Nozawa Onsen is the name of a small village located to the north east of Nagano city in the north east region of Nagano Prefecture, close to the border with Niigata Prefecture. It is also of course the name of the popular ski and snowboard resort located close by village - the base lifts, gondolas and courses are within walking distance. Many people refer to it as just 'Nozawa'.
Nozawa Onsen is one of the most famous ski and snowboard resorts in Japan. It first opened in 1923 with the first ski lift opening in 1950. The two gondolas were installed in 1979 (Hikage) and 1990 (Nagasaka). Much of the history of Nozawa and indeed skiing in Japan can be seen at the Japan Ski Museum that can be found by the Isemiya course, not far from the Hikage Gondola. Nozawa Onsen is famous for onsen hot springs throughout the year as well as large amounts of quality snowfall during the winter months.
Nozawa Onsen continues to become increasingly popular with visitors from overseas. While there is a real international presence developing in Nozawa, the village still manages to retain a traditional and quaint Japanese feel. In January every year the Dosojin Matsuri (Fire Festival) is one highlight of the season. The village was host to the biathlon events during the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.
Last season (2017-2018), a good new addition was the new course that opened at the top of Skyline allowing you to ski or board down without needing to take the connecting lift.
Nagano Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of the main island of Honshu. Most of the Northern Alps, Central Alps and Southern Alps are located within Nagano (along with neighbouring prefectures). Nagano has the second highest number of ski and snowboard resorts in all of Japan and they are spread around the whole prefecture. Nagano city and many of the major ski resorts are located in the northern region.
Ski and snowboard lessons in English are available at Nozawa Onsen. For more information on lessons please check the Lessons in English page on SnowJapan.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available. Ski and snowboard wear rental is also available.
Children's facilities
The main 'Kids Park' area - featuring a 'magic carpet', inflatables and other play items - is located in the Hikage area of Nozawa Onsen. Entry is free. There are a few other areas for sledging and tubing.
The ‘Nasuki-go’ service welcomes guests and takes them between the Nagasaka Station of the Nagasaka Gondola to the front of the Hikage Information Center.
The 'Yumin' day care service is available in the Hikage Information Centre building. Charges are 2,500 yen for a half day and 4,000 yen for a full day.
There free indoor 'Nasuki Room' rest/play room on the 2nd Floor of the Hikage Information Centre building and is open from 9:00am until 4:00pm.
These children facilities are open from Saturday 15th December 2018 until Sunday 31st March 2019.
Park information
The 'Uenotaira Snow Park' can be found on the Uenotaira area on the upper half of the mountain, located at an elevation of 1220m-1410m. This area is covers a full 2km and opens from late December until the end of the season in early May. There is also 110m half pipe in the Uenotaira area.
Nozawa Onsen Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Late November until Early May
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 8:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 5:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Sometimes
Weekdays
No
Opening information
Lift operations at Nozawa Onsen are generally from 8:30am until 5:00pm in the daytime during the main season (from 8:30am until 4:30pm from opening until 27th January 2019).
Nighta operations are from 5:00pm until 8:00pm every Saturday between 15th December 2018 and 23rd March 2019; also on 28th December 2018 until 2nd January 2019, 13th January and 10th February 2019.
The Utopia pair, Challenge pair, Yunomine pair, Mizunashi pair lifts generally do not operate on weekdays.
Nozawa Onsen Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Junior High School age & under
Senior
60 years & over
1 Day
4,800 yen
2,200 yen
3,700 yen
1.5 Days
7,800 yen
3,700 yen
5,400 yen
2 Days
9,000 yen
4,200 yen
7,000 yen
3 Days
13,000 yen
6,000 yen
10,000 yen
Morning (Open-1pm)
3,700 yen
1,600 yen
3,000 yen
Afternoon (12pm-day close)
3,700 yen
1,600 yen
3,000 yen
1 Lift Coupon
450 yen
250 yen
Nagasaka Gondola
1,700 yen
850 yen
Hikage Gondola
1,300 yen
650 yen
Nighta
1,600 yen
850 yen
Season Ticket (all)
63,000 yen
50,000 yen
57,000 yen
Season Ticket (from March)
32,000 yen
20,000 yen
26,000 yen
A nighta ticket is required for nighta (not included in the normal day tickets), but nighta can be enjoyed using a Season Ticket.
The 1.5 Day ticket is valid for an afternoon and following day or a day and then the following morning.
Riding the Gondola back down is free.
Cheaper early season (23rd November until 14th December 2018) and Spring season (1st April until 6th May 2019) tickets are available.
23rd November until 14th December 2018 1 day ticket: 3,400 yen (adults), 1,700 yen (children), 2,600 yen (seniors) 2 day ticket: 6,800 yen (adults), 3,400 yen (children), 5,200 yen (seniors) 3 day ticket: 10,200 yen (adults), 5,100 yen (children), 7,800 yen (seniors)
1st April until 6th May 2019 1 day ticket: 3,700 yen (adults), 1,700 yen (children), 2,900 yen (seniors) 2 day ticket: 7,400 yen (adults), 3,400 yen (children), 5,800 yen (seniors) 3 day ticket: 11,100 yen (adults), 5,100 yen (children), 8,700 yen (seniors)
Special tickets including meal coupons and family packs are also available.
Getting to Nozawa Onsen
By public transport
Train
14.3km from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line
8km from Togari Nozawa Onsen Station on the Iiyama Line
47.2km from Tokamachi Station on the Hokuhoku Line
Information
The nearest train stations on the local Iiyama line are Kamisakai Station (4km) and Togari Nozawa Onsen Station (8km). Note that buses do not operate from these small stations and so the only option from there is to take a taxi.
The large Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) line is about 14km from Nozawa Onsen.
The Nozawa Onsen Liner Bus operates from Iiyama Station to Nozawa Onsen and takes about 25 minutes.
Other bus services from Iiyama Station are available going to Nozawa Onsen and also nearby Madarao Kogen.
By Car
20.1km from the Toyota Iiyama IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway
38.8km from the Myoko Kogen IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway
55km from the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 117 (4.3km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 38
Direction
Nozawa Onsen is located a few kilometres off the main Route 117 road that connects Nagano city with Ojiya city in Niigata Prefecture. It is about 45km to the north east of central Nagano city and about 15km to the north east of central Iiyama city.
Most people will either approach Nozawa Onsen from the Toyota Iiyama IC of the Joshinetsu Expressway or the Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC of the Kanetsu Expressway (in Niigata Prefecture).
Approaching Nozawa Onsen from Toyota Iiyama IC (Joshinetsu Expressway):
From the Toyota Iiyama IC exit, turn right onto Route 117 and go through the main shopping road area of Iiyama city following the signs to Nozawa Onsen. After 15km on this road turn right onto Prefecture Road 410, just before the Lawson convenience store. Continue on this road for about 1km until reaching the traffic lights. Turn left onto Prefecture Road 38 and continue on this road into Nozawa Onsen village. It takes about 25 minutes from the IC exit.
Approaching Nozawa Onsen from Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC (Kanetsu Expressway):
From Tokyo, some people choose to use the Kanetsu Expressway to head north and continue under the Tanigawadake mountain range in Gunma Prefecture into Niigata Prefecture, exiting the Kanetsu Expressway at Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC.
After exiting the toll booth at Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC, turn right and continue for 1km until reaching Route 17. Turn left onto Route 17 towards Yuzawa and after about 650m turn right onto Route 353. Continue on Route 353 for about 18km until reaching the Route 117 traffic light junction. Turn left onto Route 117 (Nozawa Onsen is on the main signpost). The turn off for Nozawa Onsen is about a further 31km. The village can be found nestled at the bottom of the mountain about 4 km off Route 117.
The journey from Shiozawa Ishiuchi IC to Nozawa Onsen is around 55km and in good conditions can be made in around one hour.
There are a number of car parks close to the base of Nozawa Onsen.
The Number 1 parking area at Nagasaka holds about 500 vehicles - it is free on weekdays and 1,000 yen on weekends and holidays. Number 2 parking at Karasawa holds about 200 vehicles - it is free for day trips. Number 3 parking holds 400 vehicles and is also free for day trips.
There are a few other parking areas that are not quite as close to the lifts.
As of Sunday 9th December, we still need to update the information for about 50 ski hills around Japan. They are mostly very small ones and the information can be very hard to find. We are working to get them all updated as quickly as possible... hopefully within the next week!
For more details and explanations about the information presented on this page,
please read this.
It is very important to us that the information presented on SnowJapan is correct and up-to-date. Checks and updates are made throughout the year. If you find information that you feel needs checking and updating, please let us know by contacting us. We appreciate your support.
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