Nozawa Onsen Accommodation, Nagano, The Alps Japan
Nestled in the Japan Alps is a magical place steeped in culture and with some terrific skiing and boarding. Nagano was home to the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Get in touch if keen to get knee deep in powder or neck deep in a Hot Spring soon…
Video
Check out our video of our 4 main properties below.
Nozawa Onsen is a very traditional town with beautiful hot springs, friendly locals, and awesome snow. Our Lodge gives you amazing value and we have a range of accommodation to suit any budget.
The Lodge is only 100m to the slopes and short stroll to town
Relaxed and comfortable atmosphere
In the centre of Japan’s main Island Honshu easy access from anywhere
You can fly direct to Tokyo and there is a shuttle bus direct to the Lodge
English and Japanese Speaking Staff to help with all your needs
Unique and beautiful place with breathtaking nature and culture
Nozawa Village is also famous for its hot springs, there are many nearby
Lots of terrain, with Gondolas, high speed quads, and long runs – very few lift lines
Thanks Mark – we were first invited to Nozawa years ago and have been enjoyed the skiing, the village and your hospitality ever since. Thanks for helping us enjoy it so much,
A regular fixture on the top half of Nozawa Onsen, the Birch Tree.
Base up top: 370cm Temp Top; -10 Degrees
Base at bottom: 185cm
New Snow since close: 0cm
It’s a clear full bluebird day outside at the moment. We woke to beautiful sunrise alpenglow on the opposing mountain range that was a treat for the eyes. There is not a cloud in the sky with light winds, an almost perfect spring morning in Nozawa Onsen. The only thing we are missing is some fresh powder.
Today will be a classic spring day of riding. We will see firm and fast conditions, icy in places, until the sun begins to take effect. During the late morning and afternoon slushy conditions will prevail. Excellent visibility will encourage exploration of the resort.
Its worthwhile bringing up your camera for today’s riding adventures. To the west the Sea of Japan will be visible along with the surrounding Japanese Alps. Look for cloud piercing peaks loaded up with a deep winter snow pack. Imagine drawing lines down the steep treeless faces!
It seems as if we have a few more days of spring like conditions ahead of us. We expect this tomorrow and then again on Friday. Friday night may see a dusting of snow up high before another clear day on Saturday. The freezing level is set to take a dramatic drop of over 2000 meters on Sunday and we expect light snow showers off the tail end of this cool front. The forecast is extremely variable at the moment so these predictions are likely to chop and change.
Clouds move over nearby mountains late yesterday evening.
Base up top: 380cm Temp Top; -10 Degrees
Base at bottom: 200cm
New Snow since close: 0cm
We expected light snow overnight and this morning. It looks as if these haven’t shown and we currently have some partly cloudy conditions over Nozawa Onsen.
The riding today will be similar to yesterday with firm and fast surfaces early, grading to slushy by the afternoon. The groomers will be the pick, with the Yamabiko reds being of the best quality. Off piste riding will be quite heavy going today, especially in the afternoon.
Yesterday was a fun and very uncrowded day on the hill. There were still more than a few untracked areas of powder on offer in the morning. During the afternoon these became heavy with warming temperatures. The groomed runs held classic spring snow which became slushy and forgiving during the afternoon Partly cloudy to sunny conditions lasted all day and we were greeted with a spectacular sunset during the evening. A perfect spring day in Nozawa.
Looking at the forecast ahead we are at the beginning of a gradual warming trend and series of clear spring days. It was forecast to get extremely warming during the next couple of days, but luckily the predictions have backed off and we now expect a peak freezing level of around 2000 meters Thursday and Friday. Saturday should see a very brief cool snap lasting only the morning. Sunday should see another more lengthy cool change lasting into Monday. Hopefully we get some more spring powder soon.
We have had a light dusting of snow overnight in Nozawa Onsen; not much, but it’s enough to freshen up the cover.
It’s currently overcast with light winds and we expect clouds to move away some time this morning with a clear bluebird day forecast. Temperatures are set to remain relatively cool with a freezing level at about 600m.
Groomed runs will be silky smooth and fast this morning and are set to remain in excellent condition with light weekday crowds. Through the trees will be mostly tracked out in obvious areas but with a bit of a hunt plenty of powder stashes are still on offer.
Yesterday was another great day. With the fresh snow the whole mountain was in great form and the weekend crowds relished in the conditions. Off piste it was still possible to feel the icy base beneath and there were a few submerged death cookies, which required a good sense of the terrain, but riding was otherwise great.
Looking further ahead at the extended forecast we expect snow showers tomorrow. These will be the last for some time so best to make the most of the conditions. Following that we expect an extended run of clear, warm spring days and cool nights. A gradual warming trend will occur until Saturday, when a brief cool change is looking likely.
It looks like it will be an awesome day in Nozawa Onsen today. We have had a further 15-20cm of fresh fall since last lifts yesterday and combine with yesterday’s persistent moderate to heavy falls it will be certain that there will be some deep powder stashes about the resort today. The weather out the window looks snowy at the moment with light falls continuing, probably lasting the day.
Avalanche risk is still very high so best to avoid steeper off piste areas for the time being.
Yesterday was a good day on the hill, especially the afternoon. During the morning there was some excellent snow on offer, but only up high (with an icy base). Down low was still quite icy as it received limited fresh the night before. Consistent snowfalls became heavy during the afternoon, resulting in drastic improvements across the mountain as fresh snow depth increased. It’s safe to say that the best riding was had during the afternoon.
Winds remained intense but luckily did not result in any lift closures so those who braved the conditions up high were rewarded with relatively un-crowded weekend slopes. Visibility was limited all day.
Looking at the forecast ahead we expect light snow showers continue today adding to the already excellent cover. Following that we should see a clearing trend with a bluebird day expected tomorrow. Tuesday looks like further snow showers are possible, hopefully they produce the goods.
In the long range we should expect clear weather for quite a few days; from Wednesday till Saturday are looking to be clear spring days at this point in time.
Musse hiked for a short distant to score this epic deep line.
Rory skis beneath some menacing looking pillows in Nozawa Onsen.
Base up top: 360cm Temp Top; -11 Degrees
Base at bottom: 190cm
New Snow since close: 15cm
It looks like we have some fresh powder falling in Nozawa Onsen this morning. With a rapid drop in the freezing level overnight the rain has turned to snow delivering 15cm near the summit, much to the delight of skiers and boarders.
We have strong winds about the peak so higher lifts may again be on wind hold. With the rapid freeze and fresh snow, slope stability is very low. Beware of the very high avalanche risk when venturing off piste.
Yesterday was not the best day on the mountain. Conditions were ok in the morning with firm and fast pistes early that quickly softened. Very strong prefrontal winds kept most of the top half on wind hold all day. During the afternoon the expected rainfall commenced and built in intensity after last lifts, becoming heavy. Luckily the solid base has resisted major damage.
With the worst of the weather behind us we can look at the forecast ahead without cringing. Nozawa Onsen is set to experience further light to moderate snow showers today and into tomorrow. Cold temperatures should accompany this snow until at least Tuesday. Monday should see a mostly sunny bluebird conditions.
Spring conditions are set to return around Wednesday with warm days, cold nights and mostly clear skies.
