Nozawa Onsen Resort Guide

Beginners usually head to the middle of the mountain where there are some great green runs. Intermediate to advanced skiers head right to the top Yamabiko area for a bigger selection of red runs and fantastic tree runs which end up back at the lift. It is a great destination for powder seekers as it is one of the more relaxed ski areas for off-piste skiing. Highlights include the Skyline course, a 10km long run and a real thigh-burner.

The ‘Onsen’ part of the town name means hot spring, which is what the village is also famous for. There are 13 public bathing houses in town which all have their water sourced directly from the mountain geysers and are simple and rustic. Each hotel in Nozawa has its own luxurious baths, and a soak in these at the end of the day is a great way to alleviate any aches and pains from skiing or snowboarding. There is a special cooking area called Ogama by the source, where locals will cook their vegetables and eggs in the naturally heated water.

Eating out in Nozawa is a real highlight - with a huge variety of restaurants to choose from; sushi, tempura, soba, yakitori, teppanyaki, sukiyaki, okonomiyaki and more. Western cuisine is also available with two great Italian restaurants and a few others that offer a selection of western dishes.

We recommend day trips to see the snow monkeys or to visit the Zenkoji Temple in Nagano city. If you happen to plan your trip around 15 January you’ll catch the famous Dosojin Fire Festival, the highlight of the year in the village and one of the most famous, iconic festivals in Japan.