Nozawa Onsen receives the heaviest snowfall in Nagano Prefecture – averaging 14 meters of freshies every year. As a result, the season stretches from December (or occasionally mid-November) through to the beginning of May. This is all the more impressive considering that you won’t see a single snow blower anywhere on the mountain here – all 50 kilometres of trails are fed entirely on 100% natural snowfall.
Low altitude can be problematic
It may seem a little odd not to give a resort which has averaged 14 metres a year since 2004 top marks when it comes to its snow. The only minor issue for the ski area is its low altitude compared to neighbouring mountains like Shiga Kogen. Although this won’t mean skiing over muddy snow and rocks, it does mean that the famous Japanese powder isn’t quite as weightless and dry as elsewhere. Indeed, we experienced a rainy day during our stay, while the same storm front actually brought snow to other nearby ski areas. Nevertheless, the snow quality and depth was still exceptional for the most part and a world away from the conditions most Europeans will be used to.