Welcome to my ultimate guide to Nozawa Onsen, Japan for first-time visitors and solo snowboarders and skiers! This is my fourth stop on my Snowboarding Around the World trip and my first destination in Japan. Timing for Nozawa Onsen was crucial because I not only wanted to come for snowboarding, but I really wanted to experience the annual Dosojin Fire Festival, which takes place every year on January 15th. The fire festival is super popular, so if you’re planning on doing the same thing I did, you need to start planning around a year in advance!

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Things to Buy In Preparation for Your Trip

These are the items that I bought specifically for my trip…

1. Apple AirTags: I put one in my suitcase, my camera bag, my snowboard bag, and in my purse
2. Lock: I use this when I want to lock up my snowboard to the ski racks. Also good if you are staying at a hostel and want to lock up your bags.
3. Snowboarding Backpack: I got this backpack because I wanted something small and waterproof. This is definitely good if you drink a lot of water. Otherwise, I feel like there’s not much room for any of your stuff. I would say this is a great backpack if you just need water, but if you like to bring extra lenses, clothes, etc., there won’t be room for it.
4. Tall Waterproof Boots: Since I’m going to be living in the snow, I figured I would finally spend some money on some decent waterproof boots. I like these a lot since they are lightweight for traveling.
5. Stylish Winter Boots: I wanted to buy another pair of boots that were more for the city for when I want to go out. and these definitely fit the bill! They are a tad bit heavier than the ones above but they look so cool that I couldn’t resist getting both pairs of boots.
6. Down Coat: Since I was lugging A LOT of stuff, I could only afford to bring one decent coat and I ended up purchasing this one. Yes, it was an investment but I wanted something that can last me multiple seasons and that will keep me super warm. I will say that it’s a little snug so if you plan on layering a lot underneath, I would go up one size.
7. Snowboard: I didn’t buy this snowboard specifically for this trip, but in case anyone was wondering what board I’m riding, it’s the Bataleon Push Up.
8. Lotion for Dry Skin: Do NOT underestimate how dry your skin will get being up on the mountain all the time. I’ve tried a bunch of different lotions and this is the only one I keep buying.
9. Bandage: If anyone else has the same issue with their fingers cracking, this was a godsend. Never used this before in my life but now I carry it with me every snowboarding season.

 

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What Area Should You Stay in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

As a solo traveler without a car, the location of your accommodations is probably one of the most important decisions you will make. You want to situate yourself close enough to all of the attractions within walking distance or at least near public transportation. Luckily, Nozawa Onsen is a small town where you can pretty much get anywhere on foot.

After visiting, I would say Nozawa Onsen has two main parts: the Main Town Area and the Secondary Area.

The Main Town Area is where most of the restaurants, bars, shops, temples, onsens, gondola, etc. are located. The Secondary Area is a little further out and is mostly more residential, but still walkable to the center of town. It will take anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes depending on where you are staying. Even though the Secondary Area is further from town, it is served by its own lift called Kawasawa. So even though you are a little far from town, you can board that lift and then ski down to the main area.

 

 

Where Did I Stay in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

This was by far the hardest reservation I had to make. First, the typical third-party booking sites like Booking and Expedia did not give me many options. Second, any option I did find was astronomically priced. Luckily, I turned to Reddit for help, and someone mentioned booking through a Japanese rental agency. They recommended Nozawa Holidays.

Things were not looking good since I was planning my stay during the Dosojin Fire Festival, which is their busiest time of year. The first option they offered was way out of my price range. The second option was a small attic room with a shared bathroom. They thought I would not want it, but they were wrong. It was perfect.

It cost me ¥84,000, or $580 USD, for seven nights (about $80 per night). It was by far the cheapest option I found, so I booked it immediately. All I had to do was put down a 10 percent deposit, with the remaining balance charged shortly before my trip.

The place I stayed is called Nozawa Springs, and the location could not be better in relation to both the lifts and the town. It is about a five-minute walk to the nearest lift and a 10 to 15 minute walk into town. I would have given this place five stars if not for one small hiccup that the accommodations really could not control. There was a stink bug issue, which seems to be common around town.

These bugs look like small flying beetles and are apparently harmless, but they like to live in warm spaces such as attics. Unfortunately for me, I am very squeamish about bugs, and I had trouble sleeping the entire week. They can fly, and I was constantly worried one would end up on my face in the middle of the night. If you are not afraid of bugs, everything about this place was amazing. However, if bugs really bother you, you might want to consider staying somewhere else.

 

How to Get To and From Nozawa Onsen as a Solo Snowboarder

Nozawa Onsen was my first destination in Japan so I was coming straight from the airport. It’s not the most convenient resort to get to but you’ll be glad to know that you don’t need a car and can get there all on public transportation. Since I’m coming from Hanada Airport, the steps below will be reflective of that. If you are coming from somewhere else, take a look at this website and timetable to get you started.

 

How to Get Nozawa Onsen, Japan (without a car)

Step 1: Get to Tokyo Station

If you are coming from Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT), you’ll want to first get yourself to Tokyo Station. There are multiple options to get to Tokyo Station like by bus or train, but I’ve found that the bus is the most convenient (especially if you plan on bringing all your gear with you). The train stresses me out because there are so many people and it’s just so crowded. With that being said, I did end up taking the train just because the bus timing didn’t work out for me.

• Trains: From HND Airport, I took the Tokyo Monorail then transfer to the Keihin-Tohoku line. There are multiple ways to get to Tokyo Station by train so I would just look up what’s best for you on Google Maps. Google Maps is fantastic in Japan!
• Buses: Here is the bus schedule for HND>Tokyo Station and NRT>Tokyo Station. Just be aware that bus times are few and they don’t really run late at night.
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Step 2: Get to Iiyama Station

You’ll now have to catch the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station. If I remember correctly, you can’t buy the Shinkansen ticket at the airport. I had to buy my ticket separately once I got to Tokyo Station. It cost me ¥8.780 or roughly $58 USD. 

Step 3: Get to Nozawa Onsen

Once you get to Iiyama station, you’ll now have to take a bus called the Nozawa Liner. Go outside and find Bus Stop No. 4. There will be a ticket machine where you can buy your ticket. It cost ¥600 and you can pay with your phone (which is what I did).

 

Getting Around Nozawa Onsen

As mentioned before, Nozawa Onsen is a super walkable town. You can get almost everywhere you want to get within 10-20 minutes.

 

How to Depart Nozawa Onsen

You’ll want to take the same Nozawa Liner bus back to Iiyama Station. From Iiyama Station, it should be relatively easy to figure out through Google Maps on how you’ll get to your next destination. 

 

Yamato Transport (aka Yamato Black Cat): Shipping Your Skis/Snowboard

If you have not already heard, there is an amazing delivery service called Yamato Transport, or Yamato Black Cat in reference to their black cat logo. You can drop off your skis or snowboard, and they will deliver them to your accommodations. I love that it is relatively affordable and can be delivered within a couple of days depending on where you are sending it. The best part is that Yamato Black Cat locations are at almost every major place, including airports, hotels, and convenience stores.

Once I landed at Haneda Airport, I went to the Yamato Transport counter and gave them the address of where I wanted my snowboard bag sent. It cost ¥2,900 to ship it from Haneda Airport to Nozawa Onsen, plus ¥450 for the mandatory snowboard cover. In total, it cost ¥3,350, or about $22 USD.

I absolutely LOVE this service! Especially if you are a solo traveler and have no one to help you carry your stuff, this is an absolute lifesaver. I also get super stressed about lugging my snowboard bag onto the train since it takes up so much room. I never know if there will be space for my bag or if it will get in people’s way. This is definitely a convenience I am willing to pay for.

 

Skiing/Snowboarding Nozawa Onsen

Level of Difficulty of the Slope (USA vs. Japan)

Japan follows the European system more closely than the U.S. system. Japanese resorts concentrate mostly on a 3-tiered color system: Green, Red, and Black (although some resorts might have Blues).

USA	Japan
Green	Green / Blue (although not as common)
Blue	Red (Intermediate)
Black	Black
Double Black	—

 

The Resort

If you are used to wide, long, fast runs like those in the US or Europe, you are not really going to find that here, or in Japan in general. What you will find is super dry, pillowy soft snow. It is not called Japow for nothing.

• Resort: The first thing you will notice about Nozawa Onsen is that the mountain is not that big. You could probably touch every run in one day if you really tried. I explored the whole mountain within two days, so by my third day, I already knew where I wanted to go and which lifts to take. With that being said, there are a lot of off-piste adventures you can have, but they are absolutely at your own risk.
• Lifts: The resort is serviced by 19 lifts, including two gondolas. You can find the ski map here.
• Runs: About 36 runs in total. My favorite run is taking Skyline down to Karasawa, which is where my profile picture was taken.

 

Nozawa Onsen Lift Tickets

According to the official website, a one-day lift ticket costs ¥7,500, or approximately $49 USD. You can also buy multiple consecutive day tickets for a deeper discount. Coming from the US, these ticket prices are extremely affordable!

 

Nozawa Onsen Lift Ticket Hack

I am not entirely sure if this is considered a hack or if they still offer this deal for the 2026 season, but last year I was able to get an even better lift ticket price through my accommodations. Apparently, they have a special deal with the resort where you can buy a multi-day pass that does not need to be used on consecutive days like the passes sold at the ticket window.

I bought a four-day pass for ¥25,900, which worked out to roughly $42 per day, and it had to be used within six days. Before heading to the mountain, I would recommend checking with your accommodations to see if they offer any special lift ticket pricing.

 

Where to Dine/Shop in Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen is an amazing ski town, but it is pretty small, so there are not a lot of options compared to larger, more built-up towns. Below are some of my favorite places that I went to.

Nozawa Onsen Town

• Banri: This place was recommended by the staff at my accommodations. If you are looking for a good Japanese BBQ spot, look no further. It gets pretty smoky inside, so I would not wear anything too nice. The restaurant also gets busy, so try to make a reservation if you can. If reservations are not available, try going early and putting your name down for later. That is what we did.
• Sobadokoro Daimon: This place does not take reservations, and you will have to wait outside in line. You need to arrive right when it opens because they will cut the line off at a certain point. It is only open for a couple of hours, but it is well worth it if you are craving hot soba or udon soup. Most meals are around ¥1,000 to ¥1,500, or about $6.50 to $10 USD.
• Nozawa Onsen Distillery: If you are tired of Japanese sake and beer, there is an award-winning gin distillery right in town. For ¥1,000, you can sample four different types of gin. I am not a gin fan at all, but I still thought this was a cool experience, especially since it is local to the area. They also offer seasonal gins.
• Haus St. Anton: This is a hotel, restaurant, cafe, jam, and juice establishment. Everyone knows this place, and it is right in the center of town. During the winter, they sell oyaki, which are steamed buns, right in front of the cafe. There are both sweet and savory flavors, but I personally preferred the savory ones.
  

On The Mountain

• Hakugin: Food on the mountain is incredibly affordable. One of the things I hate about snowboarding in the US is how expensive lodge food has become. In Nozawa Onsen, you almost want to eat at the lodge because you can get a hot meal for less than $10 USD.
• Panorama House Buna: This spot is right next to Hakugin. The food and prices are similar, but I prefer the ambiance here. They also serve a decent pour of wine for only ¥500. I was in love!
  

Supermarkets

• Food Center Uoyasu: This is a small market in the center of town. There are not a lot of fresh ingredients, but there is enough to make a decent breakfast. You can also buy nets here if you want to make your own onsen tamago.
• Rainbow: This market is located a little outside the center of town. It is slightly bigger and has a bit more variety, but still not a lot. Again, it is enough to make breakfast, but not enough to fully stock lunch or dinner.

 

General FAQs

Do You Need Japanese Yen?

Yes. Japan is still largely a cash-based society, and many places only accept cash. I did use my credit card once in a while, but most of the time I paid with cash.

Is English Widely Spoken?

Not really, but do not let that deter you. Even though Japanese is primarily spoken, most places have English menus or pictures that you can point to.

Is It Safe Traveling There as a Solo Snowboarder or Skier?

Yes, it is very safe. Japan is one of the safest countries you could ever visit. In terms of being on the mountain, always use caution if you plan to ski or snowboard solo in the backcountry or in tree areas.

 

Conclusion

What an amazing way to kick off the Japan leg of my Snowboarding Around the World trip. I honestly didn’t realize just how special Nozawa Onsen would be, aside from the small stink bug situation. If it weren’t for that, it would have been pretty much perfect. If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy great snowboarding while actually feeling immersed in Japanese culture, Nozawa Onsen really hits the mark. Bigger resorts like Niseko and Hakuba tend to feel more westernized, so you don’t always get that authentic Japan experience. Nozawa Onsen felt like the perfect balance of both!

 

Nozawa Onsen Pictures