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,
Cheer Squad for the Ski Jumps Nozawa Onsen - pretty cool
It has been snowing off and on in the Village this morning but nothing heavy, and after the last few weeks it seems almost weird not to have a big dump… has been a few days now! Some people are already getting itchy for a bit of a fresh fix!
Still, terrific conditions to be had all over the resort with great quality snow under foot on the groomers and some secret powder stashes for the inquisitive.
Yesterday was good amounts of sunshine and a fun day on the slopes.
Tomorrow is looking like blue bird Friday to end the working week followed by light snow on Saturday then a good dump on Sunday night.
Crowd wise has quietened down in the Village and on the slopes with the Fire Festival done and dusted. Last night the Stay Bar was rocking though with a few talented musicians getting together for a serious jam session.
Villa Nozawa getting decorated
Our lovely neighbours the Ikedas from Mitsubachi Maya came over just before the Fire Festival to put up some traditional decorations for us
Made from Rice there are some beautiful colors.
It is called Mono Zukuri and people from this area make them in Mid January as it is known as the Second New Year from the old Japanese Calendar
Originally they were made from hand shaped Vegetables and Silk worm Cocoons a symbol that would hopefully ensure a plentiful harvest for the year ahead. Nagano was famous for Silk in the old days
The flatter ones are shaped like money in the hope that they will have a sucesfull business too. They are all made from Rice Powder so you can eat them today the 20th iof January which was known as the 3rd New Year. Ittadakimasu…
Best Coffee in Nozawa Onsen a great way to start the day!
Another fairly clear day in Nozawa today has been good to be able to get a look around the mountain at the terrain and try and get on top of the shovelling
Was snowing lightly late last night and there was a thin dusting on the car this morning.
After the groomers had gone thru last night should make for some pretty nice conditions today.
Everyone was totally stoked as they came down the mountain yesterday with amazing snow and some sunshine for the taking
It is snowing lightly outside at the moment in the Village and the forecast is for that to continue with a sunny day on the cards for Friday
Next decent size dump is looking like Sunday Night at this stage but tomorrow should also give us a top up
Just a point of interest people often ask about the roads here in Nozawa. It is a bit of a maze of twists and turns and houses are very close to each other in the Village. With heavy snow this can lead to chaos getting about town. To alleviate this most of the roads in town are heated. Some by Onsen water or just the flow of cold water across the road, but most are by Kerosene from a central boiler. Unfortunately not the most environmental choice but great to see the foresight.
If need any help with transport to, from or around Nozawa drop us a line or check out the getting here and away info at https://www.lodgenagano.com/location/
Heated Roads in Nozawa Onsen make it easier to get around
Finally the snow tap has been turned off in Nozawa
Seems like a funny thing to hope for in a ski town but the break in the fall is kind of welcome
Everyone is taking stock and clearing roofs of snow.
On the slopes it is going to be an amazing day with the sun shining through the clouds and about 20cm of fresh snow over night. Promises to be something special up there
Yesterday was blizzard like conditions up high with heavy snow and strong winds
Was cold and wintery but some amazing powder to be had for the brave
Outlook is for light snow and hopefully some sun to continue all week clearing into the weekend at this stage.
With little to no crowds it is an awesome time to be in the Mountains
So looks like any one who was wishing for lots of snow their prayers have been answered. One way of making a wish in Japan is with a Daruma doll
Using black ink, one fills in a single circular eye while thinking of a wish. Should the wish later come true, the second eye is filled in. Here are some from the Fire Festival both eyes are filled in black, happy days…
For the Latest Snow Report Update from Nozawa Onsen go to our home page https://www.lodgenagano.com/and scroll down for great photos and info.
New Snow 20cm
Base at Yamabiko 260cm and counting
Always find it funny when people tell me there is too much snow!
Bottomless powder feeling in Nozawa at the moment and the snow just keeps coming.
Spent the morning watching people just floating down the steep slope of Mukobayashi.
They were going pretty straight but the deep snow was naturally slowing their glide.
Great conditions for powder hounds and even nice on the fresh groomed runs with a light layer of fresh snow on the top. Have a feeling people are hoping for some sun to break thru soon though. Especially all the Lodge owners here as they wage a constant battle with mother nature to keep the snow of the roofs and driveways.
The outlook is for continued snow but getting lighter and a bluebird day on Friday
Anyway it is going to be another magic day in the powder so grab the powder boards and hang on for the ride of your life…
Sounding like a broken record but it is snowing again in Nozawa Onsen
Was clear skies last night around midnight so was half thinking the forecast may be wrong
But sure enough quite heavy snow this morning in town
Official reports is 10cm should be at least that on the top
Forecasts are showing it is set to continue throughout today and then get heavy tonight which will add to the atmosphere of the Fire Festival.
It is a long night and pretty cold out there so anyone attending be sure to rug up and follow the rules laid down by the organisers. There will be some free Sake flowing but be warned it has a nasty kick.
It is an awesome night and something we are all very proud of here so we hope all the visitors will truly enjoy the spectacle from a safe distance.
Yesterday was an amazing day and was a nice change to see the sun and be able to get a good look around the mountain
Courses open:
All except the following
Kandahar
Hachiman
Uenotaira Half Pipe
Karasawa Wave Park
Lifts operating:
All lifts are open
Here is some more info on the Fire Festival
This festival is one of the three most famous fire festivals in Japan. It is held on January 15th every year to pray for a plentiful harvest, health and good fortune in the coming year.
For men in the Village the ages of twenty-five and forty-two year old are considered unlucky ages. They spend a few days to construct the shaden (shrine) from beech wood that reaches a height of 18 meters. Every year it takes 100 villagers to build the shrine.
The trees are cut down in October and brought down from the mountain, through the village, on January 13th with much cheer and the sake is flowing freely.
Along with the shaden there are an average of five tôrô (dedicatory lantern poles) erected every year. These poles are made by a family in the village to celebrate the birth of the first son. The tôrô are offered to the Gods in a prayer for health and good fortune.
The festival centers around the shaden, where the fourty-two year olds sit on top and the twenty-five year olds stand guard at the base. Torch bearing villagers of all ages attempt to break through the guards and light the shaden on fire. A dangerous and lively battle ensues. The defenders try to put out the fire by striking it with pine branches. The attack lasts for about one hour, after which the 42 year olds call an end to the ceremony and the shaden together with the tôrô are set on fire in an offering to the Gods.
It is an amazing spectacle and you feel like you are stepping back in time for a night that you will never forget
