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Nozawa Onsen ski resort
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Nozawa Onsen

Asia

Nozawa Onsen

Closed for the season

Season ended May 6, 2026

Conditions data updated Sat, Aug 29, 12:00 PM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed May 6

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

1

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 29, 12:00 PM•Weather at base: 565m

Overview

Nozawa Onsen is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Season ended May 6, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-29 12:00 UTC.

Resort Guide

Nozawa Onsen is a historic ski resort located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, renowned for its abundant natural snow, traditional hot spring village atmosphere, and scenic mountain views. The resort features a large ski area with diverse terrain suitable for all levels, modern lift infrastructure, and a variety of runs including long cruisers and challenging slopes. Visitors can enjoy authentic Japanese culture, numerous public onsens, and a welcoming village with local dining and lodging options. Nozawa Onsen stands out for its blend of excellent skiing and rich cultural experiences rooted in centuries-old traditions.

Resort Info

Summit1650m
Base565m
Vertical1085m
Lifts19
Runs36
Skiable Area1813.5 acres
Average snowfall569 inches / 1444 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedMay 6, 2026
Projected openingNovember 28, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

No ski pass found

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Stay Bar – A cozy and vibrant après-ski spot in Nozawa Onsen, Stay Bar is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, creative cocktails, and regular live music events, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers and snowboarders to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

1650mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
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Now29
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S30
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M31
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T1
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W2
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T3
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F4
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Japanese Alps region

Current Conditions

Reported Sat, Aug 29, 12:00 PM UTC

Base

565m

Temp

20.8°C

Wind

1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

1108m

Temp

17.2°C

Wind

1km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

1650m

Temp

14.8°C

Wind

2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Nozawa Onsen El Niño rank & forecast

Nozawa Onsen ranks #429 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −17% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter: Strong El Niño winters ran clearly below this resort’s own baseline (≤ −8%). Still skiable — schedule late season; one storm cycle can beat the climatology.

#429 of 488Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

Strong-event signal: −17% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Nozawa Onsen averaged -17% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -30%, '15-16 -42%, '23-24 +20%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.

'97-98 −30%'15-16 −42%'23-24 +20%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Nozawa Onsen Webcams

All Webcams

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

7 webcams • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Nozawa Onsen (japan), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 29, 12:00 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
16 / 1444.5mm
Sun, Aug 30
21 / 1525.5mm
Mon, Aug 31
21 / 145.4mm
Tue, Sep 1
22 / 153mm
Wed, Sep 2
22 / 142.4mm
Thu, Sep 3
21 / 156.8mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)17.91511.6203.22.30.63.41.40.61.90.50.61.70.10.42.83.6
Temp (°C)151615172016182116182116182116181915
Wind (km/h)332371334545352563
Gusts (km/h)242311152713172416211919222418162621

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (1650m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

29

🌧️

16°

14°

4 km/h

Sun

30

🌦️

21.1°

14.8°

8 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

21.4°

14°

9 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

21.8°

14.6°

9 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

21.7°

14.1°

6 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

20.9°

14.5°

8 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

16.5°

11.9°

8 km/h

Sat

5

🌧️

16.3°

10.9°

9 km/h

Sun

6

🌧️

16.1°

10.6°

9 km/h

Mon

7

🌧️

13.6°

10.7°

10 km/h

Summit elevation (1650m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

No official warning service is mapped for this resort’s country yet (v1 covers the United States, Canada and Switzerland). A bulletin may still be published locally.

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Season vs Historic

Updated Sat, Aug 29, 12:00 PM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 559cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 487cm full-season avg

559cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~486.3 cm. That's 13% below the 5-year average (559 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: near the 30-year average (487 cm).

Nozawa Onsen Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 535cm with an average of 104 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November25.1cm7 days2cm11cm9.1cm
December127.1cm22 days28cm67cm18.1cm
January172.5cm27 days100cm134cm19.3cm
February118.6cm22 days142cm163cm15.9cm
March74.5cm19 days138cm160cm13.2cm
April16cm6 days73cm121cm6.3cm
May0.1cm0 days5cm34cm0.2cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Nov 28, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Nozawa Onsen, ERA5 season snowfall median was 486 cm (191 in), about 2% below this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

486 cm

10 El Niño winters · 2% below median

All-season median

497 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10486 cm382 cm – 605 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12518 cm426 cm – 683 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8489 cm375 cm – 659 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

January

Peak Powder

February

Peak Powder

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Nozawa Onsen

Where is Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen runs from a base elevation of 565 m (1,854 ft) to a summit of 1,650 m (5,413 ft), giving a vertical drop of 1,085 m (3,560 ft).
How big is Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen has 1,814 acres (734 hectares) of skiable terrain, 36 marked runs and 19 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen is on the No ski pass found. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen typically operates from November to May. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Nozawa Onsen get in a typical season?
Nozawa Onsen averages 569 inches / 1444 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Nozawa Onsen in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #429 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal -17% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Nozawa Onsen averaged -17% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -30%, '15-16 -42%, '23-24 +20%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.