Snowy Day Nozawa Onsen Today is a day for yukimi, snow viewing! Or powder riding! We’ve woken up to a fresh snowfall of 23cm, just under the “Magic Foot”. The snow is still falling gently down into the village, with patterns of azure blue behind the clouds. Looking up into the mountains, it looks like a giant walked through the valley over night, shaking icing sugar everywhere; the sugary snow dusting the trees white. It’s a welcome change after the unusual Spring-like temperatures we’ve had earlier in the week. The local children are walking to school outside my window, all rugged up with waterproof gloves and wooly hats, a few carrying cross-country skis! The Junior High Championships currently in Nozawa […]
Ski Board Rental Nozawa
Ski Trick Fun Nozawa
Ski Trick Fun Nozawa Beautiful sunny days on the menu for today and tomorrow in Nozawa Onsen. When I was chatting with Nozawa Holidays ski instructor Coco the other day, he expressed to me how skiing and snowboarding are really all about just having fun! It’s very easy to get caught up in the desire to improve and get better, focusing on the technical side of riding. And of course it’s great to challenge ourselves to learn and grow in our skiing and boarding techniques. But it’s also important to remember that being an expert at skiing or snowboarding doesn’t just mean being able to do expert and black diamond courses! Coco said, how about skiing backwards all the way […]
The Frenchman can Fly
The Frenchman can Fly Coco stood at the top of the ski jump. He felt scared. He tried not to overthink. Looking down the steep narrow slope, 30 meters high, that would soon send him flying into the air, he took a deep breath and pointed straight… Corentin Cesar aka. Coco a Nozawa Holidays instructor could ski before he could walk. His parents put him on skis when he was just a toddler; three years old. Coco’s home ski field in France is Les Arcs in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s where he grew up. “It’s one of the reasons I came to Nozawa… I didn’t want to travel to the other side of the world to ski in another resort,” he […]
Ski Camp Nozawa Japan
Ski Camp Nozawa Japan Rippa of a day in Nozawa Rippa is actually a Japanese word and means much the same as does in English – awesome. Yesterday was certainly all that and more. It started with lofting fat snow flakes in the morning. Then the sun came out at about 11am and conditions were amazing. Not so many people about either now School Holidays and Chinese New Year are finished. Today is looking like another beautiful day with the pink sunrise raising its head above the surrounding peaks. Last night was super clear could see lots of stars and a bright moon. It was cold, my ears were stinging walking back from the Onsen. This morning my thermometer is […]
Best Powder Day Nozawa
Best Powder Day Nozawa It’s one of those days… One of the BEST days of the year… A POWDER DAY! This is what people travel all over the world from to come ski and ride. With yesterday’s high winds, the upper mountain was closed all day… What this means for riders today is plenty of untouched fresh powder to claim first tracks on! Take care skiing and snowboarding in the powder. I’d recommend riding with at least one other person, just in case you lose a ski or pole and have to dig around in the snow. It’s still very cold out there, perfect temperatures for preserving the fresh powder, but wrap up warm – goggles and muffs are highly […]
Japan Cold Snap Nozawa
Japan Cold Snap Nozawa Japan is being hit by a once-in-a-decade cold snap and we’re certainly feeling it here in Nozawa Onsen. We’ve again hit our two metre mark for the Yamabiko base! Yesterday we woke up to sunshine but by lunchtime, the clouds had crowded in, the winds picked up and the snow started falling. The base went from 150cm to 230cm in just one day! Temperatures are the coldest they’ve been all season so if you’re out chasing some of that powder today, put on double those usual layers and make sure you’ve got your powder planks if venturing anywhere off the groomers. You know its cold when the road heating just can’t keep up. It’s going to […]
Boxing Day Nozawa Japan
Boxing Day Nozawa Japan Half a Meter of Snow overnight for Nozawa Boom and just like that the whole scene can change in Nozawa. The snow tap has been turned firmly on the last few days and a Christmas gift of 50cm last night adding to the cheer. Scenery around town is like the Nozawa Winter we know so well, with cars and paths quickly disappearing. Up on the slopes will be magic today with all this fresh snow and should be reasonably quiet being a week day before the New Years break. TODAY: Temperature at the top; -6 degrees New snow since yesterday; a Fabulous 50cm! More than a Magic Foot! Base at the top; 90cm Snow conditions; […]
Compacted snow conditions Nozawa
Compacted snow conditions Nozawa Yesterday was a gorgeous day up the mountain with skiers and boarders floating around on fresh powder! It was great to see lots of people from around the world making the most of the day, riding and having fun. An extra bonus is the mountain is still quite quiet at the moment so there are hardly ever any lift queues! Make the most of this as most of Nozawa Onsen’s accomodation is almost fully booked up for January! TODAY: Temperature at the top; -6 degrees with a windchill down to -7 (not quite as cold as yesterday!) New snow since yesterday; 0cm total Base at the top; 45cm Snow conditions; Compacted snow Weather; It’s a gorgeous […]
Waking Up Nozawa Snow
Waking Up Nozawa Snow The moment we’ve all been eagerly waiting for has arrived – waking up to a thick layering of white powdery snow in Nozawa Onsen village! After the weekend’s big snow forecast not eventuating, many of us pondered when we’d finally catch up to the rest of Nagano and neighbouring Niigata prefectures – even Joetsu, right by the ocean, received it’s first snow dump! But here we are, waking up to a winter wonderland. How good! TODAY: Temperature at the top; -5 degrees with a windchill down to -17 in the morning so make sure to bring those extra layers! New snow since yesterday; 8cm total (wahoo!) Base at the top; 45cm Snow conditions; Fresh powder! Weather; […]
Another day Nozawa Paradise
Another Day Nozawa Paradise It’s a lovely winters day in Nozawa Onsen, waking up to the magic of soft falling snow with the beautiful blue sky peeking through scattered clouds. How lucky are we to be here! It will be a fun day up on the mountain with a consistent top up of snow on the trails all day. TODAY: Temperature at the top; – 6 degrees with a windchill down to -25 so make sure to bring a few extra layers. New snow since yesterday; 10cm total. Base at the top; 45cm (the base continues to build, yahoo!). Snow conditions; Fresh dusting of powder. This will be topped up all day as it continues to snow throughout the […]