Nozawa Onsen
5 reasons you have to visit Nozawa Onsen
Hotsprings
A therapeutic soak in a steamy fog gets you back to peak condition.
Powder Snow
All the light, dry and fluffy stuff that you expect in Japan.
Village
Nice people, nice food, nice atmosphere, nice everything.
Huge Resort
Easy flat stuff for beginners and enough stash to last a lifetime.
Fire Festival
One of the top three fire events in Japan goes off on January 15.
Nozawa Onsen – Hot Spring Retreat
If you have never done it before, sitting in a concrete bath completely naked in a room full of strangers may not sound like the most relaxing time you could have. Once you slip into village life it will undoubtedly become an essential part of your day and the best way imaginable to kick of an apres ski routine! The onsen was discovered over 1000 years ago (according to legend) and really is the lifeblood of the village. There are 13 free onsens dotted around the village, all looked after by local volunteers. Many villagers use the onsens as their daily bathroom. There are a few rules and potential pitfalls that you should know about before taking your first onsen (don’t worry too much, most locals are friendly and will give you pointers). Check out our Nozawa Onsen Hot Springs Guide for more information.
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
Nozawa Onsen has got something for everyone! If you are a learner you will delight in the Uenotaira area. It is a long flat course which is easily accessible from either gondola. From there you can expand your horizons to Paradise, the forest trail, Yunomine, Karasawa, Nagasaka and Hikage. There is excellent progression and everything you could want as a beginner. Experts will also love the resort. Nozawa Onsen has some of the best steeps and powder skiing in Japan. You could spend many weeks exploring the secret nooks and crannies and still be coming up with new gems. Take a look at our Nozawa Onsen Resort Guide