A historic hot spring village with a world-class ski resort and some of the deepest powder in Nagano.
Runs
36
Vertical
1085m
Summit
1650m
Base 565m
Annual snow
12m/season
Premium
Best season Mid-December to late March
Why Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
A historic hot spring village with a world-class ski resort and some of the deepest powder in Nagano.
Historic hot spring village; 300 ha; bus from JR Iiyama
Plan your trip
Nozawa Onsen is Japan's most authentic ski-and-onsen village — a historic hot-spring town with 13 free public bathhouses, 297 ha of terrain, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaching nearby Iiyama Station in 100 min from Tokyo.
Long-haul gateways and the cheapest domestic hops.
Tokyo is the gateway. From HND/NRT, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama, then the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus.
Trains, shuttles, and rentals from the airport.
Nozawa Onsen Liner bus from Iiyama Station Bus Stop 4 to the village in 25 min, ¥600 one-way.
Free village shuttle plus on-foot access — most Nozawa lodges are walking distance from the Hikage and Nagasaka gondolas.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
300+ accommodations in the village — historic ryokan, mid-range hotels, condo apartments, and family pensions, all walkable to the lifts.
Modern serviced apartments — full kitchens, central village location, English-speaking concierge. The first apartment-style product in Nozawa.
Three-building complex with apartments, hotel rooms, on-site teppanyaki and sushi restaurants, retail shop, café, and bar.
Historic ryokan in the central onsen village — tatami rooms, kaiseki dining, walking distance to all 13 public baths.
Family-run lodge near the Nagasaka Gondola — long-time English-speaking welcome, breakfast and dinner included.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
All-mountain access to 36 trails, 297 ha. Adult 1-day ~¥7,500–8,500 in 2025–26; cheaper online via the resort or Klook.
NOSS (Nozawa Onsen Snowsports School) is the main English-speaking school, plus Smile / Nozawa Holidays.
Multiple in-village rentals near the Hikage Gondola — Stay Nozawa Rentals, Goro's, and the resort-run shop.
Side-country tours into the Yamabiko bowl, plus guided Madarao day trips.
Onsen soaks and rest-day excursions nearby.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (75 min) and Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano are the standard day trips. The Dosojin Fire Festival (Jan 15) is the village's biggest annual event.
Nozawa's 13 free public Soto-yu bathhouses are the village's signature — donation-based, scattered through the lanes.
Cover, connectivity, and bag forwarding before you fly.
Activate before you fly. ~$10–15 for 7 days vs $35–60 for pocket WiFi. Coverage at Nozawa is strong.
Terrain in detail
BalancedMixed terrain — solid intermediate base with sharper lines for advanced skiers. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
50
Mixed terrain — solid intermediate base with sharper lines for advanced skiers.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Massive vertical and onsen recovery.
Heavier, frequent storm cycles — deep refills, denser snow.
12
m
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
11 of 36
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
1085m
Big-mountain vertical.
Steepest pitch
39°
True double-black gradient.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Limited
Mostly groomed terrain.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Mountain notes
Groomers
Excellent groomed runs on the lower mountain, with wide cruisers down to the village.
Tree skiing
Good tree skiing in the upper mountain areas, especially around Yamabiko.
Terrain park
Small park on the Hikage slope with basic features.
Crowds
Manageable crowds even in peak season thanks to 300+ hectares of terrain.
Vibe
Traditional Japanese mountain village with incredible cultural charm. Onsen after skiing is a must.
Best for
Terrain & features
Photo: Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
Approx
Train / bus
Bus from JR Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Overview
Bus from JR Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
From airport
Approx. 2 hours from Tokyo via Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 18°C, wind 5 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Where to stay
Charming traditional village with over 30 free public onsen. Stay in a ryokan or pension for the full experience.
Best area
Nozawa Onsen Village (walkable to lifts)
Lift passes & pricing
Prices are approximate and may vary by season. Check the resort website for current rates.
Nearby resorts
More resorts in Nagano
destination resort
Hakuba's crown jewel and 1998 Olympic venue, offering Japan's most challenging piste skiing with epic vertical.
resort town
Two interconnected Hakuba faces — 47's terrain park and Goryu's wide groomers under one lift ticket, plus the valley's best night-skiing.
powder-focused
The snowiest resort in Hakuba Valley and Japan's finest steep in-bounds tree skiing — the Hotel Green Plaza at the base makes it the most underrated ski-in option in the country.
family-focused
Japan's widest beginner piste, plus the Tsugaike DBD — lift-served backcountry zone on the top of the mountain. Rare resort that works for a first-timer AND a freerider.
Trail map
Open full sizeReady to book?
Stays, lift passes, rentals — everything you need in one place.
Book & plan
At the resort
Book accommodationOfficial resort siteGetting there
Domestic flights to Tokyo HanedaNagano airport transfers
