Golden Week in Nozawa Onsen Golden Week takes place over the last week of our skiing season. In fact, this year, it’s a little more than a week but we’ll get to that in a minute. It’s a great time to be in town for a few reasons. We should still have a bit of snow up top and spring weather suits the vibe. You could even take a few turns on the mountain in the morning and a paddle on the lake in the afternoon! There’s a festive feel during Golden Week and this year it’s extra special. What is Golden Week and why is it special in 2019? Basically, it’s a collection of national holidays which occur alongside […]
Nozawa Onsen Summer
Half Marathon and Trail Running, Nozawa Onsen, 2021
Half-Marathon and Trail Running, Nozawa Onsen, 2021 The village and mountains of Nozawa Onsen and its surrounds provide a beautiful backdrop for increasingly popular running events. The main two are July’s 4100D trail running event and the Kita Shinshu Half Marathon in September. Along the village streets and mountain trails of this traditional Japanese village, the 4100D is a truly unique experience. So too, the Kita Shinshu half marathon, stretching along the Chikuma River from Nozawa Onsen to Iiyama city. Details for running events in Nozawa Onsen this Green Season; 4100D Nozawa Onsen 2021 – Friday, 23rd July – Categories; 65 km, 23km, 14 km – Entry; 65 km (17,000 yen), 23 km (8,000 yen), 14 km trail race (6,000 […]
Host Your Own Yoga Retreat, Nozawa Onsen, Japan
Host your Own Yoga Retreat, Nozawa Onsen, Japan As mentioned within our Green Season Long-stay deals post, the yoga scene in Nozawa Onsen is a burgeoning one. We’ve begun hosting our own yoga retreats over the past few summers and the responses have been resounding and affirmative. While we’re looking forward to this year’s retreats, there is also another option for instructors and their groups – host your own yoga retreat! Nozawa Holidays has seen increasing interest from those wishing to take advantage of the village’s ideal setting to host their own retreats. And of course, we’re well-positioned and willing to help. Our accommodation options are ample and yoga spaces not limited to indoor areas. There’s also the shade of […]
Green Season Long-stay Nozawa Onsen, Japan
Long-stay Nozawa Onsen Spending a month in Nozawa Onsen over the Green Season is cheaper than renting at home! We all know how well Nozawa Onsen thrives during the winter. But during the offseason, the town and mountain revert to a traditional farming village. It creates the perfect retreat from the heat and hustle of the busier touristy areas. So too, does it provide a peaceful sanctuary to indulge creativity or self-reflection. Last Green Season, we had families take advantage of discounted rates on self-contained apartments, gathering to be together away from the world. We saw couples come stay in our lodges to mountain bike down green ski runs, paddle on Lake Hokuryuko and hike through farmland and cedar forests […]
2-Night Nozawa Onsen Mountain Escape to Experience the Famous Lantern Festival
Take a Nozawa Onsen Mountain Escape to Experience the Lantern Festival! Each year, on the 8th and 9th of September, Nozawa Onsen comes alive for the amazing Lantern Festival. Festivals are something that Nozawa Onsen village does well and while January’s Fire Festival may get all the hype due to coinciding with plenty of powder snow, September’s Lantern Festival is a bit of a favourite. Saturday, 8th During the early evening of Saturday 8th, Oyu Dori (Nozawa’s main street) springs to life with street vendors and a parade featuring drums, flute players, dancing and an age-old Japanese folk pantomime. Being the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the performance is said to dispell evil in favour of good […]
Autumn Travel Nozawa Japan
Autumn Travel Nozawa Japan Awesome Autumn Days in Nozawa For better or worse our beautiful Autumn days in Nozawa are numbered. Wont be long until it is all covered under meters of the white fluffy stuff! The colours at the moment in and around Nozawa are noting short of spectacular and with the cooler weather make for perfect Mountain Biking and Hiking conditions. Followed by a toasty Onsen and a cold beer by the fire it doesn’t get much better, or does it? Winter and snow is coming… For now check out more about the Green/Red Season in Nozawa and we hope to welcome you sometime at this special time of year to see the transition between the seasons and […]
Nozawa Onsen Summer v Winter; a Comparison
Nozawa Onsen Summer v Winter There’s a really good chance most of us are here reading this post because we like seeing what our favourite little ski town looks like when it’s green. With that in mind, we don’t have to point out that Nozawa Onsen is among the best powder destinations you could ever hope to find. Nor do we really have to mention how unique it is to find a traditional Japanese town and free public onsens at the base of the mountain. Given that we already know about winter, how does the Green Season compare? Hitting the Slopes Of course, the slopes are still there but they tend to turn into one of two things; farming land […]
Backpacker-Style Nozawa Onsen
Backpacker-Style Nozawa Onsen Winter v Summer #nozawawintervsummer Winter in Nozawa Onsen is a different beast to the Green Season. During winter, Nozawa hosts skiers and boarders in search of some of the world’s finest powder snow. The kicker is what makes the village unique. Unlike many ski resort towns which pretty much only exist for winter sports, Nozawa has long been a destination worth visiting across all seasons. The Onsen in “Nozawa Onsen” Japanese people have been visiting for literally centuries. The healing and relaxing hot spring waters of the onsens is what they’ve come in search of. Today, the village’s 13 public onsens remain free to use to visitors and locals alike. This is quite unique among other onsen […]
Autumn Hiking Nagano Japan
Autumn Hiking Nagano Japan Japan and its mountains are now firmly on the radar for the Winter months and amazing powder skiing, Nozawa Onsen included. But the mountains are there all year round believe it or not and can be just as beautiful and breathe taking all year round especially in Autumn with the “Koyo” or leaves changing colour. We just got back from a spectacular hike at nearby Norikura Highlands and climbed the highest peak in the region Mt Kengamine sitting at a respectable 3026 meters above Sea Level. Trip Report – Autumn Hiking Nagano Japan Norikuradake is on the border of Nagano and Gifu prefectures, it is the 19th highest peak in Japan and a popular hiking destination […]
Must Visit Japan Destinations Other Than Tokyo and Kyoto – Introducing Japan’s Emerald Triangle
A difficult question for the pre-holiday researcher. What are the must visit Japan destinations other than Tokyo and Kyoto? I have the answer for you. And it isn’t what you were expecting. Land of enormous mega cities, breath-taking volcanic landscapes, fascinating culture and… only two main tourist hubs. If you find yourself scouring the internet looking for must visit Japan destinations other than Tokyo and Kyoto, look no more. Introducing Nozawa Onsen, the third point of Japan’s Emerald Triangle. A village steeped in tradition and surrounded by nature. A perfect addition to your Japan itinerary. The Travelers Dilemma – Must Visit Japan Destinations Other Than Tokyo and Kyoto Most tourists to Japan arrive with their focus squarely set on […]