Nozawa Onsen Spring Snow Report 12/4/2019
April has been so kind to us, thus far. But will our luck continue? I guess it depends upon what you’re after. It sounds strange to say but we’ve had so much snow this month that it might even be nice to string a few days of sunshine together. But hey, if Mother Nature wants to throw some more late season snow at us, we won’t be complaining.
It looks like she’s got us covered for both. Maybe.
Today is forecast to remain cold but it’s doubtful we’ll see too much snow as a result but perhaps a little. Tomorrow is all about the sunshine. The same goes for the first few days of next week. Sunday night is an interesting one. Current temperatures have rain in the village but an abundance of fresh powder up the top of the mountain. Given that it’s late in the season and the top is where lifts are in operation, that’s totally fine with us!
We’ll keep an eye on Sunday evening over the weekend but for now, it’s time to head to the top of the mountain. A few snow showers are predicted for throughout the day but right now, it looks like a bright and shiny spring day with beautiful mountain views all around. Not a bad Friday!
So what’s the official word from the top of the mountain this morning?
At 7:45 am;
Temp at the top; -5C
New snow since close; 0cm
Base at the top; 305cm
Weather; sunny
Talk of beautiful mountain views has us thinking about the Green Season. Those same mountains don’t go anywhere, of course. In fact, they open up for hiking, biking and farming of the freshest produce imaginable. Nozawa Onsen is as magical during summer as it is in winter (and spring!) but in a different way. We host yoga retreats and provide accommodation for those interested in running events or mountain biking (Nagasaka Gondola opens for about 6 weeks for MTB). Then there are the festivals.
Sure, things move at a different pace when compared with winter, but it’s welcome relief from the tourist hustle of places like Tokyo and Kyoto. Imagine days of jostling for position in Kyoto to get the perfect picture of a shrine or temple, only to come to Nozawa and hike through cedar-lined tracks to discover an equally beautiful shrine in the forest with nobody else around. It’s also cooler in the mountains.
With the above in mind, we’ve put together a long-stay package which lets guests stay in Nozawa Onsen for a month at cheaper than the cost of rent at home! Of course, you can also get a pretty good deal on a shorter stay too. If even for a night or two, let Nozawa Onsen be your summer chill out when visiting Japan.