Best time to ski Nozawa Onsen
For the best snow, ski Nozawa Onsen in January, December, and February. Those months bring 72% of a typical season's snowfall at the summit, based on 10 seasons of modeled weather data (2015–2025).
Nozawa Onsen snowfall by month
Share of a typical season's summit snowfall in each month.
Source: Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5-based reanalysis), July 2015 to June 2025, at 5,413 ft. Weather models undercount total mountain snowfall, so this shows the seasonal pattern, not inch totals. For season totals, see Nozawa Onsen's website.
How to time your trip
- Deepest snow: January, December, and February get the most snowfall, which usually means the best coverage and the most powder days.
- Main season: months that bring at least 5% of the season's snow are Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr. Actual opening and closing dates are set by the resort.
- Book on the forecast: history tells you which months are reliable; the 7-day forecast tells you which week. Snow Way ranks every resort on it daily.
Best time to ski other Japan resorts
- APPI Resort
- Akakura Kanko (Myoko)
- Furano
- Hakuba Valley (Happo-one)
- Kiroro
- Myoko Suginohara
- Niseko United
- Rusutsu
Nozawa Onsen season FAQ
What is the best time to ski Nozawa Onsen?
For the best snow, ski Nozawa Onsen in January, December, and February. Those months bring 72% of a typical season's snowfall at the summit, based on 10 seasons of modeled weather data (2015–2025).
What is the snowiest month at Nozawa Onsen?
January is typically the snowiest month at Nozawa Onsen, with about 28% of the season's snow.
Does Nozawa Onsen have good snow in December?
December brings about 23% of Nozawa Onsen's typical seasonal snowfall, making it one of the snowiest months. Check the live forecast before booking.
Is Nozawa Onsen getting snow right now?
As of Friday, November 6, 2026, Nozawa Onsen is forecast to get 0.6" of snow at mid-mountain over the next 7 days (6.0" at the summit), ranking #24 of 35 international ski resorts Snow Way tracks. The biggest day is Tuesday, Nov 10 with 0.6". Right now at mid-mountain it's 47°F, mainly clear, with 5 mph wind.