It's finally starting! Spring skiing in Nozawa Onsen | The spring terrain is even more fun!

Skier: Tomohiro Murai Photo: Daniel Honda

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort boasts one of Japan's largest ski resorts, a famous hot spring town brimming with Japanese atmosphere and a mountain famous for its famous hot springs that represent Shinshu. With an elevation difference of 1,085m from the summit to the bottom, the resort boasts one of the largest ski runs in Japan for a single ski resort, with 44 courses. Nozawa Onsen's appeal lies in the abundance of high-quality natural snow throughout the season, its vast slopes, long runs, and rich natural terrain

Powder hunting in the dead of winter is of course the best, but even as spring approaches in the mountains (early March), the weather tends to be stable and the snow quality is good, making the mountains even more enjoyable. Let's take a look at what it's like

Spring mountain fun with the COMPASS HOUSE team

As we approach spring (early March), we spent some time in the mountains with staff from Nozawa Onsen pro shop COMPASS HOUSE and ARMADA advisory pro rider Murai Tomohiro, young rider Higuchi Eigo, who has won the Shiroi Koibito Park Air three times, and Japanese-Brazilian photographer Daniel HONDA, who was based at Nozawa Shirakaba in the 2021-2022 season, and asked them about the charms of Nozawa Onsen

The great thing about Nozawa Onsen is that you can enjoy it whether it's raining or not

We asked Tomohiro, "What is the appeal of the mountains of Nozawa Onsen from the perspective of a local professional rider?" "There are so many things to list, but," Tomohiro replied, and the following quickly came to mind. First and foremost, "It's fun whether it snows or not. Once you get off the Nagasaka Gondola, you can have a blast anywhere. On top of that, I guess it's like this."

- Long run distances!
- Lots of steep slopes for high-speed skiing!
- The skyline is amazing!
- The powder in the high season is the best. A good season resets every day!
- Yamabiko-no-sawa is incredibly fun in spring!
- In spring, even if it rains at the bottom, there's often powder at the top!
- The season is long!

As Tomohiro says, Nozawa Onsen's season is long, with the 2021-2022 season running from November 27th to May 8th. In addition to the natural snow they are proud of, the introduction of snow machines this season has ensured that the season starts early. Each season has its own charm and ways to enjoy it, which is only possible with such a long season

"At the start of the season, we mainly go to the Yamabiko area at the top of the slope, where snow comes in early. We sometimes get powder snow from the first day the slopes open. In the high season, you can either go down from Yamabiko, catching powder as you go, or you can go straight to the lower area, which has many steep slopes."

Here's my favorite morning routine when it's powdery:
Morning 1: Yamabiko → Challenge (steepest slope) → Lower steep slope
Morning 2: Skyline → Jumping or Grand Prix
Morning 3: Ushikubi high-speed ride　　
And finally, I look for leftover powder.

"When it doesn't snow, my go-to routine is to enjoy grooming at Yamabiko → Skyline. The forest courses are fun too," he says. I'll have to try it when I go skiing at Nozawa.

In spring, you can explore the terrain at Yamabiko Stream! If you get caught in the occasional heavy snowfall, you're super lucky

The Yamabiko area, which extends from the summit of Mt. Kenashi at the top of the ski resort, is at a high altitude of 1,650m, so conditions rarely deteriorate. As spring approaches, the weather generally stabilizes, but surprisingly, even in April, heavy snow can fall in Yamabiko.
"If you hit the spring powder, you're incredibly lucky. In early spring, the grooming in Yamabiko is also wonderful. You can ski long distances, and you can even play in the park at Uenohira. But among all of that, the absolute must-do in Nozawa in spring is playing around in the terrain of the Yamabiko stream. It's incredibly fun." We
headed to the Yamabiko stream while chatting like this.

This "Yamabiko Sawa" offers a variety of fun experiences, such as flying off the natural pipe-like walls as shown in the photo, or sliding down the walls like a natural banked slalom. Skiing through from above is quite challenging, and it's like a small natural ski cross course, offering a thrilling experience that is in a league of its own compared to powder

Tomohiro and Eigo found good spots and flew stylishly, enjoying the undulating terrain of the stream

Kaminodaira Snow Park is also packed with new items as spring approaches!

Kaminodaira Snow Park, located in Kaminodaira, has also been upgraded for spring. The park has been significantly improved with more features, including mini boxes and waves that even beginners can enjoy. Staff update the park daily on Instagram, so be sure to check it out

On the way down from Nagasaka Gondola Station, you can stop by the park and enjoy a slopestyle-style ride while playing with the equipment. Nozawa Park is great because it's easy and relaxed

[Snow Park Items]

4m Mini Box, 4m Mini Rainbow
, 6m Rainbow Box, 6m Narrow Box
, Bellows Pipe, Continuous Wave,
5m Kicker x 3, 7m Kicker x 1
, Wave Jump x 2

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Enjoy spring in Nozawa '22-23 New Model Test Ride Event
! You can also meet ARMADA's advisory pro, Tomohiro!

March 5th (Sat) - March 6th (Sun)
ARMADA DEMO TOUR 2022

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort Yamabiko Area (Organizer: Amer Sports Japan)
Brands available for test ride: ARMADA
Participation fee: Free (lift ticket not included)
Application: Online reservation

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■ Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort DATA

Top elevation : 1,650m	Longest run: 10,000m	Altitude difference 1085m	maximum slope 39°

44 courses	19 lifts	Two gondolas	Ropeway - Book