Skier : Tomohiro Murai Photo : Daniel Honda
Famous hot springs representing Shinshu, hot spring town full of Japanese atmosphere, and Nozawa Onsen ski resort boasting one of the largest mountains in Japan. The altitude difference from the summit to the bottom is 1,085m, and the ski area is one of the largest in Japan for a single ski resort, with 44 courses. Nozawa Onsen's attractions include a large amount of high-quality natural snow throughout the season, wide slopes, long runs, and rich natural terrain.
Of course, powder hunting in the coldest of winters is the best, but from this time of year (early March) when the mountains are heading towards spring, the weather is easy to stabilize and the snow quality is good, making the mountains even more enjoyable. Let's see what it looks like.
COMPASS HOUSE team and Haruyama play
At this time of the year (early March), a staff member of the COMPASS HOUSE pro shop in Nozawa Onsen and an ARMADA advisory professional rider, Tomohiro Murai, and a young man who has won the Shiroi Koibito Park Air three times. We asked Eigo Higuchi (Eigo) of Nozawa Onsen and Daniel HONDA, a Japanese-Brazilian photographer who was based in Nozawa "Shirakaba" in the 21-22 season, about the appeal of Nozawa Onsen while spending time in the mountains. .
The good thing about Nozawa Onsen is that you can enjoy it whether it rains or not.
I asked Tomohiro. "What is the appeal of the Nozawa Onsen mountains from the perspective of a local professional rider?" First of all, "It's fun whether it snows or not. If you get off the Nagasaka gondola, you can enjoy it anywhere. On top of that, it's like this place."
・Long running distance!
・There are many steep slopes where you can ski at high speed!
・Skyline feels good!
・High season powder is the best.
A good season resets every day! ・Yamabiko swamp is very interesting in spring!
・In spring, even if the bottom is raining, there are many times when the top is powder!
・The season is long!
As Tomohiro said, the Nozawa Onsen season is long, and the 2021-2022 season will be a long run from November 27th to May 8th. In addition to the boasting natural snow, the introduction of snow machines from this season has certainly realized an early start to the season. It is said that there are charms and ways to enjoy each season unique to the long season.
“During the beginning of the season, the Yamabiko area, where the top of the slopes are covered with snow, is the main area. It can be very powdery from the first day of opening. You can also suddenly go to the lower area with many steep slopes."
Here's my favorite powder morning routine.
Morning 1: Yamabiko → Challenge (steepest slope) → Lower steep slope
Morning 1: Skyline → Jumping or Grand Prix
Morning 3: Ushikubi high-speed ride
and finally looking for leftovers.
"When it doesn't rain, I enjoy grooming from Yamabiko to Skyline. The Rinkan course is also interesting." Try it when you go skiing in Nozawa.
photo: Daniel Honda
Topographic play in Yamabiko swamp in spring! If you get hit by the occasional heavy snow, you'll be super lucky
The Yamabiko area, which extends from the summit of Mt.
As spring approaches, the weather generally stabilizes, but surprisingly, in Yamabiko, heavy snow can fall even in April. "You'll be very lucky if you hit the powder in the spring. Yamabiko in early spring is great for grooming. You can ski long distances, and that's why you can also play at Kaminodaira Park. Among them, Yamabiko Sawa is the absolute staple of spring in Nozawa. It's a terrain game.It's really fun."
While talking like that, I went to Yamabiko swamp.
Photo: Daniel Honda
This "Yamabiko Sawa" can be played in various ways, such as flying on a wall that looks like a natural pipe as shown in the photo, or sliding while hitting the wall like a natural banked slalom. It's quite hard when you slide through it from the top, and it's like a little natural ski cross course, and it's a thrilling fun that's different from powder.
Photo: Dainel Honda
Tomohiro and Eigo found a point and flew stylishly, enjoying the undulations of the swamp terrain.
Uenotaira Snow Park is full of items with spring!
Uenotaira Snow Park in Uenodaira has also been upgraded for spring. There is a wide variety of items, including mini boxes and waves that are easy to enjoy even for park beginners. Check out the daily updates on the park from our staff on Instagram.
While free-running down from Nagasaka Gondola Station, stop by the park for a while, and play with the items while riding in a slopestyle style. Nozawa's park is easy and carefree.
[Snow park item]
・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
Profile｜Profile
Tomohiro Murai
ARMADA Ski's Advisory Staff & Rider
@tomohiromurai Started
skiing at the age of 2 and started moguls at the age of 7.
At the age of 12, he started participating in official mogul competitions and entering parks. At the age of 15, he met Yudai Ueno at the park session venue and started his rider career. Later moved home to Ishiuchi Maruyama. He has expanded his activity scene to participate in World Junior Championships, compete in domestic competitions, and shoot movies. When he was 23, he moved to Nozawa Onsen village. He works at COMPASSHOUSE. Currently, his main ski life has changed to skiing, and he is searching for new ways to enjoy skiing every day. https://compasshouse.jp
Enjoy spring in Nozawa '22-23 new model test drive event
You can also meet ARMADA's advisory professional Tomohiro!
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ARMADA DEMO TOUR 2022 -
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort Yamabiko Area (Organizer: Amer Sports Japan)
Brand you can test drive: ARMADA
Participation fee: Free (lift ticket not included)
Application: Web reservation
■ Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort DATA
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| Top altitude 1,650m | Longest run 10,000m | Elevation difference 1085m | Maximum slope 39° |
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44 courses | 19 lifts | 2 gondolas | ropeway -book |