Latest News from Nozawa Onsen

Base up top: 290cm        Temp Top; +2 Degrees Base at bottom: 115cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s an overcast morning today in Nozawa Onsen. Winds are light across the resort and the mountain is very uncrowded indeed. Snow conditions today will be forgiving and slushy with positive temperatures measured from top to bottom. Like yesterday the groomed runs will offer the best turns, especially those found in the Yamabiko area. It’s an excellent day to practice in the park and the mogul runs are also in fine form. Off piste runs are very dangerous at the moment with numerous wet, heavy slides on the steeper pitches. Massive horizontal cracks, mostly unseen from above, have formed exposing […]

Base up top: 295cm        Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 125cm New Snow since close: 0cm What a wild day it was yesterday! Some of the strongest winds of the season forced closure of the entire top half of the mountain. Only the lower pistes remained open in slushy and very warm conditions. Fortunately we didn’t receive as much rainfall as originally expected with the majority falling overnight in combination with colder temps. However, there was not new snow to report overnight. We have a much better day today. The sun is out, the strong winds have abated and the rain has moved on. Snow conditions will be slushy top to bottom from the outset today. […]

Base up top: 310cm        Temp Top; +4 Degrees Base at bottom: 140cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a windy one in Nozawa this morning. The Nagasaka gondola is currently on wind hold but the Hikage gondola is still running. Temperatures are extremely warm as predicted but crowds are very light. Today’s snow will be slushy from the outset, slow in places. The pick today will be the groomers and park which will be fun and forgiving considering the snow conditions. Off piste runs will be best avoided today unless you are up for a real challenge turning. Likewise yesterday was also extremely warm but the sunny conditions made for some very nice spring skiing. Up top […]

Base up top: 320cm        Temp Top; +4 Degrees Base at bottom: 145cm New Snow since close: 0cm   We have another clear bluebird day in Nozawa Onsen this morning. Visibility above 1400 meters is outstanding, but a strong inversion layer has trapped haze in the valleys limiting long range views. Overnight snowfalls did not eventuate, with only a dusting received on the upper slopes. Riding conditions this morning were firm and fast, but surprisingly, not that icy. As the temperature warmed during the morning the snow correspondingly softened and at the moment we have slushy spring snow throughout. Snow conditions will be similar across the mountain with lowers slopes being more slushy and slower than the upper […]

Base up top: 320cm        Temp Top; -6 Degrees Base at bottom: 150cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a mostly fine morning here in Nozawa Onsen today. We have some high altitude cirrus clouds passing overhead that tend to preceded frontal systems. This correlates with the forecast; we expect snow showers to move through later this afternoon and tonight. Riding this morning will be on classic spring snow; firm in the morning and softening by midday. South facing slopes may become sticky as the sun intensifies. Like yesterday the best riding will be had in the Yamabiko area. It’s a good day to practice in the park and pipe with the soft forgiving conditions. Likewise mogul runs […]

Base up top: 325cm        Temp Top; -1 Degrees Base at bottom: 150cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s another visually spectacular morning here in Nozawa Onsen. No new snow to report of but there is a clear blue sky with not a cloud to be seen combined with very light winds. Visibility is excellent with many distant alpine peaks clear. Crowd levels are minuscule and we have some nice spring snow; firm and fast in the morning grading to slushy by late morning. Snow near Yamabiko will remain dry and fast all day with a freezing level of around 1200 meters in the shade. Yesterday was one of the best days we’ve had in a while with […]

Base up top: 330cm        Temp Top; -11 Degrees Base at bottom: 155cm New Snow since close: 10cm We have some light snow in Nozawa Onsen at the moment. After some rain last night the precipitation quickly turned to snow delivering 10cm of fresh up high, 3cm was recorded in the village. The conditions will be great for skiing and boarding today with excellent spring powder, cold temperatures and small crowds. Tree runs will be the pick trapping deeper stashes and offering improved visibility. The groomers will also be in fine form today with fast soft corduroy created for your carving pleasure, courtesy of the Nozawa grooming team. We expect moderate winds to decrease as the day moves […]

Base up top: 330cm        Temp Top; +2 Degrees Base at bottom: 155cm New Snow since close: 0cm It’s a relatively balmy overcast morning here in Nozawa Onsen with positive temperatures across the mountain. Slushy spring snow conditions will prevail with the best riding to be had on the upper slopes, especially this afternoon. At the moment we have some heavy, high cirrus cloud passing over Nozawa Onsen accompanied by moderate winds. This is usually an indication of a impending front which is what we expect today. There may be some prefrontal rain this afternoon before a very cold North Westerly airstream establishes itself over Honshu some time tonight. Front this we expect a decent dump of fresh […]

Base up top: 330cm        Temp Top; -8 Degrees Base at bottom: 160cm New Snow since close: 0cm What a day we have in Nozawa Onsen today. The weather does not get much better than this! Looking out the window at the moment you will see bright full blue skies with not a cloud to be seen. The trees are standing dead still with not a breath of wind. To top it all off the powder snow is in pristine shape with cold overnight temperatures. I think it is safe to say that it will be an excellent day of skiing and boarding in Nozawa Onsen today. Yesterday was also an outstanding day. Moderate snow showers continued until […]

Base up top: 340cm        Temp Top; -15 Degrees Base at bottom: 165cm New Snow since close: 10-30cm Winter has returned to Nozawa Onsen with a healthy overnight top up recorded. At the moment we have light to moderate flakes falling, very cold temperatures and windy conditions on the higher slopes. Today will be a good day for skiing and boarding with 30cm of dry windblown powder recorded at Uenotaira, 10cm at Yamabiko. The forecast suggests the sun will make an appearance this afternoon and if this is correct conditions will be superb. Head for the tree runs to seek shelter from the wind and improved visibility before the sun comes out. Yesterday turned out to be a […]