REPORT

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort has now seen its second snowfall of the season, following the first snow that fell on the upper slopes above Uenodaira during the night of 10/28 (Tue.) through the morning of 10/29 (Wed.). Today, 11/4 (Tue.), I drove up to the Paradise Slope (pictured) via the Prefectural Route 502 Okushiga Koen–Sakae Line, which is set to close for the winter at 2 p.m. this afternoon. Snow began to appear on the road just past the junction leading toward Sakae Village.
[Paradise Slope]

This time, about half of the ski area was blanketed in white. A layer of 1 to 2 cm of moist snow covered the upper section of the Schneider Course, while roughly 1 to 5 cm could be found on the Paradise Slope. Scattered across the snow were countless fallen leaves coated with frost, creating miniature scenes that looked like natural works of art (pictured).
[Paradise Slope]

Several photographers had gathered at “Sunset Point Uenodaira Kogen,” a popular photo spot near the start of the Kandahar Course, and one of them commented, “What a stunning sea of clouds—it almost looks as if you could walk on top of it. I’m a bit worried about the snow on the road, but I think I’ll try to drive a little farther up to the sign.”
[Paradise Slope]

Just nine days ago, on 10/26 (Sun.), this area around the summit station of the Nagasaka Gondola was still open and operating as the “Uenodaira Kogen Picnic Garden,” but today it was buried under 15 cm of snow (pictured). After hiking a bit higher up from there, I found more than 20 cm of accumulation on the upper section of the Yamabiko Slope.
[Uenotaira Slope]

＊The 2025–26 winter season at Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is scheduled to run from 11/29/2025 through 5/6/2026 (subject to snow conditions).　
　　
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reported by Snownavi