Rentals Lessons Lifts Nozawa Take of two mountains in Nozawa What a rippa of a day it was yesterday! Rippa is a Japanese word which means the same as the English equivalent a ripper of a day. Always nice to get a cold blast in late March and the little top up of snow was much appreciated. In Spring I often ski without gloves but yesterday I wish I had have worn them as the temps stayed nice and cold keeping the piste fresh. The top was great and spent most of the day up at Yamabiko. As expected it got slushy and a bit sparse in places on the lower slopes but still able to ski top to bottom […]
Ski Board Rental Nozawa
Late March Snow Nozawa
Late March Snow Nozawa A little blast from Winters past today in Nozawa Had the fire on last night for the first time in a while as the mercury dropped in the village. Waking up to the resort reporting 9cm of fresh snow up top at Yamabiko overnight. With temps sitting at -2 degrees and should remain cool most of the day we are in for a pleasant winter treat on the mountain today. The last few days have been a bit bleak but for those that braved the elements they still managed to have a good time on the slopes. Weekend crowds will be all gone today and it should be a bit of a private ski resort. Check […]
Spring Skiing Fun Japan
Spring Skiing Fun Japan You could have been here yesterday… What a magic March day it was yesterday on the slopes in Nozawa. The 15 plus centimetres we received the day before, sunshine and cool temps up high making all the difference. One of the gang that have been here for a while said was his best day all season. Perfect on the piste and some fun in the bit of powder amongst the trees. Plenty of people about for the quasi long weekend and a great vibe on the slopes and at the restaurants. Demo day on as well so lots of cool new gear gliding down the mountain. The sun coming out now for what looks like another […]
Best Ski March Japan
Best Ski March Japan Bluebird Sunday in Nozawa Onsen The sun is just starting to peak over Mt Kenashi this morning and it is shaping up to be a picture perfect day in Nozawa Onsen. We ended up getting 15cm of fresh snow through the day up top at Yamabiko. Given the time of the year it was not the dry powder we are used to but a nice top up all the same. Feast your eyes on the web cams up top this morning with beautiful blue skies and the trees glistening in the white gold. https://nozawa-onsen.com/nozawa-webcams/ Big night in town last night with the streets buzzing under the festival, race rewards and busy weekend. Not many overseas guests […]
Powder Skis Boards Nozawa
Powder Skis Boards Nozawa Get your powder fill in Nozawa Yesterday was truly deep with the depth gauges recording 50cm fallen yesterday during operational hours and 23cm has fallen overnight last night since last chair, we are indeed in for a special Japanese winters day. The base has hit the peak for the season at 335cm up at Yamabiko this morning. We had a massive 110cm in 24 hours up to close yesterday. We have been blessed with that Magic Metre! Even with the groomers working double time, powder is still to be had every and anywhere on the mountain. So throw on some wider planks. Powder will be deepest in the trees so be weary of tree wells. Powder […]
Snowy Day Nozawa Onsen
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 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 […]