top of page

Nozawa Now: Monday 18th December 2023

  • Dec 18, 2023
  • 2 min read

Independent snow and weather reporting from the Nozawa Onsen region of Nagano


New snowfall at base 1cm
Snowfall at base this season 27cm

Posted on Monday 18th December 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Nozawa Now report can be found here.


After a dry spell, we have some fresh snow.


It's a modest amount, for sure, with the ski area only reporting 3cm on upper areas. A bit surprising and it seems that heavier snowfall decided to check out parts of northern Niigata. Hopefully, we will get some during the day and forecasts are looking more interesting towards the end of the week for heavy snow. We just have to deal with whatever nature decided to deliver, don't we?


Anyway, the ski area is re-opening this morning. The Nagasaka gondola and Yamabiko Number 2 quad will be operating, as well as the Yu Road facility down in the village. Details below.


The Yamabiko D course re-opens too, and the ski area is making a note of saying that it is not suitable for beginners.


Naski, ever the helpful bright-green vegetable, has started up the Naski-go ride (sledge via snowmobile) connection between the Hikage and Nagasaka base areas.


Fresh snowfall since yesterday morning (reported by the ski area):

Yamabiko: 3cm

Uenotaira: 3cm

Hikage: -

Nagasaka: -

Karasawa: -


Official snow depth numbers (reported by the ski area):

Yamabiko: 20cm

Uenotaira: 10cm

Hikage: -

Nagasaka: -

Karasawa: -


Lifts operating:

Nagasaka Gondola (from 8:30am)

Yamabiko Number 2 Four quad lift

Yu Road (from 8:00am)


Courses available:

Yamabiko D (1,250m)


Only part of the top area is open.

You need to get the gondola back down to base.

All base areas are closed.



Nozawa Now 2023-2024 season

Data as of Monday 18th December 2023 Total snowfall at base 27cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 5 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 13cm (25th November) November 2023 snowfall 21cm reported on 2 days December 2023 snowfall 6cm reported on 3 days




All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Nozawa Onsen. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.


SnowJapan is an entirely independent operation. Our daily reports are not posted on behalf of ski areas or any other business or organisation. Since first going online in 1999, the integrity of this website has always been our top priority, and it is something we are not prepared to compromise. All content is carefully created and written by humans who share a passion for the subject and what SnowJapan stands for.



bottom of page