Nozawa Onsen (Nozawa) weather in February

February in Nozawa Onsen: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nozawa Onsen🇯🇵 Japan · Mainland Japan · Ski89
  1. 86Jan
  2. 89Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 34Apr
  5. 22May
  6. 19Jun
  7. 13Jul
  8. 17Aug
  9. 10Sep
  10. 15Oct
  11. 47Nov
  12. 80Dec

#1 of 12 months in Nozawa Onsen · #221 of 1413 destinations to visit in February · comfort 89/100 (tier A)

Days
3°C
Nights
-5°C
Wet days
21
Sun
7.8 h
Humidity
84%
Daylight
11 h
Nozawa Onsen, Japan
Photo: E-190 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Traveller notes on Nozawa Onsen in February

Forum threads comparing Japan's Nagano resorts put Nozawa Onsen in the conversation alongside Shiga Kogen and Hakuba: one destination expert suggests Shiga as the much larger alternative, describes Nozawa's black runs as un-groomed and mogul-strewn, and offers a rough weather rule from Hakuba that only about one day in three is fine weather, with Nozawa likely the same. February is when that exchange rate matters least, because the snowpack is deepest in the record - 91.7cm of snowfall across the month on top of January's even larger total - with daytime highs of just 2.9 degrees, nights near minus five that feel like minus nine, and 7.8 hours of sun.
SobaAndSnow · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen-forum reviews describe it as a genuine must-see in any season, posters calling the village magical once real winter conditions settle in though November itself sits ahead of that. Regulars call the free public bath houses scattered through the village a real highlight regardless of month, several posters naming this the town's defining feature even for a non-skier. Posters recommend a stay here even without hitting the slopes, regulars calling the cozy streets and local food genuinely worth the trip alone. Regulars call November a real transition month, several threads noting conditions can turn wet and unsettled well before any reliable accumulation arrives at village elevation. Posters recommend checking local booking services well ahead, several regulars describing accommodation here as tightening up fast once the season nears. The record: 11.9C days feeling like 10C, 2.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 159.9mm across over 18 days and 87 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenNovemberRegular · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum threads on a September visit describe mid-month temperatures as still capable of running warm, posters citing readings under thirty degrees Celsius even this late in summer. Regulars call hiking, a zip line and summer-season activities all real September options, the village genuinely active beyond its winter reputation. Posters recommend the thirteen free public onsens as a standing local highlight regardless of season, several regulars calling them clean, safe and worth trying more than one. Regulars call artisan shop browsing along with eating and drinking a real way to fill a quieter afternoon between activities. Posters recommend planning a return visit for autumn leaves specifically if the timing allows, koyo color considered a genuine highlight later in the season. The record: 24.4C days feeling like 26C, 16.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 228.1mm across over 19 days and 76 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum reviews on a summer visit describe the public bathhouses as genuinely open and worth using year-round, posters calling the ritual just as rewarding in August despite the heat outside. Regulars call the village considerably quieter than winter, lift operations closed but real summer alternatives filling the gap: hiking trails, a zip line and artisan shops. Posters describe the mountain air as offering relief from valley heat, though real humidity and afternoon rain remain standing features. Regulars recommend a soak in one of the free baths regardless of season, the onsen culture the real draw independent of any outdoor activity. Posters call real breathable layers sensible given how sticky the air turns by midday. Regulars call the town a genuine year-round destination, this stretch trading winter's draw for a quieter, greener version. The record: 28.3C days feeling like 33C, 20.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 235.9mm across over 22 days and 87 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum threads on early March snow describe conditions as generally still solid by seasonal average, posters calling upper slopes reliably holding good powder even as the official competitive season winds down. Regulars call the resort's own season boundary early March, spring skiing kicking in shortly after with softer groomers. Posters describe lower-mountain snow as noticeably wetter and heavier by afternoon, an early start recommended before the day warms. Regulars call a run of fresh snowfall mid-visit genuinely common even this late, one poster reporting two full days of accumulation salvaging an otherwise so-so week. Posters recommend the village's public onsen baths as a genuine highlight regardless of snow quality, several free and open in town. Regulars call March a real value window, lift tickets and lodging cheaper than peak season. The record: 7.8C days feeling like 6C, -1.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 151.5mm across over 18 days and 82 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Nozawa Onsen's card on the map.

Nozawa Onsen climate normals — February

Daytime high3°C / 37°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low-5°C / 23°F
Feels like (high)0°C / 32°F
Rainfall169 mm / 6.7 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days21 days
Humidity84%💦 very humid
Dew point-4°C / 25°F
Sunshine7.8 h/day
Daylight10.8 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Snowfall91.7 cm / 36.1 in
Air quality (US AQI)39🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Nozawa Onsen in February

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Busyschool holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nozawa Onsen's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherNozawa Onsen's weather peaks December–February.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Nozawa Onsen in February

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Ski season

    28 Nov – 5 May · usually

    One long mountain above a working hot-spring village, usually open from the end of November to early May. The top runs hold snow well after the base has gone.

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 92 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in February →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Nozawa Onsen — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Nozawa Onsen?

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Nozawa Onsen in February — FAQ

Is February a good time to visit Nozawa Onsen?
February in Nozawa Onsen: cold, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 21 rainy days. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Nozawa Onsen on SeasonMap's comfort score (89/100).
What is the weather like in Nozawa Onsen in February?
In February, Nozawa Onsen averages a daily high of 2.9°C and a low of -4.9°C, with about 169.4 mm of rain over roughly 21.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nozawa Onsen in February?
Nozawa Onsen has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 39 in February.
Does it snow in Nozawa Onsen in February?
Nozawa Onsen sees roughly 91.7 cm of snowfall in February.

Within 300 km: Karuizawa's First lifts in Japan on 1 Nov – 31 Mar, and Matsumoto's Castle Ice Sculpture Festival around 20 Jan – 5 Feb.