Nozawa Onsen resort background
Nozawa Onsen in Japan - a group of people riding down a snow covered slope.
Nozawa Onsen in Japan - a group of people riding down a snow covered slope.
Nozawa Onsen in Japan - a group of people walking down a snow covered street.
Nozawa Onsen in Japan - the view from the top of the ski lift.
Winter scene at Nozawa Onsen in Japan featuring a bustling ski resort amidst a picturesque snowy landscape. Skiers are seen using a ski lift against a backdrop of pristine white, highlighting active winter sports.

Nozawa Onsen Overview

Nozawa Onsen is a highly recommended ski resort that offers an array of exciting features and activities, making it a perfect destination for ski lovers of all levels. The resort is well-known for its beginner-friendly slopes, with the new gondola allowing easy access for newcomers to the sport. Skiers can enjoy long, well-maintained slopes while being surrounded by breathtaking snow-filled scenery.

The resort is also famed for its diverse range of routes, from the skyline route that offers stunning mountain views to the less challenging trails for beginners. It is noted that the resort is particularly family-friendly, with a variety of activities available for children. Despite a few minor issues with connectivity between slopes, the overall experience is generally positive.

Notably, Nozawa Onsen offers a unique charm due to its city ownership, as opposed to being managed by a corporate ski chain. This results in a welcoming, local feel that sets it apart from other ski resorts. Additionally, the resort is situated near an onsen village, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience traditional Japanese culture and cuisine.

The resort is also appreciated for its well-marked trails and efficient gondolas and chairlifts, which allow for seamless movement between trails. A variety of restaurants located up the mountains offer delightful culinary experiences, adding to the overall enjoyment of the trip.

Nozawa Onsen's park features and chair lifts are diverse and interesting, with modern and old gondolas and unique 'pizza box' lifts. Skiers also praise the quality of the snow, with some suggesting it's the best they've experienced worldwide. The possibility of wildlife sightings and the presence of the famous Snow Monkeys add an extra layer of appeal to this intriguing destination.

In summary, Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort provides an alluring mix of exceptional skiing, beautiful natural surroundings, and local cultural experiences, making it a destination to revisit for many of its guests.

Key insights

6 insights available

Skiable Terrain

975
Total area of accessible ski terrain
Max: 12366 ac

Total Run Distance

42.0
A total distance of all the piste runs
Max: 600 km

Number of Lifts

17
Total quantity of operational lifts
Max: 165 total

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Terrain Difficulty

Beginner
41.0%
Intermediate
31.0%
Expert
28.0%
Measured independently from mapped ski runs — figures may differ from resort marketing. Terrain statistics are derived from OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors, via OpenSkiMap.

Features

2 features available

Traditional Ski Resort

A classic ski resort with real snow

Night Skiing

Enjoy after-dark skiing operations

Frequently asked questions about Nozawa Onsen

Where is Nozawa Onsen?

Nozawa Onsen is a ski resort in Chūbu, Japan, at coordinates 36.9200, 138.4600.

How many lifts does Nozawa Onsen have?

Nozawa Onsen has 17 lifts, serving 42 km of marked runs and 975 ac of skiable terrain.

How high is Nozawa Onsen?

Nozawa Onsen has a peak elevation of 1,644 m, a base elevation of 565 m and a vertical drop of 1,079 m.

How is Nozawa Onsen rated?

ShredIndex rates Nozawa Onsen 61.3 out of 100, based on catalogued resort data and 4 skier reviews.

Reviews

Real experiences from visitors to this resort

4
reviews
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975 ac

Skiable Terrain

42km

Total Run Distance

17total

Number of Lifts

1644m

Peak Elevation

1079m

Vertical Drop

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Best Time to Visit

647.9cm
Annual Snowfall
11 year average
Peak: January (220.4cm)
43.3cm
Nov
164.8cm
Dec
220.4cm
Jan
155.5cm
Feb
89.7cm
Mar
22.1cm
Apr
Snow Season (Nov-Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr)
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