Nozawa Onsen Accommodation
The Nozawa Onsen accommodation is different to many other Japanese ski resorts. Rather than being a purpose built bubble era ski resort with towering hotel monstrosities,
Nozawa Onsen is an old town that happens to have a ski resort sitting above it. Nozawa Onsen is the size of a town but it has the feel of a village, with lots of buildings closely tucked into the narrow cobblestone streets, many of which are ryokans or other lodgings with traditional Japanese architecture. Just to keep things really interesting, there’s also the occasional Austrian hotel.
Nozawa Onsen has accommodation options to suit a full range of budgets, from lodgings for those on a shoestring budget, up to first class ryokans (traditional Japanese inns or hotels) that provide excellent service, exquisite meals & the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture. Nozawa Onsen has an abundance of inns and lodge with inexpensive to moderately priced Japanese style accommodation (futons on the tatami flooring) with shared bathrooms. This type of lodging can work well considering that you probably won't have a shower at your accommodation anyhow, and head to one of the many onsens around town instead.
NB If you are looking for lodging for Xmas to New Years, the fire festival, and Chinese New Year, please note that many properties sell out very early. You can search for accommodation availability here.
Nozawa Onsen Accommodation Locations
Nozawa Onsen is relatively small however the layout of the town is a little bit complicated. We have tried to make this easier to understand by segregating accommodation into the following 5 zones...
- Central Village - best access to restaurants & bars and an easy ride up the Yu road moving walkway to the Hikage Gondola
- Nagasaka Gondola Base - limited amount of ski-in ski-out accommodaiton (or short walk to lifts). About 5-10 mins walk to central village.
- Hikage Gondola Base - ski-in/ski-out and right next to kids park & ski school. Difficult to get to and from village at night if partying is your thing.
- West Village - about 5-10 mins walk to central village and 10-15 mins (up-hill) walk to Yu Road walkway.
- South Village - 5-10 min walk to Nagasaka Gondola and about 5-10 min walk to central village.
See our Google map to get the "lay-of-the-land".
Central Village Accommodation
Nozawa central village is the most sought after area due to its proximity to restaurants, bars and the vibrant little village atmosphere. Most lodgings in this area are within 5 minutes walk to the Yu Road travelling walkway which runs up to the Hikage Gondola base area which is the primary resort base area.
Chitosekan ($$-$$$) is in a fantastic location on the path up to Yu Road. It features traditional Japanese lodging with an onsen. Rooms have tatami floors with futons on the floor and some rooms have a private toilet, whilst guests can bathe in the onsen.
Next door is
Miyasakaya ($$), which also offers traditional Japanese accommodation with shared bathrooms.
Also well located at the top of the path to Yu Road is the
Chitose Resort Inn ($$$). It offers a choice of western twin rooms with ensuite, or Japanese rooms with ensuite, and there is also a small public bath onsite.
Jonnobi ($$$) is highly sought after and a modern yet traditional ryokan with twin Japanese/western combo rooms (ie western beds, Japanese décor, traditional tatami sitting area) with private bathroom. The location is fantastic (2 mins to Yu Road), and the exquisite restaurant & bar, and onsens are also a highlight.
Shirakaba ($$$) is a great pick for Nozawa Onsen accommodation. Shirakaba is a lovely ryokan with traditional Japanese style rooms, many with private bathroom. The ryokan also has western bed rooms catering for 3 to 5 guests.
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Sakaya Ryokan (4 Star)
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$$$$ |
Modern Japanese Ryokan located right in the middle of town and a short walk to the travelator. Japanese style rooms (limited western rooms), superb hot springs / traditional bathhouse, sauna, massage services & more..
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Address Nozawa (2 Star)
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$$$ |
Self-contained studio apartments ideal for 2 - 6 people all with private en-suite & bath. Great location & featuring western beds, sofa beds, high definition TV, iPod dock, tea and coffee making facilities & more...
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Tokiwaya Ryokan (3 Star)
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$$$ |
One of Japan's top 100 famous hotels operating for 370 years. Japanese style twin rooms (up to 5 guests in some rooms) with TV & private ensuite. Restaurant, hot springs, free wifi in lobby & massage services. Located right in the village.
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Hotel Haus St Anton
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$$$ |
European-style family run hotel in a central village location offering a variety of western-style rooms with private en suites for up to 4 guests. Facilities include indoor bathhouse, common lounge area with fireplace, restaurant & bar ...
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Nozawa House - 3 Br House
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$$-$$$ |
Self-contained 3 br, 2 bathroom house ideal for up to 8 guests. One of the best locations around; only 3 mins walk from travelling walkway & even less into the central village. Free wifi, flat screen TV, laundry facilities & more...
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Nozawa Onsen Utopia ($$) has traditional Japanese rooms and shared bathrooms, which include small onsen (hot spring) baths for each gender. The inn is rather lovely and has nice common areas to gather after skiing. It’s a 100 metre walk to the main street of town, 450 metres to the Nagasaka Gondola, and 350 metres to the Yu Road travelator up to the Hikage Gondola.
Lodge Ueno Ski ($$) is very centrally located, only 80 metres from the main street. The lodge provides economical accommodation in traditional Japanese tatami rooms (sleeping on the floor). Bathroom facilities are shared and there is also a public onsen (hot spring bath) next door.
Lodge Matsuya ($$) is only 70 metres from the central hub of the main street. The lodge provides inexpensive Nozawa accommodation in either Japanese or western twin rooms (some with private toilet).
See more accommodation options for online bookings here >>
Nagasaka Gondola Accommodation
There is a limited amount of accommodation here and most of it is ski-to-door with a short 1 - 2 mins walk to the gondola station. There are a couple of restaurants in the area and a funky cafe / apres bar near the base of the gondola. The central village is about a 5 minute downhill walk (and about 10 minutes back up the hill!) so nighttime access to the action in town is pretty easy.
There is special transport available from this area for kids (and parents) going to ski school or child care at the Hikage gondola zone.
Kawahiro ($$) is in a fantastic ski-in ski-out location adjacent to the Nagasaka Gondola. Providing lovely traditional Japanese ryokan accommodation, the rooms have tatami flooring with futons to sleep on. Bathrooms are shared, which includes an onsite onsen bath. It’s delightfully Japanese!
Elizabeth ($$) is located close to the Nagasaka Gondola (only 4 minutes walk) and 250 metres to the main street. The hotel has Japanese tatami rooms, western rooms with single beds, and also Japanese/western combo rooms (western beds with a tatami sitting area). All rooms have a private toilet and some rooms also have a private compact bath, and there’s the shared bathroom with a big hot bath.
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Nozawa Cottage
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$$$ |
| Self-contained 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom cottage ideal for 6 - 8 people. Almost ski-in/out located about 2 mins walk to the base of the Nagasaka Gondola. Free wifi, ipod doc, laundry facilities & more... |
Lodge Nakajima ($$) is in a fantastic location to access the Nagasaka Gondola, only 1 minute walk away. The pension offers simple Japanese style accommodation with twin and family rooms.
Wafu Pension Miyazawa ($-$$) is located only a few minutes walk from the Nagasaka slopes. The pension provides simple Japanese style accommodation in tatami rooms with futons, and shared bathrooms.
Pure Nagasaka ($$) is a ryokan providing simple and traditional Japanese style accommodation. Bathrooms are shared or you can bathe at one of the nearby public onsens. Pure Nagasaka is only 300 metres to Nagasaka Gondola and 350 metres to the main street of Nozawa. Transport to and from the bus terminal is provided.
See more accommodation options for online bookings here >>
Hikage Gondola Accommodation
If you are looking for ski-in/ski-out accommodation at Nozawa Onsen, near the Hikage gondola station you will find a few lodge-style hotels which cater particularly well for families also due to their close proximity to the kids park and ski school. The only disadvantage to staying in this location is that during the evenings, the Yu Road walkway is closed so accessing the village can be difficult. Most of the hotels do however have their own restaurants and bars (or you can head to The Schneider Hotel for dinner) and a couple of them have over-snow transport options to shuttle people to/from the village (but still restrictive hours if you want to party into the night).
Lodge Hahnenkamm ($$) is truly ski-in ski-out, and it’s a cross between a European style hotel and a family run Japanese inn. Rooms are simply furnished and have 2 or 3 western single beds, whilst bathrooms are shared. Half board packages are available (with dinner) or you can just have breakfast included.
Pension Tannenhof ($$) is a basic pension providing economical ski-in ski-out accommodation that is 100 metres from the Hikage gondola. Rooms are either traditional Japanese with tatami flooring and futons to sleep on the floor, or western bunk beds. On arrival and departure, the staff provide transport between the bus stop and the lodge.
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The Schneider Hotel (3 Star)
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$$ |
Ski-in/ski-out family run lodge-style hotel. Western rooms with en suites and traditional Japanese rooms with shared bathrooms. Indoor Japanese bathhouse (onsen), free wifi, restaurant & bar, over-snow evening shuttle plus more..
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Lodge Denby (2 Star)
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$$ |
Ski-to-door access offering Japanese & western combo rooms (some with private bathrooms) for up to 6 guests. The property features an outdoor hot tub, indoor hot springs, restaurant, coin laundrette and free wifi in the lobby....
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See more accommodation options for online bookings here >>
West Village Accommodation
There is a good variety of accommodation in this area which is located downhill from the main village (about 5 to 10 minute walk up/down a moderately steep incline). There are some nice restaurants and bars located in this area as well as some of the best public onsens in Nozawa, so heading into the village each evening isn't essential. The closest lifts are via the Yu road walkway at the top of the village which will take 10 - 15 minutes walk depending on where your accommodation is located in the west village zone. There is an option to leave skis overnight at the Hikage base area so this can make the walk a little easier.
Sanjugariso ($-$$) has decent sized Japanese style rooms; some with private toilet. Otherwise there are shared bathrooms, or of course you can visit one of the public onsens. From the inn it’s a 200 metre walk to the main street and 350 metres to the Yu Road travelator that heads up to the Hikage Gondola.
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Kawamotoya (3 Star)
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$$$ |
Japanese / westernized hotel with standard & deluxe tatami rooms with futon beds (4-6 guests/room). In-room TV/wifi plus ensuite bathrooms. Restaurant, bar and hot springs on site & English speaking staff.
Rated 4.5/5 by Powderhounds.com see review |
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Nozawa Grand Hotel (3 Star)
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$$$ |
| Japanese / western rooms (2 - 3 guests/room) with private bathrooms, TV, small fridge, toiletries. Property has Japanese bathhouse (onsen), outdoor hot springs and a restaurant on-site. Located about 10 mins walk to Yu road... |
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Yoji House (Sleeps 12+)
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$$-$$$ |
| Private Japanese house in the heart of Nozawa Onsen Village, just 1-minute from the main street, restaurants, free hot springs& 90 meters from the Shinyu Pair lift. Yoji House has comfortable tatami rooms & is great for families and groups. |
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Yoji Apartments (Sleeps 4-6)
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$$-$$$ |
| Located next to Yoji House just 90 meters from the Shinyu Pair lift. There are 2 apartments both comprising of 2 bedrooms rooms and a small kitchen. These apartments can be inter-connected for a larger group or family. |
See more accommodation options for online bookings here >>
South Village Accommodation
The South Village tends to have some of the most economical accommodation options, yet it is only 5 - 10 minutes walk to everything (apart from many of the town's public onsens which are dotted throughout this area). Here are a few options located in this area...
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Nozawa Central
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$$ |
Newly renovated 2 & 3 bedroom apartments located in a good central location; all have full kitchen, spacious living area and private bathrooms. Features communal living area, onsite ski/snowboard rentals, drying room & more..
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Lodge Nagano- Western-Style Lodge
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$$ |
Warm & friendly western lodge approx 10 mins walk to the Gondola & 5 mins walk to the centre of the village. Variety of private or share rooms with western & traditional tatami beds. Ideal for singles, couples, families & groups.
Rated 4/5 by Powderhounds.com. See reviews
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Villa Nozawa - Japanese/western hotel
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$$$ |
A traditional Japanese lodge run by westerners located 8 mins from the village centre and 100 metres from the Karasawa ski area. Choose from tatami rooms or western beds. Communal dining and lounge areas to hang out in.
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Apple Inn Takasaka ($$) is just a few minutes walk to and from the Karasawa lift. This pension offers simple Japanese style accommodation in rooms with tatami flooring and futons on the floor, and shared bathrooms. In addition to twin rooms, Apple Inn has quad rooms and a family room.
Altitude Nozawa ($$$) is located in the outer part of the South Village; about a 15 minute walk to the main hub of Nozawa. There is a public shuttle bus stop outside the hotel for buses into town and to the slopes, and the staff also provide shuttle services to restaurants, the slopes, and the main bus stop. Altitude Nozawa has a lovely common lounge area, and a bar and restaurant. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, and room configurations include twin, triple, queen and king rooms (the latter two are somewhat hard to come by in Japan).
See more accommodation options for online bookings here >>