Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen is a traditional Japanese Hot Spring Resort town located some 35km north east of Nagano City.

While the main Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is large and has a wide variety of terrain, there are also several other resorts within a 30 minute drive to explore as well.

With 2 gondolas (one brand new for the 2020-21 season) and a number of other high speed lifts, the ski area is easy to access and get around, with a great beginners slope up in the “Ue-no-Taira” area.

The township is compact and can easily be walked around, which helps as the streets are narrow, but are kept clear of snow by running natural hot spring water under the surface.

Being a hot spring resort town (as many people come for the hot springs as they do for the snow), the accommodation is mostly Japanese Style Inns, but more and more western style lodges and self contained accommodation is being added to cater to the international market.

The closest Shinkansen Bullet train station is a 30 minute bus ride away at Iiyama station, but if coming directly from the airport, direct bus services like the Nagano Snow Shuttle are more convenient if travelling with heavy luggage.

A highlight of the winter season is the annual Nozawa Fire Festival held on January 15th of each year. This is one of the biggest winter festival in Japan, and both Foreign and Japanese guests flock to town for this event

Nozawa Onsen is a popular resort town and many people keep coming back again and again, and is a absolute must on everyone’s ski trip bucket list.