Sun, Aug 2 Today
23° 20°
Wind 10 km/h
Precipitation 5 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Slopes
44.5 km Green
8 km 8 pistas
Blue
12 km 14 pistas
Red
14 km 12 pistas
Black
10.5 km 4 pistas
Season 2025/2026
1cm April 7, 2026
November 20, 2025
May 7, 2026
Community Scores
Not enough reviews to compute scores yet.
Information & Sources
Máxima 1650m
Mínima 565m
Vertical drop
1085 m
Desnivel
Ski Map
FORFAIT PASS
Precio/Día
Resort website ¥7,200
≈ 45€
Weather
7-day forecast
Forecast detailed → Week outlook Check the detailed forecast
Storm risk
Mon, Aug 3
24° 19°
Wind 8 km/h
Precipitation 1 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Tue, Aug 4
26° 18°
Wind 8 km/h
Precipitation 0 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Wed, Aug 5
26° 18°
Wind 9 km/h
Precipitation 1 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Thu, Aug 6
27° 20°
Wind 7 km/h
Precipitation 1 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Fri, Aug 7
27° 19°
Wind 5 km/h
Precipitation 9 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Sat, Aug 8
23° 18°
Wind 5 km/h
Precipitation 10 mm
Snowfall 0 cm
Source: Open-Meteo
About the resort
🏔️ History
Located in Nagano Prefecture, Nozawa Onsen is widely considered the birthplace of skiing in Japan (introduced by an Austrian in the early 20th century). It is one of the rare places globally that perfectly blends a world-class ski resort (which hosted events during the 1998 Olympics) with an ancient, picturesque hot spring ("onsen") village. Its narrow, cobblestone streets flow with volcanic hot water that locals have used for centuries.
☀️ Best days
Deep storm days in January ("Japanuary"). Nozawa catches brutal amounts of light, dry powder as freezing Siberian winds sweep across the Sea of Japan, picking up moisture and dumping it directly onto these specific mountain faces.
🚫 Days to avoid
Sunday afternoons during domestic holiday periods. The narrow, traditional streets of the village become highly congested. Additionally, because the lower runs funnelling back to the village face south/southwest, a strong sun in late March can quickly turn the snow there into heavy slush.
💡 Community tip
The skiing is fantastic, but the cultural après-ski is unmatched. The village features 13 free "soto-yu" (public hot spring baths), housed in traditional wooden buildings and maintained by the local community. Plunging into one (be warned, the water is blisteringly hot!) is mandatory after a long powder day. Don't miss eating "oyaki" (steamed stuffed buns) sold along the steaming streets.
Nearest Airports
Tokyo Haneda Airport
HND 240 min drive 170 min by train
Tokyo Narita Airport
NRT 270 min drive 200 min by train
Train Stations
JR Iiyama Station (Shinkansen)
No direct transfer 25 min drive transfer
🚗 Driving from Tokyo: Nozawa Onsen is located in the northern part of Nagano prefecture. The drive from Tokyo takes about 3.5 to 4 hours via the Joshin-etsu Expressway (exiting at Toyota-Iiyama IC) and then following local roads into the village. However, unlike other resorts, having a car in Nozawa Onsen is HIGHLY discouraged unless you are staying on the outskirts.
⚠️ The Village Parking Nightmare: Nozawa Onsen is an ancient, historic hot spring village with winding, narrow, often one-way streets. During winter, these tiny roads are half-buried in snow and filled with pedestrians in yukatas walking between the onsens. Parking near your accommodation is nearly impossible, and the large day-use lots are located up at the base of the ski slopes. Unless you have guaranteed parking from your lodge, you are much better off arriving by train.
Local Tips
💡 Walk Everywhere: The magic of Nozawa Onsen is exploring it on foot. Bring good snow boots because you will be strolling from your lodge to the 13 free, community-run hot spring baths (soto-yu) scattered throughout the village. Commuting up to the ski lifts from the town center involves riding the "Yu-road"—a quirky and incredibly helpful covered moving walkway (magic carpet) that pulls you up the steep hill to the Hikage ski area for free.
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