Things to do in Nozawa if you don’t Ski or Board
If your family has chosen Nozawa Onsen for your ski holiday, you’re in luck! Unlike many ski resorts in Japan and around the world, Nozawa Onsen was a thriving working village long before it became famous for its snow.
With a rich history and unique culture, Nozawa offers so much more than just skiing — explore ancient temples, soak in traditional onsens, wander its charming streets, and enjoy some incredible local restaurants.
If you’re not a skier or just want a day off the slopes, there are plenty of amazing day trips and activities nearby to discover the sights, sounds, and flavors of the region.
Here are a few great things to do when you’re in Nozawa…
1. Take a Lesson
Learn – It’s never too late to give it a go! Once you’re out there on the mountain, you’ll see why everyone’s hooked. Want to try? Here’s a link to book some lessons and get started!
https://www.nozawaholidays.com/lesson-registration/
2. Other Winter Fun
Other great ways to enjoy the outdoors in Nozawa without skiing or snowboarding include snowshoeing, zip lining, cat rides, snow scooters, cross-country skiing, or just taking a ride up the Nagasaka Gondola. Getting to the top and soaking in those views and fresh mountain air is pretty amazing.
If you prefer to stay indoors, you can also check out the climbing wall at The Dojo — a fun way to keep active without the cold!
3. Onsen (Hot Spring Baths)
Nozawa has 13 free public onsens scattered around town for you to enjoy. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, check out the paid baths like Furusato No Yu and Sparena, both featuring outdoor onsens. Sparena is like a big swimming pool, and if you’re not quite ready to go nude, it also has onsens where you can wear your swimsuit.
Want to learn how to onsen like a local? Here’s a great video and guide to get you started!
https://www.nozawaholidays.com/onsen-etiquette/
4. Snow Monkey Tour Nozawa Onsen
These adorable little guys have been National Geographic stars, and they’re just under an hour from Nozawa Onsen. Take a tour to see them soaking in the hot springs of the stunning Jigokudani Valley in the National Park — it’s a truly unforgettable experience.
Ready to meet the snow monkeys? Here’s a link to book your tour!
https://www.nozawaholidays.com/snow-monkeys-tour/
5. Massage
Nozawa onsen offers some of great options.
6. Food, Food glorious Food. Itadakimasu!
Nozawa Onsen is packed with over 50 places to eat and drink—from cozy noodle houses and sushi spots to craft beer breweries and even Mexican restaurants. You definitely won’t go hungry!
Compared to many ski resorts worldwide, Nozawa offers fantastic value, with good meals often costing as little as 1,000 yen.
Check out our Nozawa Restaurant, Bar, and Cafe guide here! https://www.nozawaholidays.com/restaurants-bars/
7. Yoga – Grab a mat in Nozawa
Nozawa is quickly becoming a yoga mecca for mountain retreats. After a soak in the onsen or a day exploring the village, there’s nothing better than stretching out with some yoga.
We have several instructors in town who’d love for you to join their classes. Plus, we run yoga retreats throughout the year — they’re truly amazing experiences. Want to know more? Here’s a link to everything yoga-related in Nozawa Onsen! https://www.nozawaholidays.com/yoga-retreat/
8. Take a History Lesson
Nozawa Onsen’s history goes way back—legend says it was first discovered by a Buddhist monk in 724 AD, maybe even earlier. It’s been a popular spot for weary travelers since the 12th century, and the first onsen (bathhouse) was built during the Edo period in the 16th century.
Simply walking the village streets and visiting the beautiful shrines feels like stepping back in time.
The village also has two museums worth checking out: the Ski Museum, showcasing the history of skiing in Japan, and a Cultural Museum that dives into local traditions and heritage.
9. Discover Nozawa Onsen and meet the locals
Explore the Village – I’ll admit, I first came to Nozawa for the skiing over 30 years ago — but I stayed because of the village and its people. Nozawa is truly a magical place. It’s not huge, but every little lane and corner has something interesting to discover.
The locals who live here and run the shops, restaurants, lifts, and everything else are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and genuine. So when you’re out and about, don’t forget to say Konnichiwa!
10. Day Trips from Nozawa Onsen
Get Out of Town – If you are here for a while and all of the above cool things just aren’t enough then the surrounding area, towns, cities and ski resorts are all well worth venturing out to and very easy with the efficient public transport. Here are a few fun day trips from Nozawa Onsen; Nagano City, Obuse, Iiyama, Lake Nojiri, Karuizawa and more. Check out this link to 5 fun day trips from Nozawa;
https://www.nozawaholidays.com/news/5-easy-but-awesome-day-trips-from-nozawa-onsen/
11. Activities for rainy days
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The Dojo Cafe Bar & Climbing is a great space to meet people and hang out while enjoying freshly baked bread with drinks and nice music! The Dojo is also a climbing hall, so it’s a perfect opportunity to stay in shape while having fun. The climbing routes are made from beginner to advanced level and it’s possible to rent climbing shoes for the day.
- The Balance bar and EXIEV : In the evening you can enjoy some drinks in the neighboring bars, where some of them offer fun activities as well. The Balance bar has several drinking games, chess and even a ping pong table, while EXIEV offer similar table games but also darts and a billards. In both bars it is even possible to play Mario Kart!
- Pay a visit to the Nozawa Onsen Distillery
- Have some relaxing time at the open-air hotsprings at Sparena or Furusato Onsen or cross off all the 13 free onsen in the village. If you get around to all the onsens and get a stamp from each place, you can get a free towel or bandana. You can purchase the stamp book from the Tourist Information Center in Nozawa.
- Check out the Ski and Cultural Museum
- Explore the shops in the village or give a visit to Nozawa’s night food market
- Eat your way around Nozawa. Here is a link; https://www.nozawaholidays.com/restaurants-bars/
- Outside of Nozawa onsen village you can visit the capital city Nagano. Just jump on the Nozawa Onsen Liner to Iiyama and then take the train from there to Nagano station. In Nagano city you can do some shopping around the station, head to the famous Zenkoji Temple and visit the beautiful streets around there.
- In Nagano city pay a visit to Round One! which offers amazing indoors fun for kids and adults. It is an amusement centre in Nagano with Bowling, Roller Skating, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Arcade Games, Karaoke, Billiards, Food and lots more.
Want some more information on any of the things to do when not skiing in Nozawa or anything else just ask our staff when staying with Nozawa Holidays. We have offices at 4 great locations so drop in anytime
Villa Nozawa ; Villa Nozawa
Nozawa Central ; Nozawa Central
Lodge Nagano ; Lodge Nagano
Kaiya Nozawa ; Kaiya Nozawa
More great things to enjoy in Nozawa Onsen year round; https://nozawa-onsen.com/11-must-see-things-in-nozawa-onsen/