A full guide to Nozawa Onsen: 44 runs and 1,085 m of vertical, the 13 free public baths, 12 metres of annual snow.
The ski area runs straight down into the village. Nozawa has 1,085 m of vertical over 44 runs, and the town at the bottom has thirteen free public hot springs that date from the Edo period. After skiing you can walk back through the snow and bathe where the locals bathe.
The terrain: The Yamabiko bowl up top holds the best snow and the tree runs. Paradise and Skyline are the long cruising intermediates through the middle of the mountain. Hikage and Nagasaka at the base are the beginner and ski-school zone, while Schneider and the Challenge course reach 39 degrees. Two gondolas move you from the village to the summit quickly.
The thirteen free baths: The village runs thirteen soto-yu bathhouses, all free with a donation box at the door. O-yu is the landmark and the busiest; Shin-yu and Kuma-no-tearai-yu are hotter and more local. All are undiluted natural spring water, and some tubs run above 45°C. Ask the room before adding cold water; soap is banned in several of them.
Snow and crowds: Nozawa sits directly in line with the Japan Sea storm track and takes roughly twelve metres a season, snowing on more than half the days in January and February. It has become popular with international visitors, though less so than Hakuba or Niseko. Weekdays have almost no lift lines, and the high Yamabiko area holds good snow into March.
Are the hot springs really free? Yes, all thirteen. Leave a coin in the donation box and bring your own towel.
Can anyone attend the fire festival? Yes, anyone can watch. Book lodging six to twelve months ahead for January 15.
One of Japan's three great fire festivals. Men aged 42 and 25 defend a huge wooden shrine while torch-carrying villagers try to burn it down, and it goes on for hours. It is a designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and lodging sells out a year ahead. Watching is free; dress for standing in deep cold and snow.
Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Iiyama takes about 100 minutes, then 25 minutes by direct bus. Most lodging is ryokan-style in the village, with walking access or a free shuttle to the lifts.
Lift ticket prices checked 18 Oct 2026. The figures and their sources are on the Nozawa Onsen page.
Hikage and Nagasaka at the base are gentle and hold the ski school and kids park.