Niseko: The Season So Far January 19 2011, 4:54pm via japanskiexperience.com

After the slowest start to a season for 20 years Niseko has been playing catch up in style. It has now snowed for 15 days in a row and the ‘no snow show’ of early December has become just a distant memory.

Anyone who has been in Niseko since 2011 arrived and kick started the epic snowfalls has been rewarded with dump after dump of fresh, light powder!

Here are a few photos of the area taken over the last few weeks showing how the snow level has risen and risen in and around the Niseko resorts:

10 Dec 2010. Enough snow has fallen to cover the ski runs

12 Dec 2010. The slow start continues but a decent dump lifts hopes

14 Dec 2010. Lifts re-open although a lot of shrubbery still visible

16 Dec 2010. More fresh snow and areas are slowly filling in

21 Dec 2010. The clouds clear, Mt. Yotei is revealed …

21 Dec 2010. … and the resort of Hirafu looks much healthier

26 Dec 2010. This year santa brought us … a big dump of snow :)

30 Dec 2010. A beautiful bluebird to bring 2010 to a close

06 Jan 2011. Big snow falls and the Japan Ski Experience office is buried

07 Jan 2011. Heavy snow continues and people lose their cars …

08 Jan 2011. Balconies fill with snow quicker than they can be cleared

13 Jan 2011. Moiwa. Grins big as watermelons given away for free

13 Jan 2011. Every building in sight is wearing a big snow hat

14 Jan 2011. Some complain about shovelling snow. Everyone else euphoric

18 Jan 2011. Best runs of the season today

18 Jan 2011. 2 weeks + fresh snow everyday = Epic. Good job Niseko!