2012-13

The Niseko white season opened on 1 December 2012 with a snowbase of 1.85 metres at the top of Hirafu. Since then there have been more than a few 'typical Niseko days' with fresh snowfalls of 40 cm. The 5 metre snowdepth mark was passed on 19 February. A cumulative total of close to 15 metres has been recorded. 

hokkaido grandhirafu hanazono

hokkaido grandhirafu hanazono from BOOMBOXtv on Vimeo.

flow state

'Flow State,' is the latest production by Warren Miller Entertainment and it includes some action from Niseko last season.  

One of the featured skiers, Tyler Ceccanti, remarked: 

"While most of the globe was in a serious drought last winter, Niseko was constantly shovelling."

A couple of promotional videos follow:

final flake count for 2011-12 season

It was probably the snowiest December in Niseko since the first lifts started turning fifty years ago, with over five metres snowfall recorded.   The biggest daily snowfall was a sixty centimetre deluge reported on 6 January and the cumulative snowfall from December (conservatively estimated) until mid-April is fourteen metres.  The snowdepth at the top of Hirafu peaked at just over four metres.  The lifts stopped turning yesterday at the end of Golden Week.  

niseko guest data

Charts below illustrate the booking patterns for the 2011-12 Niseko white season, based on data from the major commercial accommodation providers released by the Niseko Promotion Board.  The 2010-11 charts have been included for comparison.

snow banks

An illustration of the extraordinary white season Japan has experienced.

The photo is from the Yomiuri Online this week:

"Flanked by snow walls up to 15m high, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route between Toyama and Nagano opened fully today."

season 2011-12 so far

Around 9.3 metres of snow has been recorded since the start of December.  There have been days of waist deep skiing where the powder snow has literally been 'bottomless.'  Current depth at the top of Hirafu is slightly under four metres.

Hokkaido's deep powder deserves respect in return for the pleasure.

On the clear days, you feel like you can see forever, Mt Yotei appears and the Peak is worth the climb; about 500 metres to the top, including about 110 vertical.

the lodge in snow

A couple of pictures of the lodge on one of the clear days in January, showing the work done by kami (nature) ...

 ... and the hard work done by Tobi and Charlie to maintain lodge access. 

new hirafu gondola opens

Includes an excellent demonstration of how to count-down in Japanese / Nihongo.

Credit: http://360niseko.com/

new hirafu gondola cabins arrive

New cabins have arrived for the Hirafu Gondola.  They look beautiful.  Report and pics here at Niseko 360.  Note the new extra large external ski & board slots (plus the snowline creeping down Mt Yotei).

early sliding

If snowlovers ever needed a reminder that the White Season is fast approaching, see this report by the Tokyo Snow Club on the opening of two resorts in Honshu.