Today is the day! South Africa vs England in the Ruby World Cup final. England previously has won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 while South Africa has won twice in 1995 and 2007. England defeated New Zealand for their place in the final while South Africa took out Wales. It’s set to be an explosive match with both teams playing aggressively throughout the whole tournament. In Australia, kickoff will commence at 8pm (AEST). Who do YOU think will win? This is the first time a country in Asia has hosted the Rugby World Cup and not the last time Japan will host an international sporting event. Next summer Japan hosts the 2020 Olympics. Due to our history […]
green season
Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival 2019
Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival 2019 Each year, on the 8th and 9th of September, the village comes alive for the Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival. It’s a great insight into Japanese tradition and hospitality. However, even if you can’t make those dates, all is not lost. Those who have visited Nozawa will remember that each little area surrounding an onsen is its own little community. Many of these communities (Akiha, surrounding Kaiya Nozawa and Nakao, the area around Villa Nozawa, as examples) host their own mini-festivals, either side of the main event. It makes for a particularly vibrant period. Visitors will hear local participants practicing drums and rehearsing dances in the days leading up to each festival. As mentioned, […]
Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival – Nozawa Onsen
Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival Across the valley from Nozawa, the Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival features well-known and local music, handmade art and food (the food alone is worth a visit) and skate/bike demonstrations. There are also fireworks, plenty of beer (thanks to staff like the kind gents pictured) and a campsite. It all makes for what is a truly local yet welcoming vibe. Sawagosa takes its name from an expression meaning “let’s make some noise”. While there is plenty of that, it all goes down with the Japanese goodwill and friendliness we love. For such an awesome festival, it surprises to learn it’s organised by a group of volunteers. Actually, perhaps that’s not a surprise. There’s an obvious love for […]
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 […]
Explore Hokuryu Lake Near Nozawa Onsen
Hokuryu Lake During the busy Nozawa winter ski season it’s hard to conceive of a world beyond the mountain. However, there are other treasures around presenting themselves during the Green Season. One such treasure is Hokuryu Lake. A relative stone’s throw from the village is a beautiful big lake filled with spring water and melted snow. It’s a great opportunity for a paddle or a hike through the surrounding forest. So too is it the perfect place to kick back and read a book or enjoy a drink. For the romantics, from above the lake resembles something of a heart shape and there’s pedal-boats built for two! The walk around the lake is a small journey of discovery. Aside from […]
Nozawa Onsen’s Summer “Baby Bamboo Festival”
Baby Bamboo Festival While January’s Fire Festival may lay claim to being Nozawa Onsen’s most popular and well-known festival, it certainly isn’t the only one! June’s Take no Ko Matsuri or “Baby Bamboo Festival” is a fun festival to witness. It goes for over a week and brings a night market vibe to the centre of town. This year, the festival runs from the 8th to the 17th of June. Being held in during the warmer months outside the ski season, it’s not as busy as the Fire Festival. It also means that it’s the perfect time to sit outside and soak up the atmosphere with a cold beer (or two) and a tasty BBQ bamboo stick! This particular festival […]
More Nozawa Onsen Spring Magic
More Nozawa Spring Magic What more can you say about conditions in Nozawa Onsen at the moment? Even at the top of the mountain it’s currently 11℃. The other good news is that there’s still a decent base ont he mountain. We should see some really good spring skiing conditions for some time yet. Tuesday 27th of March Temp at Top: 11℃ Weather: Sunny Base at top: 250cm Base at Uenotaira station: 165cm New snow since close: 0 cm Further in to the week, the forecast is much the same for the next few days. It appears that Thursday night and Friday will bring a bit of a change. Temperatures are set to drop considerably and there’s a chance of a […]