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,
Base at top: 410 cm
Temp at Top: -8 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 310 cm
New snow since close: 20 cm
Weather: Partly cloudy
The four meter mark has been cracked in Nozawa Onsen. Times have changed since the start of January when we were looking at a very lean season indeed. The base was nudged to 4.05m yesterday afternoon and another 20cm of fresh overnight snowfalls have pushed it up again to 4.10m this morning at Yamabiko. In Nozawa Onsen the peak base depth is usually reached around end of February or start of March so it may climb even higher still. Just one more week of consistent snow and we may be nearing record territory.
Thanks to the conclusion of the Japanese holiday over the weekend the slopes will be noticeable quieter today. Which is just as well as it was one of the busiest weekends of the season! Today we have had some good falls overnight refreshing the surface layer of powder that became chopped yesterday with the crowds. Like the forecast suggested we have some partly cloudy conditions with isolated snow showers filling the voids. Another day of perfect conditions as the winter continues.
Yesterday it snowed for most of the day. At times heavy, the snow constantly refreshed to slopes. However in most areas it was no match for the shear number of people searching for any trace of powder snow and the slopes were quickly tracked out. Those lucky few that were first down were rewarded with almost flawless snow conditions.
Looking ahead and tomorrow is lining up to be very similar to today with isolated snow showers and generally partly cloudy skies. Wednesday also looks similar but with more sun and less frequent snowfalls. Thursday is supposed to be full bluebird and quickly warming with strong sunshine as is Friday. By the weekend another colder period will make itself know with another few days of snowfalls.
A dramatic sunset over Nozawa Onsen as a heavy snow shower sweeps through.
Base at top: 390 cm
Temp at Top: -9 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 295 cm
New snow since close: 25 cm
Weather: Snow
There is nothing better than a last minute forecast upgrade and this is exactly what has happened. Yesterday the forecast was showing for some moderate snow showers Saturday night however an embedded low pressure that built right off the west coast caused a rapid upgrade to the forecasts. As such we now have 25cm on the ground since last lifts yesterday which is great. Now the tricky part of avoiding the substantial weekend crowds. For this I can recommend the mid station area which rarely holds a lift line and offers plenty of mellow stashes through the trees. Later today snowfalls will ease with even possibly some decent visibility.
Yesterday we experienced some great snow conditions but it was extremely crowded thanks to Japan Day. Probably the most crowded since early January. However this almost worked in favour of those willing to put in extra effort to score as it appeared most people eventually gave up with the lines and went home. Snow showers continued off and on and during the afternoon there were some good breaks of clear air. Later in the evening, a spectacular sunset as clouds built above the western ranges peirced through with sun beams.
After today snow showers will continue on and off for the next few days seperate by periods of fine weather. Cold temperatures will remain until around Thursday when a high pressure sweeps over the region creating very sunny skies and warming temperatures. After that another burst of cold air and powder snow for next weekend.
Base at top: 375 cm
Temp at Top: -11 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 280 cm
New snow since close: 15 cm
Weather: Light Snow
Snowfalls have continued overnight refreshing the coverage back again to a clean slate. It sure is a hard life dealing with the monotony of winter in Nozawa Onsen 😉 Again cold temperatures will ensure japow of excellent quality and i’m sure there will be no shortage of wafts of spray displaced from wide bodied powder crafts across the mountain today! Expect the snow showers to persist later but much the same as yesterday there may be a few breaks of clearer weather.
Yesterday we had a mostly snowy morning before a brisk wind blew the isolated snowfalls across with startling regularity. Breaks of clear air lasted no more than half an hour before the next stormy cloud bank rolled in from the Sea of Japan to envelop the mountain once more. Throughout the day another 10cm fell bringing the base back to the equal record for the season at 375cm. The skiing was sensational. Deep wind compacted snow inspired confidence on and off piste. Even the crowds weren’t too bad considering the conditions.
After today passing snow showers are set to continue for the next four days. Although the totals won’t be huge the consistent falls will keep the snow surface fresh as tracked areas are buried nightly. Cold temperatures until Thursday will keep the quality high. Like the last four weeks the next week ahead looks sensational. A warm spike is due Thursday, Friday but rain is not forecast. More snow showers are expected for next weekend.
The moon glows over a dusk landscape in Nozawa Onsen.
Base at top: 370 cm
Temp at Top: -8 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 265 cm
New snow since close: 25 cm
Weather: Snow
Heavy snow has fallen overnight and strong winds have battered the village during the early hours of this morning. Luckily these winds have now eased however snow showers continue at moderate fall rates. Since last lifts yesterday to 8am we recorded 25cm at Yamabiko and 15cm in the village. I’d say another 10cm has fallen since then making for some fine figures. With cold temperatures the skiing and snowboarding will be excellent mountain wide. Another day of deep Japanese powder.
Yesterday we had cloud and occasional very light flurries for much of the day. It was cool, calm and very quiet on the mountain. Obviously many people chose this day for a rest. Untracked areas were few and far between however the snow quality was otherwise decent. On piste was soft and forgiving however the light was at times pretty flat.
Light to moderate snowfalls will continue today and then again tomorrow as we experience continued moisture from a cold NW flow. Then again more light to moderate snowfalls for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Its possible we might experience some breaks of clear weather however the outlook is generally very snowy and cold over this time period. On Wednesday and Thursday the weather is looking to be generally fine.
Base at top: 365 cm
Temp at Top: -7 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 260 cm
New snow since close: 0 cm
Weather: Overcast
Yesterday was one of those days. Sublime powder snow coated the resort creating a blank canvas to carve a personal choice of riding artwork. Through the morning passing clouds teased with periods of snowfalls and occasional blue sky. But by the afternoon it became almost full bluebird with amazing light and snow loaded trees across the mountain. Yamabiko reached its peak snow depth for the season so far during the afternoon at 375cm. I think its a safe assumption that yesterday was one of the better days this season, to say the least.
Today some clouds have rolled in from the south creating a heavy atmosphere around the village. Its also a little warmer than yesterday but much of the mountain is still below freezing so the skiing will be good. Today it’ll be best on the well groomed pistes as most tree areas are tracked out until more snowfalls arrive. We may see some flurries of snow above 800m this afternoon preceding heavy snow overnight tonight where around 30cm or more wouldn’t surprise.
By tomorrow heavy snowfalls will be well and truely set in and will continue for most of Friday before easing back again during the afternoon. Cold temperatures and light to moderate snowfalls are expected to last for the weekend and even well into early next week. We may experience possible breaks of sun on Saturday and then again for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday next week. All in all, a very good five days are ahead of us.
