Winter events schedule
Nozawa Onsen Ski resort Opening Festivities
December 21st (Sat) 2024
From 11:00 AM in the Yamabiko area, enjoy the opening celebration for the coming 2024-25 season 🌟
Winter Lantern Festival
March 1st (Sat) 2025
A fantastic world of light, with lanterns, firework, and torchlight skiing/snowboarding !
Enjoy the ski resort at night, and discover a completely different feeling from the daytime.
Don’t forget to clothes warm as the event is held outside at the feet of Nagasaka slope from 7:00 PM
Pigeon Car Cup ski * snowboard race Tournament
March 15th (Sat) & 16th (Sun) 2025
You can have fun experiencing the competition, or you can compete for real !
Anyone staying in Nozawa Onsen can participate.
There will also be a raffle where you can win gorgeous prizes !
♡鳩車 read “Hatoguruma” a toy made from peeled akebia vines with wheels attached to both sides of a pigeon. It’s a folk craft that can be said to be the symbol of Nozawa Onsen.
Pigeon Car Cup Giant Slalom Tournament
Racing on poles to see who’s the fastest is a sport that everyone wants to try !
A customer ski tournament where anyone can easily experience competitive skiing and participate.
※ Advance application required
Inquiries: Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association TEL: 0269-85-3155
Pigeon Car Cup Diaweisse Rausch Tournament
Aim for the goal at the foot of the mountain along the determined route !
The exhilarating feeling of rushing down from the top of the mountain all at once is exiting !
※ Advance application required
Inquiries: Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association TEL: 0269-85-3155
WITH OUR FAVORITE MASCOT NASKI
Naski Kids Day
Dec 15th (Sun) 2024
Jan 19th (Sun), Feb 16th (Sun) & Mar 16th (Sun) 2025
On Kids Day, Naski and the resort decided to offer one day ticket to every children under 15 years old to enjoy a family ski day.
Let’s meet at a ticket center to receive your free day pass (a refundable ￥ 500 cash deposit will be necessary to borrow a Kids Day Pass)
Available in all the ticket center :
Karasawa – Nagasaka – Hikage
Sled Race with Naski !
Feb 2nd (Sun) 2025
Come and compete with Naski, Nozawa Onsen’s mascot and biggest vegetable !
He will host the kids sled race at the Kids Park in Hikage area from 1:30 PM
Entry is free and anyone can participate 😍
The winner will receive a special price from Naski himself !
So what are you waiting for !?
Snow Sports Day with Naski !
March 22nd (Sat) 2025
A sports day where the whole family compete in snow games like sled races and snowball throwing !
Pair up with your child and enjoy a fun day at the Kids Park in the Hikage area from 9:00 AM
Children : from 3 to 12 years old accompanied by a guardian/parent form a team
Registration capacity : 100 teams
Mandatory advance application form to be subdue at the Hikage Information Center
Warning: the whole event and instruction are going to be held in Japanese. Basic Japanese skill necessary for participation.
Let’s play with Naski !
Jan 4th (Sat) ～ Mar 23rd (Sun) 2025
Every week on Saturday and Sunday, our favorite and biggest vegetable, Naski, will make an appearance at the Kids Park of the Hikage area.
Join him for pictures and then have load of fun in the snow with him !
And why not, if you’re lucky, you might get a little present from him 🌟
HELD EVERY YEAR
Japanese character scavenger hunt on Uenotaira Slope !!
Dec 21st (Sat) 2024 ～ Mar 30th (Sun) 2025
Enjoy the best snow view in the world while scavenger hunting ! Perfect for beginners, find all the Japanese character hidden along the Uenotaira course ! Once you got them all, make a word with it and go check at the Hikage Information center your treasure. As a reward for your hard work, you will be offered a Nozawa original present !
Registration at Hikage Information Center & available for visitors until 12 years old
Kita Shinshû Stamp Rally
Dec 21st (Sat) 2024 ～ Mar 30th (Sun) 2025
For participants who have checked-in with Yukiyama app and skied/snowboarded in Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, Togari Onsen Ski Resort, Kijimadaira and Shiga Kôgen will be added to the lottery to win a special present from Kita Shinshû region !
Participants must download the app Yukiyama and check-in every day to cumulate resort check-in
Christmas plan, Let’s look for Santa in Nozawa Onsen Ski resort !
December 24th (Tue) & 25th (Wed) 2024
Santa is making appearances and disappearances on the slopes from 10:00 AM !
He will have small gifts for the first 100 visitors who can find him on each day 🎁
Can you spot him ? Keep your eyes open !
Special Night Ski & Count Down Fireworks for new Year’s Eve
December 31st (Tue) 2024
On the night of December 31st, night skiing will be exceptionally open until 11:30 PM on the Nagasaka slope, followed by the New year’s countdown and an amazing firework display on the slope above 🎆
Be sure to dress extra warm to make it to the end !
Happy 2025 New Year ! Japanese Sake Service
January 01st (Wed) 2025
The ski resort will tap a barrel of local sake on the slope for our visitors to enjoy and celebrate the New 2025 Year.
The keg is tapped at 11:00 AM on the Uenotaira course in front of the Hikage gondola off-load station.
So be quick to sample this great local sake 🍶
But remember you will still have to ski home !
Ôyu Street Event – Gratitude Festival towards our Nozawa Visitors
January 4th (Sat) & March 15th (Sat) 2025
Enjoy some Tonjiru (pork & vegetables) type miso soup, prepared specially for the occasion on the Ôyu Street in a big pot and offer to Nozawa Visitors for free !
Let you vibe to the sound and rhythm of the Dôsojin drums performances and more
※Dôsojin is a Japanese Deity that exists along roadsides such as village boundaries and mountain passes to protect against foreign pestilence and evil spirits
Morning first ride, let’s draw the first carve !
Jan 12th (Sun) – Feb 17th (Mon) – Mar 3rd (Mon) 2025
3 times in the season enjoy being one of the first to carve on the groomers without the crowds ! Have access to the Yamabiko Area before everyone else and gather at the Nagasaka Gondola for 7:40 AM
※ Can be cancelled in case of bad weather
※ Free participation (valid ticket necessary)
※ Difficulty lvl : intermediate & advance
Ski School Matsuri
Jan 12th (Sun) – Feb 17th (Mon) – Mar 3rd (Mon) 2025
To celabrate Ski Day, enjoy an half day lesson for free to better enjoy skiing and snowboarding !
Registration is mandatory at Hikage Ski School between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM.
Spots limited to the first 30 participants !
No advance booking.
※ Based on a first arrived first serve organisation. No pre booking. Limited to 30 participants
Valentin Day ! Chocolate Fondue Service
February 14th (Fri) 2025
For Valentine’s day in Japan, it’s not the man who gives present but the women who offer chocolate to their beloved partner. It’s also common, for those who do not have a partner, to offer chocolate to family and friends.
On February 14th from 10:30 AM on the Hikage slope, a complimentary chocolate fondue service will be held and share to all of you who didn’t get chocolate !
There is a limited quantity so better get in early ! Ladies welcome too of course 💕
White Day ! Chocolate Fondue Service
March 14th (Fri) 2025
White day in Japan is the second part of Valentine’s Day. Men who received gifts or chocolate on Valentine’s day are meant to reciprocate the favor and, give back to the person they received from.
From 10:30 AM at the Hikage slope, a complimentary chocolate fondue service will be held and share to all of you who didn’t get a little something !
There is a limited quantity so better get in early ! Gentleman welcome too of course 💕
Spring Mountain Festival
March 29th (Sat) 2025
Teams of three with at least 1 female team member, compete in a snow digging contest.
Apply on the day to compete from 9:30 AM in the Yamabiko area.
The first 15 teams to apply will be accepted.
Let show us your shoveling skills !
2025-26 New Model Ski & Snowboard Test Ride Event
April 11th (Fri) to 13th (Sun) 2025
Held in Yamabiko area, come and enjoy to test ride new ski and snowboard equipment !
Free participation however an ID with a picture of the applicant is mandatory to apply (passport, driving license … etc)