Pretty amazing to be in Nozawa when you can see some Cherry Blossoms and still get a few turns in on the slopes.
Base up top: 170 cm Temp Top; 0 Degrees
Base at bottom; 0 cm
New Snow since close: 0 cm
Weather; Foggy up top clear below
The first day of May and there has been a few coolish mornings in Nozawa and still have the Fire place warming us up at night. However day times are nice and warm now when the sun is out. Can get around in a T Shirt some days.
Golden week is in full spin and quite a few people strolling between the Onsens in traditional Yukata Kimonos and Geta sandals.
The Sakura or Cherry blossoms are also out and about in areas of Nozawa and look pretty impressive especially framed against the snow on the higher peaks. So a fun time to be in town and enjoy some great Japanese scenes.
On the snow front just under a week to go until the lifts stop turning for this season. Looks like we may get a dusting over night but would not get too excited at this time of the year. Then some nice sunny days to wind up the season. May even get up there in the T Shirt…
Hard to believe we are still getting a little bit of snow forecast for the top in May. Should be a nice sunny end to the season though.
by Mark on April 27, 2013
Great start to Golden Week in Nozawa Onsen with 5 cm of fresh snow gracing the upper slopes
Base up top: 195 cm Temp Top; -2 Degrees
Base at bottom; 0 cm
New Snow since close: 5 cm
Weather; Light Snow Clearing
Believe it or not there is some powder in them there hills! Just another ‘ Magic 5cm ‘ overnight but it is almost May so awesome to have some fresh snow to slide in.
Pretty cool even in the Village this morning and showing -2 degrees up top. Some early morning fog hanging about but that looks like it is clearing for what should be a great start to the Golden Week holiday on the slopes.
Runs open down to Mid station and the bottom of Paradise and still not many people about. So if you are sitting around wondering to do until May 6th Nozawa Onsen may be a good place to soak up the spring and a nice hot onsen.
by Mark on April 21, 2013
April is awesome strikes again with a 20cm dump in Nozawa Overnight
Base up top: 210 cm Temp Top; -3 Degrees
Base at bottom; 10 cm
New Snow since close: 15 cm
Weather; Snowing
Better keep the snow tires on for a little longer with a good dump of snow overnight in Nozawa all the way down to the Village.
With 15cm recorded on the higher slopes it should be a good little powder day for the few hard-core folk that are still around.
Still some really fun conditions around up top and still able to ski top to bottom! This little dump and the rest expected today should see us nicely thru to Golden Week. Don’t forget from 27th of April until May 6th all the way down to Paradise lift will be open for the whole time see below
Nozawa Onsen opening dates from 1st April to the end of season:
From 1st April until 6th May:
Nagasaka Gondola
Yamabiko Number 2 Four lift
Yamabiko Four lift
27th April until 6th May also the following
Uenotaira Four lift
Snow Park
Paradise Four lift
Courses open at Nozawa Onsen:
Yamabiko A
Yamabiko B
Yamabiko C
Yamabiko D
Yamabiko E
Uenotaira
Bunabayashi (to the Nagasaka Gondola mid station)
Paradise
Utopia A
Utopia B
Rinkan (until the Hikage area)
To get back to the Nagasaka Gondola from Rinkan use the shuttle bus from Isemiya course.
by Mark on April 11, 2013
April is Awesome may have to be the new catch phrase with another nice little dump overnight in Nozawa
Base up top: 245 cm Temp Top; -6 Degrees
Base at bottom; 40 cm
New Snow since close: 15 cm
Weather; Bluebird
Hold on to your Cherry Blossoms! A beautiful 15cm dump in Nozawa overnight and snow all the way down to the Village. A very picturesque day around town and an image we have not seen for quite sometime now.
Yesterday there was 5cm of fresh snow to enjoy and today will be 3 times that and great to see at this time of the year. Literally no one around to share it with either, so for the locals it will be a nice little spring gift.
Better wax up the powder boards and get out there.
Looking like some more snow tomorrow and then a sunny weekend. We have good availability at Lodge Nagano if anyone is keen for a mountain escape. Hope to see you on the slopes.
Still some nice lines to be had in the bowls in Nozawa
Base up top: 225 cm Temp Top; 2 Degrees
Base at bottom; 40 cm
New Snow since close: 0 cm
Weather; Sun shiny day
Another glorious day again up top in Nozawa Onsen. Yesterday was picture perfect with sun and pretty cold temps early on, got an ice-cream headache belting down Yamabiko about 11am. The groomers were nice and fast early on and there was a FIS Race taking place on A course.
Stayed pretty cool up top most of the day so the snow was nice and magic views across the valley. All the surrounding peaks have still got a nice cover but the Valleys are turning to green now.
Today is looking the same with clear skies and a little warmer up top. It should get colder tonight then snow is on the forecast tomorrow and up top should be nice. May have to pull the powder boards out again!
Is that Winter I see returning to the slopes of Nozawa. April dash maybe?
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.
Farmer getting ready for spring in the sun 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..
by Mark on March 31, 2013
The great Easter Egg hunt underway in Nozawa
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.
Monika from Switzerland helped the kids to pain some eggs for Easter
by Mark on March 29, 2013
by Mark on March 28, 2013
International School group from the Island of Bali enjoying the Spring skiing in Nozawa
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.
