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Niseko Grand Hirafu Resort Guide
Closed for the season
Best months to book: February, March, January · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Closed for the season — closed May 6
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
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Resort Guide
Niseko Grand Hirafu is located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido and is renowned for its abundant, light powder snow and expansive ski terrain. The resort features a wide variety of runs suitable for all levels, modern lift infrastructure, and direct access to the lively Hirafu village, which offers a range of dining, accommodation, and après-ski options. Signature experiences include night skiing on illuminated slopes and panoramic views of Mount Yotei. Grand Hirafu stands out for its reliable snowfall, international atmosphere, and seamless integration with the larger Niseko United ski area.
Gallery
Click to expand • 4 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Niseko Grand Hirafu
Lifts
12
Skiable area
803 ac
Longest run
5.6 km / 3.5 mi
Runs by difficulty(22 total)
Beginner
10
45% of terrain
Intermediate
6
28% of terrain
Advanced
6
27% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Gondola2
- High-speed quad5
- Triple chair1
- Double chair8
- Single chair1
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Bar Gyu+ – Renowned for its iconic "fridge door" entrance, Bar Gyu+ offers a cozy, speakeasy-style atmosphere with creative cocktails, an extensive whisky selection, and panoramic views of snowy Hirafu, making it a favorite après-ski destination for both locals and visitors.
Season vs Historic
Updated Mon, Sep 21, 09:00 PM UTC
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Season Total
This Season to Date
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vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 317cm full-season avg
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vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 253cm full-season avg
317cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~339.2 cm. That's 7% above the 5-year average (317 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 34% above the 30-year average (253 cm).
Niseko Grand Hirafu Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Niseko Grand Hirafu Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 270cm with an average of 127 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 37% above this average (369cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 28cm | 15 days | 5cm | 16cm | 6cm |
| December | 64cm | 26 days | 34cm | 57cm | 10cm |
| January | 64cm | 27 days | 75cm | 92cm | 11cm |
| February | 51cm | 23 days | 96cm | 108cm | 9cm |
| March | 45cm | 22 days | 99cm | 113cm | 10cm |
| April | 15cm | 10 days | 51cm | 86cm | 5cm |
| May | 1cm | 1 days | 2cm | 18cm | 1cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
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No full season on record
73 days scored, from 22 Feb
48
Best Day
8 Mar
0
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
4
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
February 2026
- 4225 Feb
- 3923 Feb
- 3924 Feb1cm
March 2026
- 488 Mar4cm
- 477 Mar8cm
- 455 Mar6cm
April 2026
- 2912 Apr7cm
- 2713 Apr
- 2514 Apr
May 2026
- 121 May
- 114 May
- 102 May
March scored highest for Niseko Grand Hirafu in 2025-26. Based on 73 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Nov 28, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
January
Peak Powder
February
Peak Powder
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Niseko Grand Hirafu
- Where is Niseko Grand Hirafu?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu is a ski resort in Japan.
- How high is Niseko Grand Hirafu?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu runs from a base elevation of 260 m (853 ft) to a summit of 1,200 m (3,937 ft), giving a vertical drop of 940 m (3,084 ft).
- How big is Niseko Grand Hirafu?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu has 803 acres (325 hectares) of skiable terrain, 22 marked runs and 12 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Niseko Grand Hirafu?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu is on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Niseko Grand Hirafu?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu typically operates from November to May. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Niseko Grand Hirafu get in a typical season?
- Niseko Grand Hirafu averages 551 inches / 1400 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
