April may have some snow install for us yet in Nozawa

Base up top: 230 cm        Temp Top; 3 Degrees

Base at bottom; 40 cm

New Snow since close: 0 cm

Weather; Clearing to Sunshine

After a bit of a rough few days the sun is peeping out again in Nozawa. The weather has been unseasonably warm and had a feeling we may not see much snow again this season.

Checking the weather forecast though and looks like a strong Westerly change and a big drop in temperatures today. Freezing level should drop down to below 1000m and as you can see there are some little falls expected for the top of the mountain.

Don’t think it will amount to any waist deep powder but nice to see some cooler temps about. Tomorrow and Tuesday are looking like blue skies and should be some fun spring skiing on offer. The Nagasaka Gondola is back in full swing too. Lots of families are up enjoying the warmer days and spring slush.

Making tracks near Nozawa House

Base up top: 255 cm        Temp Top; 1 Degree

Base at bottom; 55 cm

New Snow since close: 0 cm

Weather; Clearing to Sunshine

After an ordinary day yesterday the sun is breaking thru this morning in Nozawa and we should be in for a few clear days ahead.

We got hit with a bit of rain yesterday unfortunately but also a little bit of snow on the upper slopes so should be not a bad spring day on the hill.

Pretty much empty now on the slopes and can ski some runs and not see another soul. Spring conditions look set to continue and we may get a bit more of a shower but believe it or not temps are set to drop from Monday on and we may get a bit of snow next week. Fingers crossed and enjoy the sunshine..

Monika from Switzerland helped the Kids at Villa Nozawa paint som eggs for the Easter egg hunt. Base up top: 260 cm        Temp Top; 2 Degrees

Base at bottom; 75 cm

New Snow since close: 0 cm

Weather; Overcast light snow up top

There was a bit of a buzz around the Lodge this morning as the Easter Bunny had hidden a few eggs and the 15 odd kids we have here at the moment were on a mad hunt to find them. Then they were excited to hit the slopes.

Some good news on the snow front too, with an Easter dusting of snow up top of the mountain. The last few days we have had fog covering the top slopes making visibility limited but this morning was much clearer.

Looks like a bluebird day tomorrow with Sunshine on the slopes. Temps are climbing up again and may be some rain on the menu and a bit of snow Tuesday night followed by some more Spring sun.

From tomorrow the lower lifts and shuttle bus will come to an end. The top lifts and main Nagasaka Gondola will remain open and can still ski top to bottom so come up and enjoy the Spring ski season. Lift tickets are also reduced from tomorrow.

Easter egg hunt then up the slopes in Easter Day in Nozawa

International School Group from Bali enjoying the spring skiing in Nozawa Onsen

Beautiful Spring day on the Slopes in Nozawa

Base up top: 275 cm        Temp Top; 5 Degrees

Base at bottom; 95 cm

New Snow since close: 0 cm

Weather; Spring Skiing

Nice warm Spring day here in Nozawa Onsen. Clear skies with beautiful views across the valley today.

Still nice conditions up top but will be a bit slushy down low. Yesterday was also a great day and the snow was pretty fast up top but slower down below

Temperatures should drop from tomorrow and will hopefully go back into the negatives up top. Not a lot of snow on the radar but that may change. Only a few more days and we are officially in Spring. Lots of families in town now and they are having a ball and enjoying the warmer days.

Bluebird start to the day in Nozawa, great time to be in the Mountains. Photo by Milly thanks for posting

Base up top: 290 cm        Temp Top; -8 Degrees

Base at bottom; 100 cm

New Snow since close: 10 cm

Weather; Sun and Fun

As was forecast we got blessed with a nice little top up of snow overnight in Nozawa. It was not heavy in the Village but snowed off and on through the night and then the sun burst out this morning.

Had a scoot around the lower slopes this morning and was nice conditions. One of the Instructors sent me this shot from the top at Yamabiko early and it looks beautiful.

Pretty cold temps early but should rise over the next few days and some sunshine. Next decent fall is forecast for April 1^st lets hope it is not April Fools!

April signals the official start of spring and with the current base should be some fun spring conditions ahead in Nozawa. Hope to see you up here..

Enjoy Nozawa Onsen.

Base up top: 285cm        Temp Top; +4 Degrees

Base at bottom: 105cm

New Snow since close: 0cm

We woke to a cool partly cloudy morning in Nozawa Onsen. Since then temperatures warmed from -4C at the summit and we now have positive temps across the mountain. As a result the snow will be slushy; but less so at the top. Winds are light and crowds are also quite low for a Sunday.

The picks today will be the challenge area pistes earlier and then Yamabiko after lunch with the two natural pipes in fine form. The terrain park will be good with the slushy conditions. We expect clear sunny conditions to last the day.

Yesterday was cold and as a result it was icy the majority of the day, both on the groomers and through the trees. Fast testing conditions challenged your ability to hold an edge and made for a thrilling day on the mountain.

Looking at the forecast ahead we should see a gradually cooling day tomorrow, with possible decent snowfalls tomorrow night. Around 5-20cm is expected from this system. Beginning Wednesday we should see warm spring conditions until Thursday night when another cool front is forecast to pass over, with possible snow showers. Another run of sunny spring days is expected following this.

This will be my last report for the season as tomorrow unfortunately I fly back home to the real world in Australia. What a season it has been though! We saw countless deep powder days through January, especially the second half. Then from around the 10^th till 26^th of February we had some of the best weeks of the season with consistent powder and very cold temperatures. That being said the season is by no means over with over a month before the last lifts spin. A deep snowpack at higher elevations will ensure great riding until this time.

I hope all Nozawa Onsen followers have enjoyed reading these reports and viewing my accompanying photographs. It has give me great pleasure writing and taking them.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all who have skied or boarded in Nozawa Onsen this season, both staff and tourists. It’s not only the epic skiing that we’ve shared, but meeting such a friendly, happy and genuine group of people are my most cherished memories. You guys have made this time a highlight of my life.

Thanks all and see you in Nozawa Onsen again this December. Shaun Mittwollen.

The cooking onsen markets in Nozawa. Selling all kinds of local produce.

Base up top: 285cm        Temp Top; -4 Degrees

Base at bottom: 110cm

New Snow since close: 0cm

At the moment we have some overcast conditions in Nozawa Onsen. There were some very light flurries down in the village earlier, but these seem to have stopped for the time being. As expected, we received only light falls, with just a dusting being recorded overnight. Temperatures are cool with -4C at the summit and just above freezing in the village.

Groomed runs will be good with firm and fast conditions lasting all day. The trees will be better than yesterday, although icy with the freeze thaw conditions we had recently. It’s pretty quite on the mountain considering today is a Saturday.

Yesterday was good in the morning, but intense spring sunshine heated the snowpack more than expected. Off and on piste were both great early, but by the afternoon became very slow, especially at lower elevations. It seems the best runs are to be had in the morning at the moment with conditions after lunch generally slushy.

Looking at the current predictions we should see the weather gradually clear throughout today. Tomorrow will be partly cloudy and warmer than today. Monday we expected snowfalls and cold temperatures beginning sometime around lunchtime.

Live music and sake in Nozawa Onsen.

Base up top: 290cm        Temp Top; -1 Degrees

Base at bottom: 120cm

New Snow since close: 0cm

It’s another picture perfect morning in Nozawa. Light winds, clear skies and still plenty of fresh snow on offer. Great day for a ski or board!

Best riding will be had on the upper slopes where continual below freezing temperatures have maintained excellent snow quality, with the odd powder stash. Groomed runs will be silky smooth and remain that way as the day draws on. Lower pistes will be firm and fast early, becoming slushy around lunch.

Reports suggest that the spectacular cherry blossoms are coming out in Tokyo at the moment, a sight well worth checking out. Spring is a great time to visit Japan with great skiing right up till May in Nozawa Onsen and other resorts. Afterwards some great hikes, climbs to craggy peaks and steaming volcanoes open up.

Yesterday was a superb day, perhaps one of the best this March, or at least the past few weeks. Excellent windblown powder stashes that were deep at times in the gullies were on offer. Extremely low crowd levels combined with cold temperatures ensured the powder remained in excellent condition and provided fresh tracks well after lunchtime.

An improved forecast will keep the powder hound happy and hunting. We expect further snow to fall overnight tonight and again on Monday; continuing into Tuesday. In the mix well also expect some cool sunny weather on Sunday. It’s nice to have a prolonged period of cool weather forecast after the warmth we’ve experience during March so far.

Almost this good out there today.

Base up top: 295cm        Temp Top; -6 Degrees

Base at bottom: 120cm

New Snow since close: 5cm

What an awesome morning it is! We have had a moderate dump of fresh Japan powder overnight with 5cm at Yamabiko, 8cm at Uenotaira. However reports from the mountain suggest more than a few much deeper light dry windblown stashes with many areas about knee deep, especially in the higher elevation gullies.

Light snowfalls are continuing at present and extremely low crowd levels will ensure fresh tracks will be easily found all day long. The gondola line was maybe 15 people waiting at opening. On a powder day this is a testament to how uncrowded the slopes are. For those with the means, get out there and enjoy!

Yesterday was a fine day. The snow remained slushy but did not get too slow. Best areas were the top half of the mountain as well as the challenge area. We had cloud last most of the day however thankfully forecast rainfalls did not eventuate.

Looking ahead, cold conditions should last the rest of today with occasional snow showers passing through. Tomorrow should be warmer than today and we expect some sun to make an appearance. Light snow showers are a possibility tomorrow night so we may have some more powder come Saturday morning. We are set for another cold spell Monday Tuesday next week with some decent snowfalls expected.

The night sky above Nozawa Onsen. Lights of Nagano in the distance.

Base up top: 290cm        Temp Top; +2 Degrees

Base at bottom: 115cm

New Snow since close: 0cm

It’s an overcast morning today in Nozawa Onsen. Winds are light across the resort and the mountain is very uncrowded indeed. Snow conditions today will be forgiving and slushy with positive temperatures measured from top to bottom.

Like yesterday the groomed runs will offer the best turns, especially those found in the Yamabiko area. It’s an excellent day to practice in the park and the mogul runs are also in fine form.

Off piste runs are very dangerous at the moment with numerous wet, heavy slides on the steeper pitches. Massive horizontal cracks, mostly unseen from above, have formed exposing the vegetation and soil below. Not something you want to fall into.

Yesterday was good considering the conditions. The slushy groomed runs remained fast all day although there was some debris on the snow from the winds the day before. It was sunny in the morning before some heavy mist and clouds moved over around lunchtime. Visibility was obscured above about 1000 meters, but below that remained good.

At the moment the forecast looks quite nice. After some showers this afternoon we should experience some moderate snow and very cold temperatures overnight. With a bit of luck there will be some deep powder on offer tomorrow. Looking further ahead, more light snow is predicted on Saturday.