O-yu Bathhouse Street
Nozawa’s atmospheric main lane with the iconic O-yu bathhouse, snack shops, and cafés—perfect for an evening stroll after laps.
Nozawa Onsen Highlights
A walkable village with free soto-yu bathhouses, long cruisers, and easy bases for lessons—everything close at hand.
Longest Run in Japan (~10 km)
From the top area back to the village, link groomers for a ~10 km descent—great views, steady pitch, and serious leg burn.
Nagasaka & Hikage Bases
Convenient bases for rentals, lessons, and gondola access to the upper mountain. Family-friendly facilities and easy greens nearby.
Food & Après Pockets
Warm up with soba, nabe, and onsen-manjū. Cosy izakaya and bakeries dot the village within walking distance of most lodgings.
Passes & Tickets
- Day & Multi-day Passes: Buy at Nagasaka or Hikage base ticket centers.
- Night Skiing: Operates on select evenings in peak season—great for extra groomer laps.
- Lessons/Rentals: Available at both main bases; book ahead during holidays.
When to Visit
Dec
Season kicks off; early storms, colder temps.
Jan
Deepest powder; shortest days—start early.
Feb
Prime mix of storms and longer daylight.
Mar
Sunnier, softer—great for families and value.
Bathhouses to Soak
Rotate through the free public soto-yu—each with its own character. Rinse first, no swimsuits, and keep towels out of the water.
- O-yu (大湯): the iconic wooden bathhouse on the main street.
- Shinyu (真湯): quieter soak just off the center.
- Kawahara-yu (河原湯): atmospheric after fresh snowfall.
Powder Fuel
Village comfort food a short walk from most lodgings.
- Hot soba, winter greens, and hearty nabe.
- Onsen-manjū steamed sweets on O-yu street.
- Local pickles (nozawana) and easy après around Nagasaka/Hikage.
Getting to Nozawa Onsen
Rail + Bus
Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station (≈1h40–2h from Tokyo). Then Nozawa Liner bus ≈25–30 min to the village.
Fly
Fly into Tokyo (HND/NRT) or Toyama/Komatsu then rail to Iiyama. Winter roads can be snowy—rent a car only if confident.
Village
Most streets are walkable; many lodgings are steps from baths. Check last bus times from Iiyama if arriving late.
Mountain & Trees
Upper-mountain weather changes fast; tree zones open/close by conditions. Obey signage and patrol, and layer for cold summit winds.