Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen, about an hour from Nagano, is a quaint authentic Japanese village with cobbled streets, pensions, ryokans, and a few Western-style hotels – most notably Austrian as this village is ‘sister’ to the St. Anton resort in Austria. This gorgeous resort is perfect for families because it provides a true taste of Japan yet offers the convenience of a great ski school and nursery facilities with English speaking staff. Nozawa Onsen is renowned for its fantastic skiable terrain and its many hot springs or onsens. Whether you’re comfortable to slip naked into a public onsen or would prefer the privacy of your own natural hot pool, Nozawa Onsen has you covered.

Difficulty

Beginner	40%
Intermediate	30%
Advanced	30%

At a Glance

Terrain Area

50+km

Summit

1,650m

Mt. Vertical

1,085m

Season

Dec-Apr

Lifts

Accommodation Nozawa Onsen

The charm of Nozawa village lies in its authenticity which has been carefully protected by local authorities. However that means accommodation is limited, making it wise to book well in advance. There are very few ski-in ski-out options in Nozawa with most of the accommodation being centrally located in the village. Nozawa is your perfect opportunity to experience traditional Japanese accommodation by staying in one of the many pensions and ryokans and even sleeping on a futon in a tatami mat room. While some operators of pensions and ryokans do not speak any English, many do and they will also offer western style bedding if that’s your preference. In Nozawa village you’ll also find a few western style hotels and self-contained apartments.

Skiing & Boarding

With 1,000 meters of vertical terrain over about 300 hectares, Nozawa Onsen has plenty to explore, whether you’re starting out or searching for new thrills. Dedicated areas at the bottom of the mountain are perfect for beginners, as is the aptly named Paradise area in the middle. Meanwhile, intermediates will love the steep groomed slopes further up. For advanced skiers, there are plenty of steeps and a few off-piste challenges within the resort boundaries. If you’re looking for a long quad burning ride, it’s a case of connecting shorter sprints via some flatter slopes to achieve a massive run from top to bottom. While you’re on the move, enjoy the spectacular tree lined runs and gullies. At Nozawa Onsen you’ll find tracks taking you outside permitted areas, however this is at your own risk.

Activities

The main attraction at Nozawa Onsen, other than skiing, is the onsens and there are plenty of them, from free public hot springs through to more luxurious private onsens in hotels. Some of them require you to be naked, others don’t! Within this quaint village, you’ll find plenty of other authentic experiences – whether you’re roaming the cobbled streets, enjoying Japanese cuisine or spending an evening in a karaoke bar. A visit to see Snow Monkeys preening themselves in their own onsen is definitely worth the trip. Nozawa Onsen has night skiing on Saturday evenings and during some holidays and you can also enjoy snowshoe tours of cross country trails.

Getting There & Around

Getting to Nozawa Onsen is easy. Jump aboard a bus or semi-private shuttle service from Tokyo City or Narita Airport for the picturesque road trip that takes around five hours. The Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo is another option. It will get you to Iiyama station and from there you’ll need to take a local bus or taxi to the resort.