Nozawa Onsen Accommodation, Nagano, The Alps Japan
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort set to Open December 3rd
Popular times are filling fast so get in touch if keen to get knee deep in powder or neck deep in a Hot Spring this winter…
Updated November 20, 2011: Nestled in the Japan Alps is a magical place steeped in culture and with some terrific skiing and boarding. Nagano was home to the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Nozawa Onsen is a very traditional town with beautiful hot springs, friendly locals, and awesome snow. Our Lodge gives you amazing value and we have a range of accommodation to suit any budget.
- The Lodge is only 100m to the slopes and short stroll to town
- Relaxed and comfortable atmosphere
- In the centre of Japan’s main Island Honshu easy access from anywhere
- You can fly direct to Tokyo or Nagoya and there is a shuttle bus direct to the Lodge
- English and Japanese Speaking Staff to help with all your needs
- Unique and beautiful place with breathtaking nature and culture
- Nozawa Village is also famous for its hot springs, there are many nearby
- Lots of terrain, with Gondolas, high speed quads, and long runs – very few lift lines
- And of course, there’s plenty to do in Nozawa Onsen
- Find out more about Nozawa Onsen
Printable Information Kit for Nozawa Onsen
The new printable PDF 9 page Nozawa Onsen Information Kit (including how to get to Nozawa Onsen).
Check our our NEW Restaurant & Bar Guide! (PDF)
Nozawa Onsen received a terrific write up in an Australian travel newspaper section.
Top 5 Reasons To Ski In Japan
Check out this great article from the Sydney Morning Herald on the Top Five Reasons to Ski In Japan.
We proudly own and operate 4 fantastic accommodation properties in Nozawa Onsen!
Over the next few weeks we’ll be updating so if you’re looking to ski Japan then you won’t find a better deal!
by Mark on January 28, 2012
Walls of snow in Nozawa Onsen. With a 200cm falling in 2 days it is challenging times for the locals
Base up top: 405 cm Temperature; -7 Degrees
Base at bottom; 310 cm
New Snow: 50 cm since close of lifts last night
Think it is time for the snow dance to take a break or the unbelievable will soon become the unlivable!
Has been snowing heavily again overnight in Nozawa Onsen and since the lifts closed yesterday we have had another 50cm. That makes it about 200cm in just 2 days I think, but starting to lose count! Hard to believe and even harder to shovel!
The base up top is now over 4 meters so we are in record territory. I am still not sure it is a great thing for skiers and boarders or not but for us that own houses here it is a big challenge to clear the roads and prevent windows and roofs from getting snowed under.
On the slopes there are still a few big grins coming down for those in the know on where to go to handle all this snow. A few of the guys were looping 39 degrees yesterday and had some stories and footage of neck deep powder runs. But be careful as if get stuck in the deep stuff it is a lot of hard work to dig yourself out so best to stay on piste for now.
The groomers also are flowing better today with the team from the resort getting in and doing some serious grooming thru until the early hours of this morning. Lucky too as we have a fairly decent weekend crowd making the adventurous trip into town. More than I had expected, with all the news thought a few may be put off but seems everyone is interested to see how this much snow actually looks!
Anyone coming up please take care on the roads. Have seen a few accidents over the last few days. The trains and buses are running but have been experiencing some delays. Stay safe and feel free to jump on the end of a shovel and lend a hand!
A fish board or really fat skis best option at the moment in Nozawa Onsen. Even on the groomed runs! Skyline straightline!
by Mark on January 27, 2012
The house down the road like us getting swallowed in a sea of snow!
Base up top: 370 cm Temperature; -7 Degrees
Base at bottom; 280 cm
New Snow: 40 cm Plus 30cm since the last report so lots!
It is phenomenal! The snow just keeps coming in Nozawa Onsen. There is so much the call of ‘too much snow’ is being heard on the lifts and in the bars. Nozawa even made the National News today as being one of the snowiest places in Japan!
We had 1 meter of snow yesterday in total, 65cm at night then another 35cm during the day. The heavens finally stopped thumping us late in the afternoon just in time for a BBQ!
There has been at least another 30cm plus of snow fall since 2 am this morning probably more and there are still huge flakes flowing from the sky now as I type.
Yesterday was an epic day on the mountain, just had to find somewhere steep enough to get you sliding. If you did but the rewards were insane with chest deep runs in places. In many spots including the trees at Yamabiko it was just too deep anyone venturing in got stuck and took up to 2 hours to dig themselves out and back on the safety of a groomer.
Today even the groomers are like powder runs and some of the flatter ones it is hard to get the speed to cruise thru the ever-building powder! More heavy snow forecast thru to tonight so it is going to be a wild ride. Hang on and good luck!
The snow meter pole at Yamabiko in Nozawa Onsen. The bottom record snow fall is 380cm in 1997 we should pass that in a few hours!
by Mark on January 26, 2012
January 26th 2012; 70cm of fresh. Keisuke san trying to dig a path out of the Lodge at Villa Nozawa to get the eager powder hounds up the slopes
Base up top: 340 cm Temperature; -9 Degrees
Base at bottom; 250 cm
New Snow: 65 cm
We are getting absolutely buried in new snow in Nozawa Onsen today. Official reports are showing up to 65cm up top we are struggling to shovel 70cm in the driveway just to get all the eager powder hounds out the front door and up the slopes!
It started on my way to the Onsen last night around midnight and by the time I had come out there was 10cm on the ground. I gathered a further 5cm on my head on the way home! It just continued dumping all night and is still heavy now with no sign of stopping! Nice light fluffy snow with first tracks almost every run. The groomers are back out on teh slopes this morning to try and make some groomed runs for the non initiated!
Anyway better go and get in some valuable research up the mountain for you all! Stay safe and have an awesome day it is going to be deep. May need more than the snorkel, maybe pack a periscope today!
Tools of the trade. Kanamori Sports in Nozawa Onsen. Think they will have a busy day on shovel sales today
by Mark on January 25, 2012
Midday dump at Nagasaka in Nozawa Onsen
Base up top: 295 cm Temperature; -7 Degrees
Base at bottom; 200 cm
New Snow: 12 cm
A blizzard in Nozawa just hit us and the whole place has turned white. Up top is a bit of a white out and lots of guys came back down early. The good news is we have had over 10cm of fresh snow in about 2 hours and it is starting to ease!
It started this morning like it finished yesterday nice and sunny but some dark clouds rolled in and it quickly changed. Yesterday was an amazing day on the mountain with 30cm of fresh and beautiful sunshine. Some of the season long gang were claiming it as the best day of the season. But I have heard that mentioned a few times before!
The best may be ahead of us with a few heavy dumps and lots of snowman marks on the radar. So dig out the powder straps and hang on for a great ride.
Alison Szymik enjoying a few face shots at Yamabiko photo by Matt Chamberlain. This lucky pair are here for a whole month!
by Mark on January 24, 2012
Gab from Switzerland - Manager of Villa Nozawa and all round nice guy laying it down in the trees at Yamabiko
Base up top: 300 cm Temperature; -8 Degrees
Base at bottom; 210 cm
New Snow: 30 cm
There were no friends around the breakfast table this morning. With the fresh delivery of a magic foot of light fluffy snow overnight everyone was scrambling over the scrambled eggs to get out the door and up the mountain.
The dump we had been expecting tonight came early to everyone’s delight and it snowed heavily most of the night with 30cm been recorded when we woke up this morning. Still snowing lightly now with the sun trying to break thru the clouds but meeting a fair bit of resistance.
Will be an amazing day on the mountain today and all the gang that have been waiting for the powder will be breathing a sigh of relief after a bit of a dry patch. A film crew has been in town to make the new Nozawa promo flick so good timing. They were getting deep into the culture last night at the Karaoke bar and some of the moves were definitely worthy of a spot in the final cut!
The outlook is for the snow to continue fairly gradually, the peak being another decent dump tomorrow night. Once again the happiness is big in Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen village driving in this morning 24th of January after a 30cm dump
