January is one of the strongest months in Nozawa Onsen (2nd)
Best window · 9.2/10At -3°C (27°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
163 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 1 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Nozawa Onsen at 9.2/10 (2nd of 12), just behind February at 9.4/10.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
February in Nozawa Onsen tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 9.4/10At -3°C (27°F) this is proper winter weather in February: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
130 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.6 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nozawa Onsen at 9.4/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
March holds up well in Nozawa Onsen — 4th best month
Good · 7/10March averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 126 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 7/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? February scores 2.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Nozawa Onsen: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10Expect 9°C (48°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
107 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Nozawa Onsen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
May in Nozawa Onsen: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10May averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 146 mm — wet for this destination — but about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? February scores 7.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
June in Nozawa Onsen: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
170 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Nozawa Onsen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
July in Nozawa Onsen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10At 23°C (73°F), skiing in July is a morning proposition: groomers hold up early, while lower runs soften through the afternoon.
184 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Nozawa Onsen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
August in Nozawa Onsen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10August averages 24°C (75°F) — warm by ski standards, so expect soft afternoon snow low on the mountain and firmer, better riding early.
At 164 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? February scores 7.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in Nozawa Onsen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.6/10September averages 21°C (69°F) — warm by ski standards, so expect soft afternoon snow low on the mountain and firmer, better riding early.
209 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 1.6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? February scores 7.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
October in Nozawa Onsen — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.4/10Temperatures hover around 12°C (54°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
164 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 8 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 1.4/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Nozawa Onsen — 8 points higher on the same scale.
November in Nozawa Onsen — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.3/10Expect 7°C (44°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
196 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 1.3/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, February is materially better in Nozawa Onsen — 8.1 points higher on the same scale.
December in Nozawa Onsen: strong conditions, 3rd of 12
Good · 7.5/10December averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 238 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.5/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? February scores 1.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
