Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort opened on Saturday, November 30th. The 2024-2025 season marks the start of the resort's 101st year. Tomomi Nakamura, who moved to Nozawa Onsen this spring, reports on the long-awaited first day of skiing!
November 30th (Saturday), 8am -3°C, 30cm of snow on the summit
I was wondering if the slopes would still be open for a while, but Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort announced its opening a week ago. The long-awaited winter season has finally arrived. I was worried, wondering if they would actually be able to open, but I went to Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, which safely opened on November 30th!
When I woke up in the morning, it was raining in the hot spring town of Nozawa Onsen Village.
Believing that it would be snowing on the mountaintop, we got ready and headed to the ski resort.
When we arrived at the ski resort parking lot at 8am, we saw cars with license plates from not only Nagano Prefecture but also Tokyo, Kanto, and Kansai, lined up, and we could see firsthand that many skiers and snowboarders had been looking forward to the opening of the ski resort today.
"There's a lot of snowfall in the Hakuba area, and when it snows there, there's less snow in Nozawa Onsen. Hopefully it will start snowing towards mid-December," we overheard a local saying. At 8:30, the gates to the Nagasaka Gondola station opened, accompanied by a greeting from Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort President Katagiri. People boarded the gondolas one after another and headed towards the summit
The Nagasaka Gondola, which was renovated four years ago, can accommodate just 10 people. It is known for its fast turnaround time, taking just eight minutes to reach the summit, so even during peak season, when long lines form, you can still board smoothly
A gradation of autumn leaves and snow scenery that can only be seen now
As we rode the gondola towards the summit, we looked back and saw the snowy landscape and the gradation of autumn leaves, which gave us a sense of the beginning of winter. This is also a sight that can only be seen at a ski resort that has just opened
The available courses are D and E (uncompressed snow) on either side of the Yamabiko No. 2 Fourth Lift
Contrary to previous information that only one run on Yamabiko Slope would be open, two runs, D and E, were actually open. This allowed for a relatively relaxed skiing experience without crowding in one area.
The start of Run D has a gentle slope, making it ideal for checking the condition of the skis during the season. Turning left at the fork, the run narrows and the slope becomes steeper, so you'll need to control your speed.
"SLOW" signs and red poles warn you to slow down, so be sure to do so. During the high season, there's snow on both sides, making the run wider. However, there isn't enough snow yet, so skiers must be considerate of others as they ski. Furthermore, because this slope is exposed to sunlight, snow tends to harden easily.
The ungroomed E course has a steep slope and is suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. Although it is not expected to have as much snow as in the peak season, it is still a course that can be enjoyed at the start of the season. Also, there is only one lift in operation, so there will be a wait of about 5 minutes. I felt that this was just the right interval to ski slowly and warm up your legs
On the first day of opening, professional skier Kenji Kono, Ueno Manami, who competed in the halfpipe at the Sochi Olympics, and Ueno Yudai, who was his coach at the time, all visited the slopes. Now that the season is underway and there are not many visitors, it's possible to catch a glimpse of some private shots of them skiing with their children.
If you spot a skier skiing at a high level, they may be a famous skier who grew up in Nozawa Onsen and has competed on the world stage.
The restaurant is also empty and comfortable!
As only the Yamabiko No. 2 four-lift was in operation, the only restaurant open was Rest House Yamabiko. It seemed like the number of people using the restaurant increased from around 10:30, but it wasn't too crowded and we were able to have a comfortable time
I was so happy to be able to enjoy my favorite "Nozawana Lamb Steak Rice" right from the start of the season! I'll save the new menu item "Beef Stew Doria Nozawana Rice" for next time
Nozawa Onsen: Fun after-ski fun
After leaving the slopes and descending to the hot spring town, it's fun to stroll around eating and drinking, mainly on Oyu Street, where many shops are gathered. One of the recommended things to do is to take a stroll around the village, where a variety of new and old buildings line the streets, with a map distributed at the tourist information center and a stamp book for sale in hand
The map is updated every year, and new stores have been added this year
One of them, Pole Pole Coffee, located on the main street where the central bus terminal is located, serves hot drinks such as coffee and chai lattes along with homemade cakes and cookies
The bright and spacious interior is a great place to chat with friends about today's ride over a cup of coffee, or to relax and read a book by yourself
Not just an outdoor bath! The newly renovated "Furusato no Yu"
Many people think that a visit to Nozawa Onsen is a must-do after skiing! One of the unique features of Nozawa Onsen is the "outdoor bath" culture, which is open to tourists visiting the village. There are 13 outdoor baths where you can bathe by putting an offering in the offering box, but when you actually take a look inside, there are no showers and they are simple baths where you pour water over yourself before getting in, so some people may be confused and wonder, "How do you use the bath?"
For those people, we recommend Ogama Onsen's "Furusato no Yu." With the expansion of the rest area and women's powder room following the renovation in October, "Furusato no Yu" is the only bath that can fulfill requests such as those who want to take a long soak in the bath or enjoy a snow-viewing bath in an open-air bath
Nozawa Onsen Village is so crowded during the peak season that it is overflowing with people. However, with the winter season just beginning, the village has a unique, relaxed atmosphere that can only be experienced now, and an atmosphere that blends the old and the new that cannot be found in the city, making it a very charming place
Information
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
Official Website: https://nozawaski.com/
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