Weather
Nozawa Onsen was slammed by an extraordinary burst of snowfall January 25-26 with roughly 150 centimeters (1.5 meters, 4 feet) of snow falling in just over 24 hours, according to the resort, creating both deep powder conditions on the mountain and serious challenges for the village below. Resort staff described waking up to nearly a meter of fresh snow, with snowfall continuing steadily through the day, overwhelming streets, rooftops, and even groomed runs as skiers struggled to move through ultra-deep conditions.
After the storm finally eased, conditions began to stabilize, with light snow lingering in town and cleanup efforts underway. As of January 26, base depth reached 260 centimeters (7 feet)at the top of the mountain, with an additional 20 centimeters overnight on top of the previous day’s 130-centimeter dump. Temperatures remained cold, with a top temperature of minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6ºF), and most of the mountain was scheduled to open, though the Challenger and Utopia lifts appeared closed. The resort said the intense snowfall had finally paused, with clearer conditions expected before another round of approximately 30 centimeters arrives Tuesday night, adding to what is already shaping up to be a standout season in one of Japan’s snowiest destinations.
Nozawa Onsen is both a traditional hot-spring village and a major ski resort, known for deep snowfall from Siberian storms crossing the Sea of Japan. The village dates back more than 1,000 years and is famous for its free public onsens, narrow streets, and strong local ski culture.
Photos, Courtesy of Nozawa Onsen
