Latest News from Nozawa Onsen

Base up top: 230 cm        Temp Top; 3 Degrees Base at bottom; 40 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Clearing to Sunshine After a bit of a rough few days the sun is peeping out again in Nozawa. The weather has been unseasonably warm and had a feeling we may not see much snow again this season. Checking the weather forecast though and looks like a strong Westerly change and a big drop in temperatures today. Freezing level should drop down to below 1000m and as you can see there are some little falls expected for the top of the mountain. Don’t think it will amount to any waist deep powder but nice to see […]

Base up top: 255 cm        Temp Top; 1 Degree Base at bottom; 55 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Clearing to Sunshine After an ordinary day yesterday the sun is breaking thru this morning in Nozawa and we should be in for a few clear days ahead. We got hit with a bit of rain yesterday unfortunately but also a little bit of snow on the upper slopes so should be not a bad spring day on the hill. Pretty much empty now on the slopes and can ski some runs and not see another soul. Spring conditions look set to continue and we may get a bit more of a shower but believe it […]

Base at bottom; 75 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Overcast light snow up top There was a bit of a buzz around the Lodge this morning as the Easter Bunny had hidden a few eggs and the 15 odd kids we have here at the moment were on a mad hunt to find them. Then they were excited to hit the slopes. Some good news on the snow front too, with an Easter dusting of snow up top of the mountain. The last few days we have had fog covering the top slopes making visibility limited but this morning was much clearer. Looks like a bluebird day tomorrow with Sunshine on the slopes. Temps are climbing up […]

Beautiful Spring day on the Slopes in Nozawa Base up top: 275 cm        Temp Top; 5 Degrees Base at bottom; 95 cm New Snow since close: 0 cm Weather; Spring Skiing Nice warm Spring day here in Nozawa Onsen. Clear skies with beautiful views across the valley today. Still nice conditions up top but will be a bit slushy down low. Yesterday was also a great day and the snow was pretty fast up top but slower down below Temperatures should drop from tomorrow and will hopefully go back into the negatives up top. Not a lot of snow on the radar but that may change. Only a few more days and we are officially in Spring. Lots […]

Bluebird start in Nozawa Base up top: 290 cm        Temp Top; -8 Degrees Base at bottom; 100 cm New Snow since close: 10 cm Weather; Sun and Fun As was forecast we got blessed with a nice little top up of snow overnight in Nozawa. It was not heavy in the Village but snowed off and on through the night and then the sun burst out this morning. Had a scoot around the lower slopes this morning and was nice conditions. One of the Instructors sent me this shot from the top at Yamabiko early and it looks beautiful. Pretty cold temps early but should rise over the next few days and some sunshine. Next decent fall […]

Base up top: 285cm        Temp Top; +4 Degrees Base at bottom: 105cm New Snow since close: 0cm We woke to a cool partly cloudy morning in Nozawa Onsen. Since then temperatures warmed from -4C at the summit and we now have positive temps across the mountain. As a result the snow will be slushy; but less so at the top. Winds are light and crowds are also quite low for a Sunday. The picks today will be the challenge area pistes earlier and then Yamabiko after lunch with the two natural pipes in fine form. The terrain park will be good with the slushy conditions. We expect clear sunny conditions to last the day. Yesterday was cold […]

Base up top: 285cm        Temp Top; -4 Degrees Base at bottom: 110cm New Snow since close: 0cm At the moment we have some overcast conditions in Nozawa Onsen. There were some very light flurries down in the village earlier, but these seem to have stopped for the time being. As expected, we received only light falls, with just a dusting being recorded overnight. Temperatures are cool with -4C at the summit and just above freezing in the village. Groomed runs will be good with firm and fast conditions lasting all day. The trees will be better than yesterday, although icy with the freeze thaw conditions we had recently. It’s pretty quite on the mountain considering today is […]

Base up top: 290cm        Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 120cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s another picture perfect morning in Nozawa. Light winds, clear skies and still plenty of fresh snow on offer. Great day for a ski or board! Best riding will be had on the upper slopes where continual below freezing temperatures have maintained excellent snow quality, with the odd powder stash. Groomed runs will be silky smooth and remain that way as the day draws on. Lower pistes will be firm and fast early, becoming slushy around lunch. Reports suggest that the spectacular cherry blossoms are coming out in Tokyo at the moment, a sight well worth checking out. Spring is […]

Base up top: 295cm        Temp Top; -6 Degrees Base at bottom: 120cm New Snow since close: 5cm What an awesome morning it is! We have had a moderate dump of fresh Japan powder overnight with 5cm at Yamabiko, 8cm at Uenotaira. However reports from the mountain suggest more than a few much deeper light dry windblown stashes with many areas about knee deep, especially in the higher elevation gullies. Light snowfalls are continuing at present and extremely low crowd levels will ensure fresh tracks will be easily found all day long. The gondola line was maybe 15 people waiting at opening. On a powder day this is a testament to how uncrowded the slopes are. For those […]