Please click here for directions, maps and timetable to Nozawa Onsen.
nozawasnow Address: 6636 – 1 Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen -mura, Shimotakai -gun, Nagano -ken, Japan 389 – 2502

Check-in: 3:00pm
Check-out: 10:00am

Yes, complimentary wifi is accessible in every room.

nozawasnow does not have car parking at the property, however there is paid parking available at the Ski Resort within 4-5 minutes walking distance. Parking is approximately 1,000 yen per day.

Please click here for nozawasnow location, address and map.

nozawasnow is conveniently located, four minutes walk from the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort chairlifts (Karasawa chairlift). The village centre is an 8 minute walk along a flat, heated street. There is a fantastic restaurant open for dinner located directly next door. There is also a cafe and swiss bakery both within 2 minutes walk of nozawasnow, along with many other restaurants within 2-10 minutes walk. The ski rental shop is located directly next door to nozawasnow. One of the largest and most beautiful hot springs in Nozawa Onsen is located 2 minutes walk from nozawasnow. The largest supermarket is a 7 minutes walk from nozawasnow.

The bus to and from Iiyama bullet train station (access to/from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) is a 7 minute walk from our property. The free ski shuttle bus which runs to the Nagasaka gondola also departs from just around the corner from nozawasnow. The Chuo (central) bus station is located 10 minutes walk from nozawasnow for access to the Nagano Snow Shuttle (the bus to/from Narita and Haneda Airport and between ski resorts).

We do not offer breakfast, however there is a guest kitchen available where guests can prepare meals. There is a bakery/cafe open for breakfast within 2 minute walk from nozawasnow (Akari Swiss Bakery).

Yes. A fully equipped kitchen and dining area is for guests to prepare meals and relax at any time.

We do not provide a pickup service from bus or train stations as we are within 7 minutes walk from the Nakao bus stop (if coming from Iiyama bullet train station) and a 10 minute walk from the Chuo bus stop (if coming on the Nagano snow shuttle bus from Tokyo or other ski resorts and arriving in the day time).

nozawasnow is a Japanese style accommodation which has futon beds. nozawasnow does not have western style beds.
The comfort level of a futon would be considered similar to a firm western style mattress. Futons can be folded away and put in the closet to create more space in the room. Kids love them and they are very safe. If you have difficulty getting up and down from the floor, futons may not be for you.

Toilets: 5 (western style)
Showers: 3 (western style)
Many guests prefer to bath at the fantastic public hot spring (Onsen), located two minutes walk from nozawasnow. This bath house is traditional wooden style, hot and relaxing. Take our complimentary onsen kit including soap and shampoo to wash before relaxing in the tub. All 13 public onsens open from 6am – midnight and are free of charge.

nozawasnow has a seating area at the front desk.

Yes you can. Please feel free to send your luggage to or from nozawasnow. There is complimentary storage until you arrive. Staff will assist you to send your luggage to your next destination. Please note if sending luggage to an airport, it must be ready to send by 12pm, at least 2 days prior to your flight. Approximate price for a suitcase or ski bag: 2,500 – 3,000 yen (cash only).

Yes we have a laundry room. There are two coin laundry machines.

All rooms have sheets, pillows, towels, clothes hangers, heater. Hair dryers are available. Please bring your onsen kit (face towel, soap, shampoo)at the shoe rack near the entrance. Also, please return the basket to its original location after you have finished using it.

At our hotel, room cleaning and daily change of linens, towels, etc. (hereinafter referred to as linen) are not included in the accommodation fee. If you wish to have your room cleaned or linen changed, please inform the staff of the frequency and quantity at check-in. We will respond at an additional cost. Please note that for guests staying for 5 days or more, the room will be cleaned and linens will be changed every 3 days.

In Peak season (Jan-Feb) we have 5-6 night minimum stay. In low season (December, March) we have a 3-4 night minimum stay. We often have gaps in between bookings which allows us to lower the minimum stay over certain dates. Our booking calendar is live and up to date. If a room is available it will be shown in your search results. Please feel free to contact us if you cannot find what you are looking for. We will be happy to help you find a room.

Our rooms have a maximum capacity as listed on the room description (Example. Triple room sleeps a maximum of 4-5(including children) guests). Unless prior arrangements have been made, guests with a reservation who arrive with an amount of persons that exceed the room limit will be denied check-in and will be unable to stay at nozawasnow.

If you have booked lessons with the Nozawa Onsen Ski School, please follow these steps below for directions to the ski school office at the Hikage gondola.

We recommend two different rental shops. Both offer discounts to our guests.

1. Olive rental which is located 1 minute walk from nozawasnow and offer great gear which often seems brand new. Great service and convenient location. They also have a second rental shop on the snow at the ski resort, so if a guest would like to change gear during the day you do not need to return to the village. They have a great range of beginner to advanced skis and boards. Reservations are only needed for big groups. Small groups can just turn up on the day. If guests require boot US12+, please make reservation as they have limited large sizes.
   https://rentalolive.com/english.html
2. Nozawa Sports Thanx is located within 5 minutes walk from nozawasnow, next to the ski resort chairlifts (Karasawa branch). This location is convenient if a guest has trouble walking in ski boots. It is possible to walk up in shoes and change to boots in the rental shop and only need to cross the road to access the ski resort. We recommend booking online if guests would like to rent specific gear from this conveniently located “Karasawa” store (for example, powder skis/board). They will have the gear ready for guests upon arrival. If guests would like to rent entry level / standard rental gear, a reservation is not necessary.
   https://sportsthanx.com/en/

Nozawa Sports Thanx also have a second rental shop at the Nagasaka gondola at the ski resort. Guests can change gear during the day at this store, so guests do not need to return to the village to change gear (for example if there is a fresh snow and guest wants to try powder skis for the afternoon).

Nozawa Sports Thanx offer online rental reservations or you can arrange your gear from them when you arrive.

Lift passes are now available to purchase online here.
Lift passes are also available from the ski resort ticket office on the day your plan to ski. There are 1, 2 or maximum 3 day consecutive passes available (3 day pass is the best value). The ticket office is located within five minutes walk from nozawasnow, next to the Karasawa ski lift at the ski resort. Passes are also available at the gondolas (Nagasaka and Hikage). For adults, lift ticket prices start from ¥5,400 per day. For children under 15 years old, lift ticket pricing starts at ¥3,200 yen per day (prices as of 2024, subject to change). For more information on official lift ticket pricing, please click here.
You may find options from other websites/providers who sell lift tickets in advance. The price is the same whether you buy them in advance or at the ticket office at the ski resort.

If you have booked with the Nozawa Onsen Ski School, please follow these steps bellow to the ski school office at the Hikage gondola.

First time skiers:

1. Walk three minutes downhill to the Nakao bus stop.
2. Take the free Shuttle bus to the Nagasaka Gondola (five minute ride) then walk down past the gondola station.
3. Take the free snowmobile shuttle (seating for 6-7 people) to the ski school at the Hikage gondola (3 minute ride). The Ski School office is located in the large concrete building opposite the kids park.

Travel time: 20 minutes (allow more time for possible bus/shuttle delays).

Novice – Advanced skiers:

1. Walk 4 minutes to the ski resort.
2. Take the Nagasaka link chairlift.
3. Ski down past the Nagasaka gondola and take the Nagasaka triple chairlift
4. Ski down to the ski school office which is located in the large concrete building opposite the kids park.

Travel time: 20 minutes (allow more time for possible delays such as lift lines).

Nozawa Onsen Ski Map

The Nozawa Onsen ski resort opens in November or December depending on snow conditions. The majority of ski lifts are usually operating by mid December. The ski resort recently installed snow making facilities so the opening date will be more reliable. Ski resort hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm. Night ski is available on Saturdays only. There is one green slope open for night ski, the chairlift runs until 8pm.

There are 36 ski slopes and courses plus the snow park.
Gondola lifts (2), regular ski lifts (18), moving walkway (1).
Longest ski run: 10,000m
Vertical Drop: 1,085m (Summit: 1,650m / bottom: 565m)
Advanced terrain: 30% / Intermediate terrain: 30% / Beginner terrain: 40% / Max gradient: 39°.
The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan for international travellers due to its diversity of terrain, abundance of snow, its family friendliness, and because English speaking guests are well catered for.
For more information on the ski resort, please click here.

Day care for children 1-6 years old is available at the Yumin Day Nursery at the Hikage Information Centre on the second floor. The staff speak English. The operating hours are 9am-12pm and 1-4pm so you will need to pick up the children at lunch time. There are many food options around the Hikage Information Center. The nursery only accommodates 20 children. We recommend that you make a reservation. Full Day: ¥4,000, Half Day: ¥2,500

Morning and afternoon refreshments are provided.
Nozawa Kids Park is located in the same area. Entry to the Kids Park is free of charge.

December – A fantastic time to experience Christmas and New Year. In general it is not busy in Nozawa Onsen up until the Japanese New Year holiday. Perfect for families and couples.

January – Famous for its big snowfall and great village vibe with a mix of Japanese and foreign visitors. January is the busiest month, but with a family atmosphere. Perfect for everyone.

February – Also famous for big snowfall. Less families with the school holidays over, more powder snow enthusiasts arrive with the snow base set for the season. Blue sky days are not uncommon. Perfect for everyone.

March – Our personal favorite month, especially the second half of March. The slopes are uncrowded on weekdays and Nozawa Onsen seems to always receive some serious snowfall at this time. Also the best month for families and beginners who will enjoy the wide open spaces on the mountain.

Nozawa Onsen has two supermarkets, a butcher, convenience store and liquor stores. You can find all you need to prepare western or Japanese meals including breakfast and dinner.

Rainbow supermarket is the largest in Nozawa Onsen (still small by western standards) and is located at the Nakao bus stop, which is the closest bus stop to nozawasnow (7 minute walk). The location gives guests the option to purchase food as they arrive to Nozawa Onsen on the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus before walking to nozawasnow. The second supermarket is located on the main street opposite St. Anton cafe. It has an octopus illustration on the window. This store is great to visit on the way back home from a restaurant or cafe in the evening. Alcohol is not sold in the supermarkets.There are about 5 liquor stores in the village that sell alcohol.

Japan train tickets can be purchased at the train station once in Japan or online in advance. 

If you are traveling on a Japanese public holiday for example, it could be worth purchasing in advance. If you traveling on a normal day you can purchase tickets upon arrival to the station.

Train tickets, including seat reservation can be purchased online here. Online tickets still need to be converted to physical tickets once in Japan. To pick up reserved and non-reserved tickets (incl. seats with oversized baggage spaces), you can go to several stations with your credit card, reservation, and identification number. For a full list of stations check the JR West website and also see their how-to guide for picking up tickets.

Note: Shinkansen tickets can usually only be bought one month in advance through official channels (mentioned above). However, through some travel agent websites you have the flexibility to buy tickets further in advance.

The Nozawa Onsen Liner bus between Iiyama station and Nozawa Onsen cannot be booked in advance. They run up to 4 buses at each departure time and tickets are available from a vending machine (cash only) outside Iiyama station where the bus departs from. There are also taxi’s available.The Nagano Snow Shuttle which runs directly from Tokyo Airports to Nozawa Onsen should be booked well in advance to avoid any disappointment.

Nozawa Onsen is a compact village with small, winding, heated streets. The fastest way to get around the village is by walking. The furthest you will have to walk is 15 minutes from nozawasnow to the far side of the village.

There is a complimentary ski shuttle bus that runs throughout the day time from the village centre to the Nagasaka gondola at the ski resort. This bus passes close to nozawasnow. This service can be busy at peak times, it is much faster and convenient to walk to the ski resort from nozawasnow.

An onsen (hot water spring) is a bath house with natural, geothermal heated spring water. The village is famous for the abundance of hot springs that were discovered in the 8th century. In some areas, steam rises up amongst the bustling narrow cobblestone streets and the traditional ryokan inns and shops.

In Nozawa Onsen, visitors are lucky enough to have free access to 13 public onsens (a small donation box is located outside each onsen). You can bathe and soak in the hot water to escape the cold and relax the muscles after a long day skiing.

Nozawa Onsen’s bath houses are well maintained, always kept clean, and provide a comfortable setting for villagers’ everyday use, as well as for visiting guests.

With the complimentary bathing set which we provide (body soap, shampoo, face towel) wash your hair and body thoroughly, then rinse off before entering the bath. When you arrive to nozawasnow we will give you further information on bathing etiquette to ensure you enjoy these fantastic baths.

There are many fantastic restaurants in Nozawa Onsen. We recommend making reservations in advance if you would like to go to a specific restaurant, especially if you are in a big group. You can pop into any restaurant and make a reservation yourself for another night or call from our front desk. If you require assistance we are happy to help. Please see the restaurant and village guide available here.

There are many fantastic restaurants in Nozawa Onsen. From Raw Horse to Hamburgers, there is something for everyone. Please take a look at the Nozawa Onsen village guide for some great options.

Yes there are restaurants which have options ‘niku nashi’ (without meat).
Neo Bar, Organic Mom’s kitchen (Shin-ko-qu), Sakai, Genki burger, Juntos and more.

While some restaurants do accept credit cards, but please be prepared and always have cash with you as many restaurants are cash only, especially up on the ski resort but also in the village. The bus from Iiyama to Nozawa Onsen is cash only (please withdraw cash if coming directly from the the Airport to Nozawa Onsen).

Yes, there are two ATM’s which accept foreign cards. The closest is located at the post office and is open 9am-6pm. The other ATM is located next door to the tourist information centre at Kura cafe which is open until 8pm.

Currency exchange is located at the ticket counter at Nagasaka Gondola Station. Please bring your passport. Currency exchange is only from foreign currencies to Japanese yen. One transaction for one person which must remain under ¥100,000.

The snow monkey park is located one hour from Nozawa Onsen by bus. You can book a direct bus from Nozawa Onsen to the snow monkey park. The price is ¥5,800 yen (adults), ¥3,800 (children 12 and under). This bus also stops by Shibu Onsen, a beautiful village. Transport is by bus with a guide who will be there to answer any questions. The Monkey park entrance is a 2km walk through the forest from the bus drop off point.

The bus departs every day at 1pm from the Nozawa Onsen Chuo bus terminal (village center) and is due back at Nozawa Onsen Chuo bus terminal by 5pm (snow/road condition dependant).

There is easily enough to do in Nozawa Onsen for an extended holiday, however we have included a list of day trips for those who would like to see other areas close by.

Ski resorts:

Madarao: The easiest day-trip option from Nozawa Onsen (23km) with buses departing daily from Nozawa Onsen. Bus information and schedule is subject to change.

Togari: The closest day trip option from Nozawa Onsen (8km). Togari does not have a daily bus option at the time of writing but a taxi can be arranged. Togari has night ski many nights. Contact us for transport options.

Other options include: Myoko, Kijimadaira, Ryuoo Ski Park, Shiga Kogen and X-Jam. Renting a car is also an option from nearby Iiyama.

Some ski resorts are accessible via the Nagano snow shuttle ‘Inter resort shuttles’.

Other destinations (listed in order of distance from Nozawa Onsen)

Iiyama (14km from Nozawa Onsen) – Some great local restaurants (sushi train), large supermarkets / department stores. Museums and cultural attractions. Serves as the bullet train hub.

Obuse (30km from Nozawa Onsen) – A quaint town with great food and art crafts. Don’t miss the famous Hokusai museum with his incredible 36 views painted of Mt Fuji.

Snow Monkeys (32km from Nozawa Onsen) – Contact us for details

Nagano city (40km from Nozawa Onsen) – The closest big city. Great restaurants, shops, bars, sake breweries. Don’t miss the Zenkoji temple and beautiful surrounding streets.

Matsumoto (110km from Nozawa Onsen) – Very nice city which is easy to walk around. Famous for its historic ‘Crow Castle’. Train access via Iiyama. It’s worth the journey.

Kanazawa (350km from Nozawa Onsen) – A beautiful city accessible with the bullet train via Iiyama (1.5 hours from Nozawa Onsen).

Tokyo (250km from Nozawa Onsen) – Take the 20 minute bus from Nozawa Onsen to Iiyama station, then connect to the 1hr 40 minute bullet train to Tokyo. With an early start, you can reach Tokyo by 9.20am, then return on the last train back to Iiyama which departs Tokyo at 7.30pm.

If we are fully booked, we will introduce you to a good accommodation.