Good morning Niseko fans. Still with me? :) Thank you! Just nine more reports to go this season.

The sun is out this morning and it's mostly blue skies with just a bit of cloud here and there. A lovely morning, though perhaps there is some rain coming our way before the end of the day.

It appears that Niseko Annupuri are being a bit coy with updated information the last few days, taking the daily update regarding courses that remain open off the official website. Which seems a little bit naughty if you ask me. (If I'm wrong on that score, please do let me know where the info is folks). Anyway I am going to make sure that is updated for my report tomorrow even if it means me going over there and knocking on the office door.

Whatever, the snow has been rapidly disappearing from the base areas which are now looking rather bare - check the webcam images from Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Annupuri below.

Hirafu still have an 'official snow depth' of over 2m though; things keeping relatively cool has perhaps slowed down melt higher up.

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Golden Week

But what exactly is Golden Week?

It's basically a bunch of national holidays and here is the line-up for this year:

- Saturday 29th April is Showa Day (the birthday of Emperor Showa)
- Wednesday 3rd May is Constitution Day (Kenpo-kinenbi)
- Thursday 4th May is Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi)
- Friday 5th May is Children's Day (Kodomo-no-hi)

That means that from Wednesday next week until the end of the following weekend, there is a run of five days of holidays for many people. Add in the upcoming weekend and that's your 'Golden Week'. Some lucky folk might take next Monday and Tuesday off work as well, giving them a full 9 days. Nice!

As well as the Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Annupuri ski resort areas remaining open until Sunday 7th May, the Niseko Village part of the mountain will also be operating their Niseko Gondola from Saturday. Their Gondola will be operating but their ski courses will not be open - from the top of the Niseko Gondola, after a bit of a walk you can be skiing at the courses that remain open at the Niseko Grand Hirafu area. A lift ticket that is valid at all of the open resorts and ski lifts that are open over Golden Week is available and costs 3,800 yen for adults and 3,100 yen for children.

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Individual resort information: Friday 28th April 2017:

Planned openings. This info subject to change due to snow and weather conditions - any closings due to weather will be mentioned in the main report above.

Niseko Grand Hirafu
Niseko Grand Hirafu plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.
You need to get the Ace Number 2 Center Four quad lift back down to base.

Official snow depth:
Top - 220cm
Base - 0cm

Courses that remain open (checked daily with each report):
Detour for beginners
Shirakaba
Center
Large
Rinkan
Jumbo
Dynamic

Planned operating lifts:
Ace Number 2 Center Four (8:30am until 4:30pm)
King Number 3 (8:40am until 4:30pm)
King Number 4 (8:50am until 4:30pm)
Gondola (8:30am until 4:30pm) ** open only from 29th April until 7th May **

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Niseko Annupuri
Niseko Annupuri plans to be open daily until Sunday 7th May.

Official snow depth:
Top - 170cm
Base - 10cm (really?!)

Courses that remain open (*** note: unconfirmed - this info has not been updated for two days ***):
Champion
Shirakaba
Utopia
Paradise
'S' Ji
Silver
Family
Junior

Planned operating lifts:
Annupuri Gondola
Jumbo Number 1
Jumbo Number 4

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Niseko HANAZONO Resort has closed for the season.