Asia
Nozawa Onsen Resort Guide
Closed for the season
Best months to book: January, February, March · last season + 30-yr record
Scroll for happiness
Closed for the season — closed May 6
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
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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.
Gallery
Click to expand • 6 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Nozawa Onsen
Lifts
19
Skiable area
1813.5 ac
Longest run
10 km / 6.2 mi
Runs by difficulty(36 total)
Beginner
18
50% of terrain
Intermediate
11
30% of terrain
Advanced
7
20% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Gondola2
- Funicular1
Resort Info
Season dates
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.
Season vs Historic
Updated Tue, Sep 22, 01:00 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 Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Nozawa Onsen Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 535cm with an average of 104 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 40% above this average (750cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 25cm | 7 days | 2cm | 11cm | 9cm |
| December | 127cm | 22 days | 28cm | 67cm | 18cm |
| January | 173cm | 27 days | 100cm | 134cm | 19cm |
| February | 119cm | 22 days | 142cm | 163cm | 16cm |
| March | 75cm | 19 days | 138cm | 160cm | 13cm |
| April | 16cm | 6 days | 73cm | 121cm | 6cm |
| May | 0cm | 0 days | 5cm | 34cm | 0cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
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No full season on record
44 days scored, from 20 Mar
34
Best Day
3 Apr
0
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
3
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
March 2026
- 2921 Mar
- 2822 Mar
- 2720 Mar3cm
April 2026
- 343 Apr18cm
- 297 Apr2cm
- 252 Apr10cm
May 2026
- 103 May4cm
- 105 May2cm
- 81 May
March scored highest for Nozawa Onsen in 2025-26. Based on 44 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
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.
Best Months to Visit
January
Peak Powder
February
Peak Powder
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.
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.
