Where to Stay in Nozawa Onsen: Five Areas Compared

Where to stay in Nozawa Onsen: the central onsen street, Nagasaka, Hikage, Kamijo and Shinyu, compared by distance to the gondola.

Nozawa Onsen is a village with the ski area running down into it, and most lodging is in ryokan-style inns in the village. The walk to the gondola is about 400 m from the middle of the onsen street and close to zero at Nagasaka. This page compares the five parts of the village and the four properties we list.

Closest to the lifts: Nagasaka. It sits around the main gondola base, and Nozawa View Hotel Shimadaya is a 3 minute walk from the gondola.

Public baths and dinner: The central onsen street. O-yu, the main shopping street and most restaurants are here, about 400 m from the gondola.

Beginners and night skiing: Hikage. The ski school and the night skiing are in this part of the village.

A quiet stay: Kamijo. It is the upper village, with a more local feel.

Central onsen street. Feel: Lively and convenient. Best for: Bath hopping, eating out. To the gondola: About 400 m.

Nagasaka. Feel: Best ski access, premium lodging. Best for: Maximum time on snow. To the gondola: About 0 m (gondola base).

Hikage. Feel: Night skiing, beginner friendly. Best for: Ski school, first-timers. To the gondola: About 600 m.

Kamijo. Feel: Quiet and local. Best for: A calm stay. To the gondola: About 800 m.

Shinyu. Feel: Hidden and peaceful. Best for: Avoiding the crowds. To the gondola: About 700 m.

Central onsen street: The middle of the village holds O-yu, the main shopping street and most of the restaurants, at about 600 m elevation. Lodging is mostly ryokan. Kiriya Ryokan is a luxury inn with free-flowing outdoor baths and kaiseki dinners, and Sumiyoshiya is a historic ryokan with more than 200 years of tradition. If you plan to walk between the 13 public baths, this is the convenient end of the village. Best for: Bath hopping and a choice of places to eat. Price guide: Kiriya Ryokan lists ¥35,000 to ¥80,000 a night and Sumiyoshiya ¥15,000 to ¥45,000 (ranges on our listings). To the lifts: About 400 m to the gondola; Sumiyoshiya is a 5 minute walk and Kiriya Ryokan 6.

Nagasaka: Nagasaka is the best place in the village for ski access, around the base of the main gondola. Nozawa View Hotel Shimadaya is a modern hotel near the gondola. Some rooms have private outdoor baths, and the hot springs look out to the mountains. Best for: People who want the most time on snow and a short walk to the gondola. Price guide: Nozawa View Hotel Shimadaya lists ¥18,000 to ¥50,000 a night (range on our listing). To the lifts: Around the main gondola base; the View Hotel is a 3 minute walk.

Hikage: Hikage is where the night skiing and the ski school are. The Hikage and Nagasaka slopes are gentle beginner ground, and the kids park is nearby. It suits a first week on snow or a trip with lessons booked. Best for: Beginners, ski school students and night skiers. Price guide: No rate on our listings. Check Agoda for your dates. To the lifts: About 600 m to the gondola; the nearest lift is the Hikage pair lift.

Kamijo: The upper part of the village, at about 650 m elevation. It is quieter than the central street and keeps a local atmosphere. The walk to the gondola is longer, so check the free shuttle times before you book. Best for: A quiet stay with a local feel. Price guide: No rate on our listings. Check Agoda for your dates. To the lifts: About 800 m to the gondola, among the longer walks in the village.

Shinyu: A newer hot spring area a little outside the main village, at about 570 m elevation. It is calmer than the central onsen street. Best for: Avoiding crowds and a peaceful onsen stay. Price guide: No rate on our listings. Check Agoda for your dates. To the lifts: About 700 m to the gondola.

Lodging around the Dosojin fire festival on January 15 sells out six months to a year ahead. If those are your dates, book the room first.

The four properties we list span ¥8,000 to ¥18,000 for Lodge Nagano, ¥15,000 to ¥45,000 for Sumiyoshiya, ¥18,000 to ¥50,000 for Nozawa View Hotel and ¥35,000 to ¥80,000 for Kiriya Ryokan. Prices move with the date and the room, so enter your dates on a booking site for the real figure.

For the lowest price, Lodge Nagano is the listed option. It is a casual lodge popular with international skiers, with English-speaking staff and a bar, but no hot spring.

The season runs from late November to early May (our season data). The high Yamabiko area holds good snow into March.

January and February have snow on more than half the days and the deepest, steadiest cover. The January 15 Dosojin festival is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and lodging around it fills first.

Check availability early for popular weekends, and pick a free-cancellation rate where one is offered so a date change does not cost you.

Getting to Nozawa Onsen The Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Iiyama takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, then a direct bus takes about 25 minutes. The bus stop is in the middle of the village, and the village shuttle also leaves from there.

The public baths are outside your inn The village runs thirteen public baths, all free, with a donation box at the door. They are within walking distance of any lodging, so an inn without its own hot spring still has plenty of bathing. Bring your own towel.

Lift ticket guide For 2026-27 the adult day ticket is ¥7,800 at the window in the regular period (December 19 to March 28) and ¥5,600 in the early season.

Which part of Nozawa Onsen is closest to the slopes? Nagasaka, around the main gondola base. Nozawa View Hotel Shimadaya is listed at a 3 minute walk from the gondola.

Does my inn need its own hot spring to use the public baths? No. All thirteen public baths are free and open to anyone, so an inn without a hot spring is fine.

Where should a beginner stay? Hikage. The ski school and night skiing are there, and the Hikage slope is beginner ground.

Is there a cheaper place to stay? Among our listings, Lodge Nagano has the lowest range, ¥8,000 to ¥18,000 a night. It has no hot spring, but it has English-speaking staff and a bar.