In truth, the only group of skiers that might be left feeling slightly short-changed in Nozawa Onsen is intermediates. Although some 30% of the runs here are rated red (intermediate), it feels very much less than that, with plenty of easy terrain and lots of tougher expert runs abounding. The Challenge area beyond Hikage features the excellent Challenge course (no. 17), which we would recommend for both intermediates and experts alike. Similarly, the runs down from the top of Yamabiko are all fun, and offer up views all the way to the Sea of Japan on a clear day. Most of the other notable intermediate runs are sandwiched between easy runs or are simply too short to be truly memorable.
The Sky Line is a real jaw-dropper
One absolutely unique intermediate run is the 3.5 km Sky Line (no.26). This run feels truly special as it winds its way along the crest of a spine down from the observatory at 1,450 m. The hill drops down steeply on both sides of this groomer which also offers up a variety of different gradients along the way. We have never experienced a run like it before and all visitors to Nozawa Onsen should try it at least once. The only downside is its difficult accessibility from the bottom, requiring skiers to ride down to Nagasaka, take the Gondola and then Sky Line Link in order to try the run again (a trip that probably takes some 30 – 45 minutes).
Experts head for Schneider
Experts who enjoy steep and demanding terrain will be in their element here. The locals didn’t hesitate in recommending the Schneider course (no. 16) to us and we weren’t disappointed. It was a pretty thrilling run given the fresh dump of snow we were lucky enough to have had. Advanced skiers can also test themselves against the 39-degree wall challenge (no. 18), a short, sharp slope down from Paradise. The runs down into the valleys from the bottom of the Sky Line such as Grand Prix (no. 27) and Hachiman (no. 36) are double-black runs at heart and will challenge any skier. If moguls are your thing then Utopia A (no. 19) down from the Schneider course is the place to be.