first snow
Powder season starts before lifts open
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
First snow at village level for 09/10
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
First snow settles on Mt Yotei
MT Yotei received its first dusting of snow for the season yesterday, heightening excitement among powder lovers and reminding us that the season is just around the corner.
After a summer that had above average rainfall, hopes are high that this winter will see big snowfalls.
The first snow on Yotei comes
Japan gets its 'hatsuyuki' - first snow!
THE first snow has fallen in Japan in the lead up to winter 2009/10, on the 1984m peak of Mt Kurodake,the Kyodo News Agency has reported.
Last year's first snow fall was on Mt Asahidake - Hokkaido's highest peak - on September 24 so
Another early dump buries village
THE forecast said light snow at village level, but no one expected the 5-10cm that piled up all over the village overnight.
By late last night there was already a thick, albeit wet layer of fresh snow on cars, and roads were completely
First village snow with powder up high
NISEKO'S ski season is unofficially open after significant snowfalls overnight left up to half a metre of powder up high, with locals hiking up for first runs.
It unexpectedly started snowing at village level across Niseko at about
Niseko shivers under first blanket of snow
AFTER a couple of false starts, the snow looks to have arrived for good this season with falls almost to village level overnight.
Skiers and boarders were excited to see the cleared main upper runs of all the Niseko resorts unexpectedly
Snow melts as autumn colours warm up
THE early, unexpected snowfall on Mt Yotei two weeks ago triggered a dramatic change in the seasons in Niseko, which is now enjoying the full spectrum of Autumn colours.
The four to eight weeks of Autumn are one of the most spectacular
Niseko gets early snow
NISEKO residents woke today to the first sight of snow for the season - an overnight dusting on the peak of Mt Yotei.
In keeping with Japan's distinct seasonal changes the 'hatsu yuki' (first snow) came one day after the autumnal equinox
