Dosojin Fire Festival 2025 Dosojin Fire Festival 2025 Much-awaited fire festival is finally taking place today! The festival kicks off at 7p.m. but make sure to stay until 10p.m. when the fire reaches its peak! You need to have a ticket to attend the main arena. You can only get a ticket if you stay in Nozawa Onsen. Sorry but no outside guests allowed. Please get your ticket from the lodge you are staying at. One ticket per group or family so we need to enter together. Please present the ticket at the entry gates. They will take half and give you back the other half which you will need to re enter if you leave. Be sure […]
Activities Nozawa Onsen Japan
Quiet before the storm!
Quiet before the storm! Quiet before the storm! Despite the overcast skies, visibility on the mountain is great today, with a chance of the sun peeking through—perfect conditions! Yesterday, the ceremonial log race at Hikage drew a lively crowd, all reveling in the festive spirit of the Dosojin Fire Festival. Today marks the start of the shrine (Shaden) construction, crafted from beech wood brought down from the mountain. By evening, the shrine will be ready, setting the stage for tomorrow’s grand ceremonies starting at 7 PM. Here’s the detailed schedule for anyone attending: * 7 PM: Ceremonies start, with the fire lit using flintstone by an appointed villager. * 7:30 PM: Newborn sons and daughters of […]
Celebrating the Start of Dosojin!
Celebrating the Start of Dosojin! Celebrating the Start of Dosojin! It’s almost time to kick off the Dosojin Fire Festival festivities! 🔥🎉 Today marks the start of the celebrations with the epic log-dragging competition beginning at 1 PM at Hikage Station. Watch as the massive logs are carried by hand with nothing but ropes, manpower, and plenty of sake 🍶 to keep spirits high. The procession will make its way from Hikage Gondola Station, past Nagasaka Gondola Station, and down towards the fire festival site at the bottom of the village. It’s a spectacle not to be missed, showcasing the incredible energy and determination of the participants, all while honoring the traditions of Nozawa Onsen. As we enjoy […]
Mild Day with Stunning Views
Mild Day with Stunning Views Mild Day with Stunning Views Today, we’re looking at fairly mild weather with a mix of clouds and sunshine peeking through a thin layer of haze—it’s predicted to clear up even more by midday, making for a beautiful day on the slopes. While there’s not much snowfall today, the excellent visibility offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. At the top of Yamabiko, temperatures hover around -10°C, with a light southerly breeze expected to shift northwest later tonight. This change in winds promises another white delivery arriving Monday morning! Yesterday was nothing short of amazing, with plenty of sunshine and fantastic powder spread across the mountain. It was one of those days that […]
Powder Days & Fire Festival
Powder Days & Fire Festival Powder Days & Fire Festival The snow has been dumping non-stop this morning, creating perfect conditions to prep the slopes for today and an incredible start to the weekend! 🌨️ While the strong winds today might make visibility on the mountain a bit tricky, we’re optimistic it’ll improve as the day goes on. Recent guests have been raving about the last few days. They stated it has been their best winter holiday with top-notch snow conditions making for unforgettable runs. 🏂 Meanwhile, the town is alive with excitement as locals gear up for the iconic Dosojin Fire Festival, happening on January 15th. 🔥 The festivities are well underway, with the first phase […]
The Snow is back in Nozawa!
The Snow is back in Nozawa! The Snow is back in Nozawa! Nozawa Onsen woke up to a blanket of fresh snow this morning! ❄️ With snowfall expected to continue through until Saturday, there’s plenty of powder to enjoy all week long. It’s a stunning shift from yesterday’s bluebird skies—every turn should bring boot high snow with over 20cm of fresh overnight and still going. TODAY: 🌡️ Temperature at the top: -8° ❄️ New snow since yesterday: 21cm 🏔️ Base at the top of Nagasaka: 220cm ❄️ Snow conditions: Powder Day 🌤️ Weather: Cloudy with heavy snow early and will be on an off through the day ⛷️ Runs: All runs open except for Mukobayashi, Challenge […]
A mix of snow and sun
A mix of snow and sun A mix of snow and sun Today’s forecast calls for a cloudy start, with snow showers and winds increasing throughout the day. Visibility up on the mountain is decent this morning but could change as winds pick up to 45 km/h at the top—make sure to layer up because it’s going to get chilly! 🌨️ We’re expecting a consistent moderate snowfall until Friday night, which will add to the already impressive 235cm snow base. Yesterday brought 7cm of fresh powder, and the slope conditions were chef’s kiss—crisp. A little sunshine even peeked out before the day ended behind majestic Mount Myoko. 🌅 Meanwhile, the streets of Nozawa Onsen are buzzing with […]
Big snow this week!
Big snow this week! Big snow this week! Snow gods bring big snow this week! ☀️ Good morning from Nozawa! The village and mountain are bathed in glorious sunshine this morning, making it the perfect time to hit the slopes and soak in those incredible views. But don’t let this calm start fool you—clouds are predicted to roll in around midday, bringing a fresh blanket of snow later today 🌨️ Forecasts suggest consistent snowfall throughout the week, with the base up top likely reaching an impressive 3 meters soon. Yesterday was nothing short of magical, with crystal-clear skies, amazing visibility, and plenty of skiers and snowboarders enjoying the sun at the scenic spots of Mt. Kenashi. If you […]
Sunny days in Nozawa Onsen
Sunny days in Nozawa Onsen ☀️ Sunny days in Nozawa Onsen Last night’s stunning starry skies hinted at the sunny slopes we can enjoy above 1000m this morning! 🌄 While the village remains nestled under a gentle layer of clouds, the gondola ride takes you straight into the sunshine, with stunning views up top. Check the current conditions on the webcams here: http://nozawa-onsen.com/nozawa-webcams/ Yesterday, Oyu Street came alive with our annual Guest Appreciation celebrations, where visitors and locals gathered to enjoy the vibrant beats of Taiko drums, parade of historical and traditional Nozawa Onsen attire, and a touch of the village’s rich skiing history. 🍶 The fun continued with rock-paper-scissors competition, delicious local food and sake to […]
Favourite run in Nozawa Onsen?
Favourite run in Nozawa Onsen? Favourite run in Nozawa Onsen? Nozawa has a total of 36 official courses and lots of little secret ones. The resort has one of the best verticals in Japan with 1085m difference between the top and bottom. It faces directly to the Sea of Japan so picks up a lot of snow form the amazing Lake effect that drives that cold deep Siberian powder across our slopes. With a pretty equal mix of all levels which one do you like the most? Let us know in the comments. Check out more on the ski courses in Nozawa here; https://www.nozawaholidays.com/ski-resort/course-information/ A little bit of snow overnight nothing to bring the shovel out […]