Nozawa Onsen Accommodation, Nagano, The Alps Japan
Nestled in the Japan Alps is a magical place steeped in culture and with some terrific skiing and boarding. Nagano was home to the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Get in touch if keen to get knee deep in powder or neck deep in a Hot Spring soon…
Video
Check out our video of our 4 main properties below.
Nozawa Onsen is a very traditional town with beautiful hot springs, friendly locals, and awesome snow. Our Lodge gives you amazing value and we have a range of accommodation to suit any budget.
The Lodge is only 100m to the slopes and short stroll to town
Relaxed and comfortable atmosphere
In the centre of Japan’s main Island Honshu easy access from anywhere
You can fly direct to Tokyo and there is a shuttle bus direct to the Lodge
English and Japanese Speaking Staff to help with all your needs
Unique and beautiful place with breathtaking nature and culture
Nozawa Village is also famous for its hot springs, there are many nearby
Lots of terrain, with Gondolas, high speed quads, and long runs – very few lift lines
Thanks Mark – we were first invited to Nozawa years ago and have been enjoyed the skiing, the village and your hospitality ever since. Thanks for helping us enjoy it so much,
Getting some serious air time in Nozawa Onsen by Matthew Chamberlain. Thanks for the awesome photo taken by Alison Szymik
Base up top: 270 cm Temperature; 0 Degrees
Base at bottom; 190 cm
New Snow: 5 cm
Temps a little warmer in Nozawa the last few days and no major snowfalls have developed as yet. Yesterday just as I finished writing the report the snow stopped and didn’t get much overnight. Light snow this morning and should get a bit more tonight.
Tomorrow is looking fairly clear then a bit of snow expected Sunday night when the freezing level is set to drop down to below sea level. The snow show should kick in from Tuesday night with some serious snow expected after that.
Just in time for the Chinese New Year with quite a few guests from overseas expected to roll into town from today
The good luck has already started for one young couple that got engaged on the top of Yamabiko yesterday. We have had quite a few proposals in Nozawa over the years not sure if it is the mountains, the flowing water or the flowing sake but something sets the scene perfectly. We wish the happy couple all the best.
Today there was another light dusting up top and condition on piste were good, off piste too. Just the sides were getting a bit crusty. The guys are still finding lots of fun spots all over the mountain! It has just started to snow pretty big flakes out the window now.
Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year from all in Nozawa Onsen
Perfect day for a proposal on top of Yamabiko - congratulations Paul and Megan. Omedetou
Snow covered trees in Nozawa Onsen always beautiful
Base up top: 275 cm Temperature; -1 Degrees
Base at bottom; 190 cm
New Snow: 5 cm
The scene has changed today in Nozawa with the snow returning. Has been pretty light through out today with occasional big flakes floating down. On the slopes about 5cm has collected and it is a bit of dust on crust but should soften up as the day goes on and more snow joins the party.
Yesterday was nice on the slopes with almost no wind and that looks set to continue for a little while.
Just talked to a friend in Tokyo and he said it was even snowing in Tokyo today. Not collecting on the ground but some good fall, something that does not happen very often these days so great to see.
The outlook is for snow to continue here for quite a while in Nozawa Onsen getting heavy on Saturday night then pretty consistent all the way thru next week. So the powder times look set to return.
People travel from far and wide to check out Nozawa Onsen. Have had a bunch of guys all the way from Finland in town for the past week that is about as far as you can get and from all reports they have had a ball.
Here is some footage from yesterday – 6 days after our last dump and they were still finding some fresh tracks! Great work.
Just like in Surfing with skiing Three Fins are better than one!
Sake Tasting night at Villa Nozawa always draws great interest
Base up top: 280 cm Temperature; -4 Degrees
Base at bottom; 200 cm
New Snow: 0 cm
Another sunny day in the slopes here in Nozawa similar mould to yesterday with very light winds and nice conditions on the slopes.
As usual after a few days without any fresh snow the powder hounds are getting a bit of an itch, but there are still some nice spots if you search around. On piste was a bit hard early but has softened up now for a beautiful day.
The expected snowfall just keeps creeping forward and looks like may start with a little tonight then the snow man mark is appearing pretty consistently into the near future. Not a major dump but hopefully some nice little top ups.
The University contests are on in town at the moment and they are taking to the ski jump too just above Arena. Pretty spectacular to watch as they get some serious air!
Had our annual Sake Tasting night last night at Villa Nozawa. Over 60 people sat in for some very good sake and information. Tanaka san the President of Mizuo Sake a locally produced sake was on hand to serve up the precious white liquid. His family has been brewing Sake in Iiyama since 1873 and uses Nozawa Onsen spring water blended with Iiyama and Kijimadaira rice to make some of my favourite sake in all of Japan.
Nice to see the sun for a change in Nozawa Onsen - has not ventured out too much this season
Sliding into Nozawa House. It does not get anymore ski in than this!
Base up top: 280 cm Temperature; 1 Degrees
Base at bottom; 200 cm
New Snow: 0 cm
Finally the Bluebird day we were waiting for in Nozawa Onsen. The forecast had promised us one yesterday but turned out to be a bit of a greybird. Even had a bit of snow, enough to fill in the lines from the groomers!
Today will be a picture perfect day on the slopes and pretty quiet again. Was a bunch of kids doing cross-country on the Olympic course this morning for a school meet. There were lots of waves and hellos along the ski road this morning.
Temps are a bit warmer than has been, sitting just above 0 degrees. The next decent dump has come forward a bit too and looks like should begin on Friday night.
The Nozawa Ski School is also running snowshoe tours on the slopes this year from the end of January until April. Will be a guided tour thru the Buna Forest up at Uenotaira and almost a full day at a cost of 6000 Yen. Great way to see the local environment and might even spot a Kamoshika the local deer/goat type animal. They are pretty majestic and always a buzz to see them when on the mountain.
Snowshoeing in Nozawa great way to experince the great out doors
The stage is set for the spectacular Fire Festival in Nozawa Onsen
Base up top: 315 cm Temperature; -6 Degrees
Base at bottom; 230 cm
New Snow: 12 cm
Once again the famous Fire Festival has passed for another year. The flags and dosojin statues are being taken down and everyone is nursing their wounds and headaches after what was truly a spectacular night.
It was a firey and sake soaked evening that went off perfectly to the delight of the huge crowd that assembled to witness the time honored tradition. As in the past years it was snowing a bit at the start, which made the location even more stunning.
On the slopes we have had up to 20cm in some places since lifts closed yesterday and today it is relatively clear. With many having a lie in this morning, for the genki ones it should be a quiet and beautiful day on the mountain.
The outlook is for a few days of sun and then some more snow over next weekend.
Anyone keen to come up for the Fire Festival next year and stay best to not leave it too long to book as it tends to fill fast and we already have a few people here now that have booked in again for next year. Must be enjoying the festivities and amazing snow conditions!
