Nozawa Onsen is one of the best hot spring areas in Japan. There are also a lot of leisure spots like ski resorts and such as well.
About Nozawa Onsen Village
Nozawa Onsen Village is in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. With an area of only about 58k㎡, it’s a small town, but about half of that is woods and mountains. While it is famous for its ski resort and hot springs, there is also the “Dosojin Festival” (道祖神祭り), one of the 3 big fire festivals in Japan, which is quite exciting.
Nozawa Onsen Village Weather and Sightseeing Seasons
The yearly average temperature in Nozawa Onsen Village is low, at about 9.5℃, and it snows a lot in the winter due to being in one of the heaviest snowfall areas of Japan. The hot springs are open year-round, and we recommend going in winter or spring, when you can also enjoy snow activities like skiing.
Things to Do in Nozawa Onsen Village
The appeal of Nozawa Onsen Village is in its hot springs and natural sightseeing opportunities. We will introduce some of our favorite ways to pass the time.
Nozawa Onsen’s Hot Springs
Nozawa Onsen Village is a sightseeing area with 13 different public baths and foot baths. The hot springs differ in smell, color, and feel of the water. We recommend trying the various foot baths.
Leisure Spots: Nozawa Onsen’s Ski Resorts
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is at about 1,650 meters up on Mount Kenashi (毛無山). You can enjoy skiing and snowboarding on the natural powder snow. During the seasons with no snow, we recommend hiking in the Uenotaira Highlands (上ノ平高原). Or, you can take a spin on the longest zip line in Japan at the Nozawa Onsen Sports Park, which will take you down 122 meters in height.
Nozawa Onsen Village Restaurants
The dining establishments in Nozawa Onsen Village are centered around the Hot Spring street.
Drinking Local Sake at Bar in Nozawa Onsen
If you’re going to Nozawa Onsen, we suggest trying the delicious local sake, such as 'Mizuo' (水尾), that are made with the famous hot spring water. There are a few bars to check out where you can try local sake brews, including ‘Tanuki Bar’ (狸) and ‘HAKUNA MATATA’.
Where to Eat Sushi in Nozawa Onsen
You can eat sushi in various restaurants and hot spring inns in Nozawa Onsen. Nozawa Onsen is the production center for Nozawana coleseed greens (野沢菜) , and there is a local dish called Nozawa Nazuke (野沢菜漬け) that is quite famous. We suggest trying it with your sushi or seafood rice bowls.
Nozawa Onsen Village Hotels and Onsen Ryokan
There are many hotels, inns, and guest houses centered around the hot spring street in Nozawa Onsen Village. There are also cottages and guest house around the ski areas.
Access From Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen Village
If you’re headed to Nozawa Onsen Village from the Tokyo area, the most convenient way is to take the Hokuriku bullet train from Tokyo Station. You will reach Iiyama Station (飯山駅) in about 1 hour and 50 minutes, and then take a direct bus for about 25 minutes.
Spot information
- Spot name：Nozawa Onsen Village (Nozawa Onsen Chuo Bus Terminal)
- Street address：Toyosato, Nozawa-Onsen-Mura, Shimo-Takai-gun, Nagano prefecture
- Access：About 1 hour and 50 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo, get off at Iiyama Station and take the direct bus for about 25 minutes
- Wi-Fi：Available (Depending on the accommodations)
- Language：English
- Credit cards：Not Accepted
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