Nozawa’s nature and wildlife Today the mountain webcams have been in complete whiteout all day… By the end of the day, about 20cm of fresh snow should have fallen down to 900m. Although we’ve only seen rain (and a few rainbows) in Nozawa Onsen Village itself. There was a distinct white line for the snowline just above the village this morning. The weekend forecast is still looking strong. Hopefully, Sunday will bring more than 40cm of snow, including at least 15cm down in the village. All we can do is cross our fingers and be patient. It’s been beautiful seeing the mist wrap around the forests above Nozawa Onsen today. Buna Forests Mount Kenashi and Torogi Toge in the ski […]
nozawa onsen skiing
Nozawa Onsen Skiing History
Nozawa Onsen Skiing History As the sun sets over the Myoko-Togakushi mountain range to the west, we get another day closer to the beginning of the 22/23 Nozawa Onsen ski season! The forecast for tomorrow looks good with just over 10cm of new snow expected to fall as freezing levels drop below 0 degrees. At the moment, a snowstorm with freezing levels down to 600m should bring in around 30cm of snow on Sunday the 11th of December. Hoping this forecast holds. Nozawa Onsen Skiing History – A blast from the past People have been skiing in Nozawa Onsen since 1923 when the Nozawaonsen Ski Club was first established. A year later, the club started up the Hikage ski field. […]
Patience waiting for snow
Patience waiting for snow The sun is shining and it’s a brilliant bluebird day today. Temperatures are up around 9 degrees currently in the village and it’s the warmest I’ve felt for the past week. I’m actually wearing one too many layers. Obviously, this isn’t great for the snow forecast but it’s all just a lesson in patience. The snow will come. The forecast for up to 25cm of new snow on Sunday is still holding. I noticed a couple of local villagers continuing to harvest cabbage this morning outside my window. We received this stunning photo this morning from 野沢温泉スキー場 at Nozawa Ski Resort. It may look like there’s no snow from down in the village but it’s there! […]
Ski Board Rental Nozawa
Ski Board Rental Nozawa Meet the Team – Nozawa Holidays Leading up to the season will try and introduce you to members of our team and some local legends about Nozawa. First up introducing our man of many talents – Hugo san Hugo is the top dog in charge of both our rental shop and our ski school. Originally from the wine region Rioja in the north of Spain, Hugo is joining us for his 8th consecutive season at Nozawa Onsen. He’s been riding for more than 30 years. Growing up, it was only a 45-minute drive from his hometown to the bottom chairlift of his local field. When Hugo’s not skiing or boarding, you’ll find him on two […]
Onsen Etiquette Nozawa Village
Onsen Etiquette Nozawa Village The mountains today are shrouded in a thick white coating of mist and it’s softly raining in Nozawa Onsen. I saw a rainbow outside of my window this morning. The below-freezing temperatures up top should result in around 10cm of snow today! In the meantime, let’s talk about Onsen etiquette in Nozawa Village. There are 13 free traditional Onsens, formed from natural hot springs. An Onsen, aka. the Japanese version of a hot tub or spa pool is the perfect place to relax each day and defrost from the cold, while we eagerly await the season’s start. Trying out an Onsen for the first time can be an intimidating experience. There are a few rules and […]
Nozawa winter has arrived
Nozawa winter has arrived If you’re in Nozawa Onsen already, I recommend making the most of the glorious sunshine today and heading out for a walk. Nozawa winter has arrived! Although most of yesterday’s snow is melting away, the village is looking picturesque. Water is trickling from rooftops. The sun’s heat is turning the white-sugar dusting of snow on the tree tops into snow glitter falling from the leafy branches. You might be able to manage a ski or board down Hikage, which has a new nice layering of fresh snow. You’ll have to hike to the top of the run though! Yamabiko looks good on the live snow cams with the new snow up top mixing nicely with the […]
First Snow Nozawa Onsen
First Snow Nozawa Onsen It’s day two of winter in Japan and the morning has brought fresh first snow Nozawa Onsen! Since 11 o’clock this morning, our favourite winter sight has been falling from the sky, dusting Nozawa Onsen in white. The morning started with a blue sky and sunshine peaking through scattered clouds but as the day rolled along, dark-grey cloud cover descended on Nozawa Onsen. It’s the first snow in the village of the season. Fingers crossed this is a very good sign for an epic winter to come! Usually, on average, it’s the third snow of the season that sticks around so we are now on our way. The resort is making the most of the freezing […]
Places to stay Nozawa
Places to stay Nozawa The 1st of December and the first day of Winter in Japan We are waking to a dusting of snow up top at Yamabiko and on the surrounding higher peaks. Checking the web cams and the resort has the snow guns blasting away up there too. With about 20cm expected in the next 24 hours I wonder if they are quietly hoping they may get open on Saturday. It will be a stretch but you never know we may get more than forecast, it has happened before 🙂 Looking ahead and temps will remain reasonably cold up top sitting below 0 degrees most days with snow marks here and there. If planning a ski trip to […]
Resorts Open Early Japan
Resorts Open Early Japan Harvesting the Veggies in Nozawa before they end up in the cool room. We have had some beautiful sunny days lately and as always helpful with getting work done before the season starts. Conditions look set to change from tomorrow afternoon with a West/ North West wind change dropping temps by over 10 degrees and taking the freezing level down. Resorts Open Early Japan Rain up top will turn to snow and a decent fall forecast for Friday night. Not sure it will be enough to get the lifts turning but with cold temps they can no doubt get the snow making happening too. Stay tuned it is early days. Resorts currently open in the […]
Shigakogen Open Season 2022
Shigakogen Open Season 2022 Our neighbours have started skiing in Shiga Kogen! Yokoteyama the highest ski resort in the area at nearby Shiga Kogen has officially opened on the 18th of November. The bottom of the resort is at 1750m above Sea Level and the top at a lofty 2305m so they tend to get more snow and colder temps in the early part of the season. Conditions are still marginal and looks like they have been using the Snow guns to make some extra snow but that fall last week was enough to give it the green light. Eager skiers and boarders turned out on mass yesterday to enjoy the sunshine and first tracks for the season. Shigakogen Open […]