Nozawa Onsen Accommodation, Nagano, The Alps Japan
Nozawa Onsen experiencing best season in many years. With over a 400cm base the season will be long so March and April will be still be good
Get in touch if keen to get knee deep in powder or neck deep in a Hot Spring soon…
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
Walking back from the Onsen. Snow walls are getting so high in Nozawa they are almost touching and creating a tunnel!
Base up top: 380 cm Temperature; -8 Degrees
Base at bottom; 290 cm
New Snow: 23cm
Hard to believe January is over and it was one of the snowiest we have had for a while. There were not many days that it did not snow in January! Looks like February has taken over where January left off with snow cascading pretty heavily from the sky today too.
The last two years in February we have had a warm spell shoot thru, kind of hoping we get it this year too. Time will tell but at this stage it is looking like life in snow motion will continue in Nozawa
It is cold today too, when I woke up my hot water bottle was frozen and I got an ice cream headache from just drinking the tap water! Pretty windy up high, they had to close the Nagasaka Gondola today for a few hours but it is up running again now.
On the mountain the powder party continues and guys were getting some amazing runs yesterday that will continue today as well with 20cm of fresh being recorded. The base figure is down however but may be just that the powder was blown around overnight.
Outllook is for moderate falls all day then heavy tomorrow afteroon. We may get a bit of sun Friday and Sunday but otherwise it is all snow marks on the forecast. Walk tall and carry a big shovel!
Nozawa Onsen doing its best impression of Tateyama teh famous snow wall region. Gettng higher by the hour!
Think you have a hard job? Spare a thought for the postie in Nozawa Onsen. Rain, hale or 4 meters of snow will not stop him
Base up top: 410 cm Temperature; -7 Degrees
Base at bottom; 305 cm
New Snow: 20cm Here comes the sun…
Has been a while but yesterday afternoon the sun burst on to the stage to create a magic day on the slopes.
With a 420cm base, a good overnight dump and very few crowds the stage was set for perfection. Snow conditions were excellent under foot on the groomers and up on the slopes of Yamabiko there was even a good coverage of powder that remained untouched for most of the morning.
Had some snow last night but the sun is out again this morning so should be another amazing day. Visibility is looking pretty good up top too so a chance to take a good look around.
The clearing of snow continues in the Village, the roofs are lined with people doing their best to take some of the weight off. Trucks and shovels are going hard below to take it away. A big ‘otsukaresama’ and well done to everyone in town for their efforts in the extreme conditions we have experienced.
The outlook is for more snowy days ahead. Not as heavy as was previously expected but still consistent good moderate falls for a while to come will keep you posted.
All this snow and then the sun hit to create the perfect day in Nozawa Onsen. Sliding home content...
Lubo the Snowman lapping up the amazing powder conditions in Nozawa at the moment
Base up top: 420 cm Temperature; -11 Degrees
Base at bottom; 300 cm
New Snow: 45 cm since close of lifts last night
Hard to believe but still snowing in Nozawa and has not stopped. This is one of the most consistent runs of heavy snowfall I can remember. Who knows if it keeps up we may challenge the next record of 530cm base set on February 5th 2006. The forecast is showing more moderate to heavy falls on the way so it may be a reality.
They have already started to dig out some of the snow below the lifts as they are becoming dangerously close to the runs below in places.
Yesterday on the mountain was another ridiculous day with more powder than a Johnson and Johnson factory! The sides of Skyline were like a natural half pipe with snow from the middle being pushed high up on the sides.
Today is even better with a lot less people to compete with for fresh tracks now the weekend crowd has gone. The official reports are showing a massive 45cm up top but less down low may have had something to do with the gusty Antarctic type conditions last night. There are fresh lines on offer everywhere, it is deep and mind blowing powder!
In the village now we are really praying for a break in the downpour so we can clear some of the snow before it gets dangerous. At this stage no sun on the horizon just more snow so for the lucky ones on the mountain strap on the powder boards and enjoy!
Checl out a day in the life from the door step of Villa Nozawa in this cool time lapse movie put together by Mark Jobson. Check out when the groomers roll in on the cat track above the lodge and the lights pretty awesome. Thanks Mark
Kanai san the local Suzuki Dealer in Nozawa Onsen has not been able to move a car for weeks now!
Base up top: 420 cm Temperature; -11 Degrees
Base at bottom; 310 cm
New Snow: 37 cm since close of lifts last night
Another 30cm of snow overnight has fallen and we now have a 420cm base in place with no end in sight. It is still snowing heavily this morning. Believe that gives us one of the biggest bases in Japan at the moment.
We had a few pauses in the snow last night but they were very short lived. The battle between man and snow continues and unfortunately it is a losing one. Even if we clear the snow there is limited space to put it so most have resorted to putting it in dump trucks and dumping it down in the river!
Yesterday on the mountain there was plenty of snow and also plenty of people. Meant that some areas were getting tracked out and moguls at a fairly quick rate. Still some amazing powder around and the sides of the runs was the safest place to explore.
Yuta and the team at Compass house are holding a demo day for Armada Skis up the top at Yamabiko today. Perfect timing and can guarantee the Fat Powder skis will be popular. It is free to demo so drop in and have a try.
With all this snow the risk of avalanches is prevalent so please observe the signs and warnings from the ski resort. It is pretty chilly up there too so stay safe and rug up.
Outlook is for light snow over the next two days apparently then a big dump on Tuesday night! Think it has already started…
Great Walls of snow behind Villa Nozawa. In summer on that plot they grow tomatoes! Irrigation should be good this year.
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!
