NOZAWA ONSEN

G'Day Japan! / Tours & Activities / NOZAWA ONSEN

Pioneering powder resort with historic hot springs

1502GJ10_L241

Nozawa Onsen has depth as a snow holiday destination in more ways than one. The first things that come to mind for skiers and snowboarders are its average 12-metre snowfall every year, and snow pack exceeding five metres in the highest sections of the resort during the peak of the season.

Another for more seasoned riders is Nozawa Onsen’s deep history as one of Japan’s legendary ski villages, having produced no less than 15 Olympians over close to a century of involvement with the sport.  Then of course is the even deeper history of the village’s abundant hot springs, long famous for the healing properties of their mineral-rich waters. The classic way to experience them is by visiting one of the soto-yu – 13 public hot springs in magnificent feudal buildings scattered throughout the village. They are a great place to soak up the local atmosphere at the same time.

Luxury private hot spring baths are also available for guests to enjoy in a number of Nozawa Onsen’s hot spring inns.

Ryokan Sakaya, a 17-generation inn which won the title of Japan’s best boutique ski hotel in the 2013 World Ski Awards is one of the many other inns, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants and izakaya bars in Nozawa Onsen that showcase the delicious local food and sake. A free shuttle bus conveniently connects the accommodation facilities in the village with the slopes, operating every day from December to March.

Getting to Nozawa Onsen from Tokyo is much easier than before now that the Hokuriku bullet train line has come through to Iiyama station and Nozawa Onsen is only a 25 minute drive from there.

Nozawa Onsen is a great place to visit and enjoy during your snow holiday, the hot springs will aid with resting your body, but it’s also a fabulous holiday destination to enjoy purely for its hot springs and luxurious hospitality.

How close is Nozawa Onsen to?
Tokyo: 2 hrs 25 min (train), Osaka: 4 hrs 30 min (train)

Further Information
nozawakanko.jp/english/

Nozawa Onsen’s treasures

1502GJ10_L436

Nature’s gifts passed down from generation to generation

The 13 soto-Yu (public baths) spread across the village of Nozawa Onsen are considered as a shared asset of all the people in the village. These baths get their mineral-rich waters from 30 different hot springs, including one, Asagama-no-yu, which pulls its water from ogama – a large, public boiling pot used to cook vegetables and eggs.

These shared baths are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, there is no set fee but there’s a small money box to which you donate to on entry, so the locals can maintain the baths the way it has been for hundreds of years.

Ask any Japanese and they’ll say that there’s never a bad time to take an onsen trip. It’s a luxury and tradition that should be enjoyed no matter what the season.

REGION INFORMATION

Niigata

| Temperature: 10


Niigata faces the Sea of Japan and it is known for its extreme snow falls and excellent sake. The Echigo Mountain Range made of 2,000 meter-high-mountains runs through the middle of Niigata, providing prime destinations for snow sports enthusiasts.

RELATED POSTS