Tour Resorts near Nozawa Getting off the beaten track with a bit of Cow Farming. Nagano Prefecture where Nozawa Onsen is located has the most ski resorts of any state in Japan with 85 in total. If you were to combine that with nearby Nigata Prefecture we have 130 resorts within easy striking distance and only a 2 hour train ride away from Tokyo to Iiyama to get to to the centre of it all. Towards the end of the season when things start to slow down we often head off to check out some of the lesser known ski areas nearby. In March we jumped in the old Hiace and drove just over an hour to the unique little […]
Activities Nozawa Onsen Japan
Great Snow Job Japan
Great Snow Job Japan End of Season Road Trip Japan Over the years many fantastic friendships have been formed amongst the Nozawa Holidays Team members throughout the ski season. We have even seen a few wedding bells and lots of endearing “bromances”! We are fortunate to bring together a fantastic group of people from all over the world with different skill sets, languages and personalities. They arrive as strangers and after 3 short months often leave as friends for life. Having shared a passion for the snow life, genuine hospitality and a new found love for all things about Nozawa Onsen. Great Snow Job Japan There are always multiple heartfelt “Sayonara Parties” at the end of the season and certainly […]
Late Season Skiing Japan
Late Season Skiing Japan Snowy Spring Surprise for Nozawa Was busy working about lunch time yesterday and my daughter looked out the window up the mountain during a break in the clouds and said; “ Look Papa it’s White”. We grabbed the skis and headed up. We were greeted by 10cm of fresh snow on the deck up at Yamabiko when we got off the Gondola. It was cold too, had been a while since needed the thermals. Wasn’t the best day of the season by any means with thick fog and a bit grippy in places but the novelty value of late season snow, pretty much all to our selves was worth the admission. Today on the other hand […]
Cycling in Nozawa Onsen
Cycling in Nozawa Onsen Nozawa Onsen has something for everyone, including cycling enthusiasts! Nozawa Onsen is a great destination at this time of year for anyone seeking a scenic and memorable experience. Three beautiful different destinations you can cycle to from Nozawa are: – Lake Hokuryuko – Keyakinomori park at Kijimadaira – Shrine Kokugonji Here are some top tips if you’re planning to cycle around Japan; https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guide-cycling-japan/ It is a beautiful sunny morning in Nozawa Onsen today! Clear to partially cloudy skies are expected throughout the rest of the day with light winds. Great day to be on top of the mountain. TODAY: Temperature at the top; Yamabiko -1 degrees New snow since yesterday; 0 cm Base at the top; […]
April Snowfall in Nozawa
April Snowfall in Nozawa Good morning Nozawa Onsen. On Saturday night we had some spring snowfall! Nozawa village was covered in a dusting of fresh snow early Sunday morning. Many locals and holiday goers grabbed their skis and snowboards and headed up the mountain yesterday to enjoy the fresh snow. It was also the last day of Nozawa’s annual Demo Days event. It was another successful year of the three-day event, where everyone could head up the mountain to test ride all of the latest models for free. After some strong winds and showers over the weekend, it is a sunny and clear day today. Winds have calmed since yesterday and are expected to average from 5-15km/hr throughout the day. […]
Demo Days Event 2023
Demo Days Event 2023 The mountain is now open after a day of being closed due to strong winds. The Nagasaka Gondola lift has started operating from 10 am this morning, so for those who have been waiting for this announcement, time to grab your skis and snowboards and head on up for a day on the slopes! With the mountain re-opening today, it will be the first day of Nozawa Onsen’s annual Demo Days event! From the 7th-9th of April, you can head up to the top of the mountain to test drive all the latest models for free. Choose numerous skis to test drive with a maximum of 20 minutes for each ride. Click here for the operating […]
Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto
Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto Due to strong winds, the mountain is unfortunately closed today. The weather tomorrow is also expected to have some high winds, cloudy skies and chances of rain. The good news, however, is that the forecast estimates some snowfall on Saturday and Sunday! With Monday looking like it’ll be back to clear skies and sunny days again. In other good news, the cherry blossoms are currently in full bloom in the city of Matsumoto! Located just an hour and a half from Nozawa Onsen, Matsumoto is breathtaking this time of the year. Be sure to visit Matsumoto Castle and watch the sunset at Koboyama Park for an unforgettable experience. You can check out the best places to […]
Nozawa Skiing in April
Nozawa Skiing in April Good morning Nozawa Onsen! Today is a great day to grab your skis and snowboards and head up to the top of the mountain. It is now April but there is still plenty of snow coverage on top of the mountain with lots of fun to be had! Accomodation options and ski equipment hire is still available in Nozawa Onsen. Check out this recent short clip of everyone basking in the spring snow; https://www.facebook.com/nozawaonsenjapan/videos/ Today is expected to have cloud coverage along with beautiful spring sunshine. TODAY: Temperature at the top; Yamabiko 6 degrees New snow since yesterday; 0cm Base at the top; 140cm Snow conditions; There is still a good amount of snow cover on […]
Snow Monkeys in Spring
Snow Monkeys in Spring Snow monkeys in springtime! Just a 50-minute drive from Nozawa Onsen is Nagano’s Snow Monkey Park. The Japanese macaques are the only monkeys in the world that love to bathe in a hot spring, especially during the colder months. You can go to see the snow monkeys at any time of the year with the monkey park being open all year long. We had a blast seeing the snow monkeys in springtime. Not only are they cute and cheeky, they are truely mesmerising animals. Travelling from Nozawa Onsen to see them was well worth the trip for us! Find more information on Jigokudani’s Snow Monkey Park here; https://jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/ Another sunny day is ahead of us here in […]
Snowboard Masters Winners 2023
Snowboard Masters Winners 2023 And that’s a wrap on the 2023 Snowboard Masters Contest! Congratulations to all of the competitors who competed this year. The talent this year was unreal. This year’s female winners: THIRD PLACE: Ruki Tomita SECOND PLACE: Misa Honda FIRST PLACE: Yuka Fujimori This year’s male winners: THIRD PLACE: Hironori Nagata SECOND PLACE: Wataru Okamoto FIRST PLACE: Yuri Okubo More information on the Snowboard Masters contest can be found here; https://snowboardmasters.jp/ Another sunny day is ahead of us in Nozawa Onsen. There are still many people enjoying the beautiful Nozawa Spring on the slopes! TODAY: Temperature at the top; Yamabiko 3 degrees New snow since yesterday; 0cm Base at the top; 150cm Snow conditions; Snow is slowly […]