Lubo explores the village

Base up top: 210 cm Temp Top; -7 Degrees
Base at bottom; 150 cm
New Snow since close: 25 cm
Weather; Light snow
Heavily overcast conditions have engulfed Nozawa Onsen this morning and we have some light snow falling across the mountain. Unfortunately high winds are forecast so fingers crossed the resort is able to open the upper lifted areas. As usual, this system looks to be slightly delayed in comparison to forecast timings, expect snowfall intensity to build steadily throughout the day. Best riding today again will be Yamabiko, provided wind intensity is below the safety margin for lift operation.

Yesterday we saw strong prefrontal winds aloft which kept the Nagasaka Gondola closed all day. With only the Nagasaka Quad open, most people took to clearing snow in preparation for the upcoming dump, or checking out the sights of the village, a hive of midwinter activity. The local cooking onsen is a popular and fascinating sight as is exploring the shrines and temples towards the northern corner of the village. As usual, a trip to one of the thirteen free onsens is highly recommended to warm cold snowy frothers.

Heavy snow should continue tomorrow before receding into tomorrow. Friday should be absolutely pumping with deep powder, light winds and bluebird conditions. Fine conditions are expected up until sunday, when more snow is expected.

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When things are just out of reach for good reasons.

Base up top: 190 cm    Temp Top;  -4 Degrees

Base at bottom; 140 cm

New Snow since close: 0 cm

Weather; Overcast

Everyone has been shovelling hard around the village late into the night yesterday. This means only one thing, snow is coming! Forecasts suggest heavy snows are expected over the coming days right up to the end of the week. Combined with what fell over the weekend we are looking towards a very solid december base indeed.

No new snow fell overnight and yesterday afternoon felt decidedly warmer once the snowflakes had cleared. Compacting the base is what we are after at the moment and warmer temperatures expected today should continue to impact this change.

Again today the best riding will be had on the groomed runs. The trees are quite well filled in now but there may be more than a few hidden branches ready to snag unsuspecting riders so best steer clear until adequate base compaction occurs.

Casting our gaze towards the forecast we should see snow increase today continuing to build in intensity tonight. Tomorrow should be insane blizzard conditions. Very heavy snow in combination with strong winds will limit potentially accessible areas. On Thursday snowfalls will decrease to moderate levels before a clearing trend is expected into the weekend. Further snowfalls are expected early next week.

The roof leap. A seasonal initiation.

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Path to ski locker last night. An example of depths here at the moment.

Base up top:  210 cm    Temp Top; -7 Degrees

Base at bottom;  170 cm

New Snow since close:  50 cm

Weather; Heavy snow

Welcome to the Nozawa Onsen daily snow reports for season 2014/15. We hope to provide you with detail weather and relevant resort information tied in with a selection of daily photos from in and around the local area of Nozawa Onsen. Like what you see? Head straight on over to the Nozawa Photos Facebook page and these wall hangers are available purchase starting at 1000 yen.

Wow, what a weekend! The amount of snow that has fallen in the last 48 hours pushes towards the record books for Nozawa Onsen, surpassing 2m yesterday. Locals were saying they haven’t seen such an intense period of snowfall in 18 years. Deep snow walls about the village combined with road heating system failing to keep up has produced an unusually snow laden village, amazing scenes all round. We are hardly a week out of season opening and the resort looks like a mid season winterscape in terms of base depth, its exciting to think what the rest of the season will hold.

The snow became lighter overnight with the moon making an appearance. But we woke this morning to light snow and a bit more wind compared to yesterday. Since last lifts yesterday 50cm has descended across the resort. Be careful out there today, many areas even normal pistes are too deep. A skier was pulled unconscious after falling over in a deep piste run and suffocating, now recovering in hospital. Head to Yamabiko for some quality turns and don’t forget to pack the snorkel!!

We should see snow ease today with a brief respite forecast for tomorrow. This is ideal as it will allow the snowpack to consolidate increasing access in many areas. Another strong front is expected mid this week, possibly just as strong as the current system. Sunshine is expected to make an appearance by the end of the week.

Winter scene.

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Started snowing heavy just after dark and run all thru the night in Nozawa

Base up top: 165 cm

Temp Top; -7 Degrees

Base at Uenotaira 150 cm

New Snow since close: 95 cm

Weather; Still snowing heavy!

Crazy night on the snow front in Nozawa, with almost a whole Meter of snow falling across the resort. Seems like a while since we have seen this big a dump as last season we did not get a lot of these huge falls.

This system looks set to be a bit of a record for this time of year in a few parts of Japan and Nozawa is no exception.

The base has over doubled overnight to up to 165cm and still going strong! This should set us up for the season now with more big falls forecast over the next few days and very cold temps.

Roads are pretty grid locked so take care anyone moving about or coming up

The resort should open some more runs today as a result of the dump and it will definitely good all the way to the bottom on the snow front if they can groom the runs in time. Better pack the snorkel and maybe even a scuba tank for this one it is going to be deep!

Cars going deep in Nozawa

Road heating cannot keep up nor can man power

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