How much snow does Nozawa Onsen get, when does it open, and how to read the 7-day forecast before you book.
Snow at Nozawa Onsen Nozawa sits in northern Nagano where Sea of Japan storms stall against the mountains. Mid-winter base depths commonly sit in the 200-300 cm range at the upper station, with the deepest readings from late January into February.
Season window Typical opening: late November to early December, upper lifts first Peak conditions: mid-January to late February Typical closing: early May on the Yamabiko side Reading the forecast Check the daily snowfall column rather than the total depth. Two consecutive days of 15 cm or more usually means untracked snow in the trees the following morning.
Wind matters too: strong westerlies close the top lifts even on a big snow day. Plan around it Live snow and 7-day forecast: Nozawa Onsen resort page Opening and closing dates for every resort: season calendar Check conditions yourself: live cameras The village onsen and steep upper terrain make Nozawa a strong choice for a January trip when snow is most reliable.