About the village
Nozawa Onsen is well-known as a hot spring village with an incredible ski resort in the winter. The green season is just as beautiful with hiking and running trails, mountain biking & cycling routes, and morning yoga at the local temple to name a few. It keeps its unique Japanese village culture at the forefront with a balanced international feel. Everywhere is walkable with lots of great restaurants, bars and cafes (great coffee). The ‘sotoyu’ or communal bathhouse experience is not to be missed with 13 free onsens dotted around the village, each with its own unique water quality and story.
Nozawa Onsen Village is located at the foot of the ski resort, which spans across three main areas. The village’s narrow streets (conveniently heated for walking in the winter) bustle with traditional Japanese inns, enjoyable and diverse restaurants and bars, and lots of ‘mom and pop’ shops.
The Ridge location is E9 on the village map.
Nozawa Onsen offers more than just a ski trip. You can experience not only the culture, food, famous hot springs and the renowned fire festival, but also the ambience and great après ski, which sets Nozawa apart from other areas. The village features some amazing traditional architecture with temples, shrines, hot spring establishments, traditional ryokan and free foot baths along many of it’s streets. Even though the village is small there can be over 100 restaurants and bars open during ski season. Any visitors fortunate enough to be in Nozawa Onsen early in the New Year (mid January), should not miss the Dosoujiin Fire Festival; one of the most famous and exciting festivals in Japan.
The combination of a traditional village feel and a great ski hill makes Nozawa Onsen a good choice for everyone’s ski trip to Japan.
Need more inspiration? Check out Outdoor Japan’s full story on what makes Nozawa Onsen an incredible destination.
Winter Season
Nozawa Onsen is steeped in history as one of the original ski resorts in Japan. The terrain is immense and with an average snow depth of 3.5 metres, it boasts plenty of ‘Japow’.
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
The Nozawa Onsen ski resort is a large ski area that opened over seventy years ago. It continues to invest in infrastructure with the brand new Nagasaka gondola opening for the 20/21 season and snow making to ensure an early start and extended season for the future.
There is plenty of terrain to explore, offering over 50 kilometres of trails or pistes beginning at an elevation of 1,085 metres, with 297 hectares of skiing surface. One of the pluses of skiing at Nozawa is that there really is something for everybody (see stats below). There are family-friendly wide open pistes, some challenging steep tree runs on powder days between the marked runs of Yamabiko area. There is a terrain park with jumps, rails, boxes and an 80-metre half pipe for those who like to huck it.
Day trips within an hour drive time to nearby resorts such as Shiga Kogen, Madarao and Kijimadaira areas are possible via shuttle buses or a rental car. There are backcountry guided tours and snowshoe tours that our frontdesk can assist you with booking.
25 lifts (23 chair lifts and 2 gondolas) and 46 courses
Skill level: Beginner 40% | Intermediate 30% | Advanced 30%
✔Private Lessons
Please view our Locate Us page for options and pricing.
Lift Passes
Lift and Gondola pass pricing and resort details are available here.
Ski Lessons
The Nozawa Ski School provides English speaking instructors. For families with young children not skiing, the Kids Park and Day Nursery (Yumin) provide parents with a worry-free solution. There is also a Ski-Doo available to the ski school from the main Gondola, which is an easy 8-minute walk.
Ski Hire
We understand that your ski gear is a crucial element of your holiday, so we recommend Nozawa Sports Thanx for all your rental needs. Located next to the Gondola and only a 10-minute walk from The Ridge, Sports Thanx stocks the best and newest range of skis, ski clothing and snowboard products. All of their equipment is competitively priced and expertly maintained. View rates here. For your convenience, you can also leave your ski gear with them overnight, so you don’t have to carry back and forth each day.
Tours
Beyond the ski slopes, there are many activities and tour options, such as the famous snow monkeys, hot springs and food tours. Our front desk can provide suggestions and bookings on local tours.
Green Season
Nozawa Onsen is more than a ski destination with four distinctive seasons to enjoy throughout the year. The Ridge Nozawa is a perfect ‘remote work’ option for those seeking to escape the city life. With the comforts of a modern self contained apartment for extended stays, why not experience village life with a ‘workation’? Start your days with a morning yoga class at the local shrine, let the kids play in the grassy parks, swim and splash at the Sparena outdoor pools. Enjoy the village morning markets, long walks through the rice fields and mountain trails, and for those wanting action, the world class mountain bike trails are a secret getting harder to keep!
