Japan Open June 2022 Japan to further ease border restrictions. Looks like you may be skiing in Japan next Winter Don’t like to count our snowflakes before they fall but an announcement by Kishida san the Japanese Prime Minister just yesterday in London is the strongest indication for a while that Japan will reopen to tourists in June. He has vowed to follow other G7 nations in making entry for overseas guests much smoother. According to the Nikkei News, the Japanese government is looking at lifting the ban on tourist visas soon. Officials want to see what impact the Golden Week holidays have on coronavirus case numbers before making a decision in two weeks’ time. It’s possible the border will […]
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Children Ski Japan Nozawa
Children Ski Japan Nozawa Children’s Day, celebrating with a beautiful day in Nozawa Children’s Day is a Japanese national holiday taking place every year on this day the 5th of May and is the final celebration in the Golden Week holiday. It is a day set aside to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness. Lots of Koi Nobori or Carp Streamers flying high around the village. They symbolize parent’s wishes for their children to grow up healthy and strong as the carp make their way up stream. Children Ski Japan Nozawa Plenty going on for kids around Nozawa today. Can head up the gondola for a ski, down to the lake for a paddle. Also lots happening outdoors […]
Last Week Season Nozawa
Last Week Season Nozawa The Last week of the Ski Season in Nozawa Fun time to be in Nozawa at the moment, the streets starting to buzz with Golden Week guests. It has been constant but not flat out yet. However think tomorrow all that is going to change with most guest houses in town saying they are pretty full tomorrow night. Probably will be a few busy days then pretty quiet to see in the end of the season. It has been pretty cool too. In town is nice when the sun is out but at night has been Jacket weather for sure. Single digits up on the slopes too. These cold temps have helped to preserve the base […]
Spring Best Place Japan
Spring Best Place Japan Golden Week ready to kick off in Nozawa Tomorrow Friday is the first day of the long Japanese Golden Week holiday, a collection of four national holidays within seven days combined with some well placed weekends. Checking the bookings and looks like a few arriving in town tomorrow for a night or two then busy again on the 3rd and 4th of May. Spring Best Place Japan Many guest houses, cafes and restaurants along with the Ski Resort are getting ready to welcome everyone for a great week ahead. Still 120cm of base up top at Yamabiko a lot more than many seasons thanks to the stellar Snow Fall we had this year. Nice sunny day […]
Sakura Cherry Blossoms Nozawa
Sakura Cherry Blossoms Nozawa Sakura Fubuki – Cherry Blossoms falling like snow Have not seen much fresh snow fall in Nozawa for a while now but lots of Cherry Blossom petals as this beautiful fleeting flower reaches its peak bloom. Looking out the window it almost looks like snow falling. No chance of that at the moment though with the mercury at the front door hitting 25 degrees yesterday. Still a fun slushy ski up on the slopes with plenty of snow but definitely poor mans powder now. Fun and still reasonably fast on the steeps at Yamabiko early but the lower flatter slopes are slow going. A Big arigatou to all the crew that turned out on the weekend […]
Golden Week Trip Nozawa
Golden Week Trip Nozawa Sakura, Skiing and Onsens It is a beautiful time of year to visit Nozawa and there is almost no one here. Walking down the Main Street last night and you could throw a bowling ball and not hit a soul. The Sakura have hit peak bloom in the village and down at Iiyama right now which is later than last year. They look beautiful as you stroll around the village. Up on the mountain today we have a 180cm base and a comfortable 12 degrees. The sun is out wth a bit of cloud cover and light to moderate winds. Probably best to get up there early as we may get some weather this afternoon. The […]
Demo Days Nozawa Onsen
Demo Days Nozawa Onsen Demo days and Spring haze in Nozawa Another beautiful spring day in Nozawa with buckets of sunshine and a toasty 8 degrees up top at Yamabiko this morning. T Shirt weather down low for sure so can get some real Spring in your step now. Base is dropping bit by bit but still a very solid 260cm up top today. So will last us all the way to Golden Week no problem even with all this sunshine. Many of he major Ski and Board makers have all their latest gear available to test out with Demo days on over the weekend. Just need to bring some photo ID and can ride the latest planks and maybe […]
Easter Ski Holiday Japan
Easter Ski Holiday Japan No Aprils Fools in Nozawa Awesome April has begun and kicked off with a gorgeous day on the slopes yesterday. We had 5cm of fresh snow and temps were -5 degrees. With a 3 meter base and the trees doing their frozen broccoli thing it is hard to believe it is Spring time. This morning looking like a bit of a carbon copy but just a light dusting up top. Temps still at -5 Degrees and the sun is shining. Easter Ski Holiday Japan Doesn’t feel as busy as the last few weekends, peoples thoughts shifting to the Cherry Blossom season no doubt. But make no mistake the conditions are still beautiful in Nozawa if can […]
Japan Ski Cherry Blossoms
Japan Ski Cherry Blossoms Bang on 3 meters of base up top to round out March 2022 in Nozawa Will need to look at the record books, but that has to be a bit of a record for base at the end of March in Nozawa. This day last year we had only 185cm up at Yamabiko. At the base this season we have seen over 11 meters of snow fall and imagine is a lot higher number up top. The guys cutting the road at the bottom of Nagasaka Gondola the other day had a bigger job than usual this year. Japan Ski Cherry Blossoms Yesterday was a glorious sunny day on the slopes with plenty of sunshine but […]
Road Trip Nozawa Onsen
Road Trip Nozawa Onsen Nozawa is a small rural village surrounded by mountains. I still remember the very first time I rounded the bend and saw the town for the very first time over 30 years ago. I thought wow this place is something special and I was right. IN a busy ski season we rarely get to leave town as joust no time. Maybe an occasional trip to Iiyama for groceries but even they will deliver. I do like a quick run down to Hirano Cake shop though for the best cakes and pastries this side of Paris. When things start to slow down and the crazy amounts of snow on the road begin to ease it is nice […]