Chubu & Japanese Alps · Nozawa Onsen, Nagano

Nozawa Onsen: a ski day above an onsen village, and a free soak at Oyu to finish

An old onsen village in northern Nagano with a ski resort above it: 44 runs, about 40 percent of them for beginners according to the resort, a 1-day ticket for ¥7,800, and 13 public baths that are free to enter. The resort was one of the venues of the Nagano Olympics in 1998. You get there by shinkansen and bus from Nagano, and it also works from Tokyo.

A ski day at Nozawa Onsen, an onsen village in northern Nagano with a ski resort above it. You arrive in the morning by shinkansen from Nagano and bus from Iiyama, rent gear at the gondola base, and ski from near the summit down to the village, with lunch at a restaurant on the mountain. After skiing you soak for free at Oyu, eat dinner on the street next to it, and catch the last bus at 19:35. A 1-day ticket is ¥7,800, a ski set ¥4,800, and the trip from Nagano and back ¥4,020: shinkansen ¥1,410 and Liner ¥600 each way. You walk only in the village: about 860 meters in the morning from the terminal to the gondola, and about 700 meters in the afternoon from the gondola to the bath.

Verified online, October 20269 stops · 08:00 to 20:35¥18,710 · ≈ $119 per personWalking between stops: 28 min · Transport: ¥2,010Ski dayGood for beginnersDoable from Tokyo

The day on a map

6 stops, in order

Stops: 6
Walking minutes: 14

Stop number on the timelineWalkingTrain, metro or busBase map: © OpenStreetMap

Open this day in Google Maps

The same stops with the same numbers, and the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.

Getting there: From Nagano Station: the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama, one station, 11 minutes, ¥1,410 in an unreserved seat. From Tokyo the same train, Hakutaka 551, leaves at 06:28 and reaches Iiyama at 08:16, ¥8,360 in an unreserved seat, so you can also do this day from Tokyo and be back there at 22:12. From Iiyama, the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus, ¥600, about 25 minutes, no booking. If you slept in Nozawa Onsen, skip the first two stops: walk from the Central Terminal to the Nagasaka Center House, about 12 minutes uphill, or take the free village shuttle, which runs from 12 December 2026 to 28 March 2027, and start at the rental shop when it opens at 08:15, more than an hour ahead of those coming from Nagano.

08:0008:05
ArrivalMust
Nagano Station: the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama
You start on the Hokuriku Shinkansen platform at Nagano Station. Hakutaka 551 leaves at 08:05 and reaches Iiyama at 08:16, and it is the train that connects with the first bus to Nozawa. It leaves Tokyo at 06:28, so if you slept in Tokyo you board the same train. The times are from JR East's timetable for autumn 2026; check them again before you travel. For a one-station ride an unreserved seat is enough.
¥1,410 · ≈ $9Open in Maps
Ride to Iiyama
- Shinkansen · 11 min · ¥1,410Hokuriku Shinkansen, Hakutaka 551, from Nagano at 08:05 to Iiyama at 08:16, one station, in an unreserved seat.
- or: Train · 49 min · ¥610A local train that leaves Nagano at 06:58, runs on the Kita-Shinano Line and then the JR Iiyama Line without a change, and reaches Iiyama at 07:47. Cheaper, and you wait about an hour for the bus.
08:1608:45
BusMust
Iiyama Station: the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus
Leave the shinkansen gates, go down to the first floor and out through the Chikumagawa exit, the main exit. The ticket machine stands on your left, and the Liner leaves from stop 4. The ticket is ¥600, and you can pay with Suica for one passenger only; for two or more, buy at the machine. There is no advance booking, and the bus does not wait for every train. In winter 2025-26 the first Liner left Iiyama at 08:45 and reached Nozawa at 09:10, and the timetable for winter 2026-27 has not been published yet.
¥600 · ≈ $4No booking, buy a ticket at the machine next to the stopOpen in Maps
Ride to Nozawa Onsen
- Bus · 37 min · ¥600The Nozawa Onsen Liner from stop 4 at Iiyama Station to the Nozawa Onsen Central Terminal, 25 minutes, via Kita-Iiyama, Maezaka, Nakao and Shinden. From the terminal it is about 860 meters on foot uphill to the Nagasaka Center House, 12 minutes. If you would rather not walk, wait for the free village shuttle, which leaves the terminal for Nagasaka at 09:28 on weekdays and 09:18 on weekends.
09:2509:55
Stop 1GearMust
Salomon Station: rental and lift ticket at the Nagasaka Center House
You start skiing from the Nagasaka Center House, the building at the base of the gondola. On the third floor are the resort's official rental shop, Salomon Station, and the ticket center. In the 2026-27 season an adult ski set, skis, poles and boots, costs ¥4,800 a day, and a full set with jacket, pants and helmet ¥9,500. Book online in advance and you get a QR code, so you get through the counter faster. The shop is open 08:15 to 16:45, and fitting runs until 16:30. On the second floor there are 380 lockers, ¥200 to ¥600 in ¥100 coins, where you leave your shoes and bag.
¥4,800 · ≈ $30Booking online with a QR code shortens the waitOpen in Maps
Up to the gondola
- Walk · 2 minFrom the ticket center to the gate of the Nagasaka Gondola, which stands right in front of it.
10:0012:00
Stop 2SkiingMust
Nagasaka Gondola: a morning near the summit and at Uenotaira
An adult 1-day ticket costs ¥7,800 in the regular season, 19 December 2026 to 28 March 2027, and outside those dates the price is different. It does not include night skiing, and a 1-day ticket has no deposit. If you arrive late, buy a 4-hour ticket, ¥6,700, whose clock starts at your first pass through the gate. The gondola rises in about 8 minutes to Yamabiko Station, near the summit, and in the 2025-26 season it ran 08:30 to 15:30. The 2026-27 hours have not been published yet. The resort has 44 runs, and according to the resort about 40 percent of them are for beginners. Beginners warm up on the Uenotaira beginner runs, near the top station. The Yamabiko runs closed at 15:20 in the 2025-26 season.
¥7,800 · ≈ $49A ticket bought online in advance (in Japanese) gives you a QR code for the ticket centerOpen in Maps
Ski down to lunch
- Ski · 0 minFrom Uenotaira ski down the Paradise run to Buna, halfway down the run, or to Uenotaira Lodge at the bottom of the beginner run.
12:0013:00
Stop 3LunchRecommended
Lunch break on the mountain
According to the resort's website there are restaurants in every area of the mountain, from the top station to the base, and there is no need to bring food or go down to the village. The options:
- Panorama House Buna¥1,000 to ¥2,000
  Halfway down the Paradise run, with a view over the valley: forest mushroom curry with a pork cutlet, and also oyaki, steamed dumplings. In winter 09:00 to 16:00, last order at 15:00.
- Uenotaira LodgeUp to ¥2,000
  A large restaurant at the bottom of the Uenotaira beginner run: gyudon, fried chicken, curry and pork cutlet, and soft serve made from local apples. In winter 09:00 to 15:30.
- Sun YamakiVegan options, not kosher¥1,000 to ¥2,000
  Down in the Hikage area, opposite the kids' park. The house dish is a vegan curry, and the kitchen tries to adapt dishes to dietary needs. In winter 09:00 to 16:30, cash only.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥1,500 · ≈ $10Open in Maps
Back to the runs
- Ski · 0 minFrom Buna keep skiing down the Paradise run, or ride the Uenotaira lifts up again.
13:0015:45
Stop 4SkiingRecommended
Afternoon: the descent runs down to the base
In the afternoon you ski the lower areas, and at the end of the day you come down one of the descent runs to the Nagasaka base. In the 2025-26 season the Skyline run closed at 16:10 and the entrance to the Beech Forest run at 15:50. Return your gear at Salomon Station before 16:45. If you want more: night skiing on the Nagasaka Quad, 16:30 to 20:00, from 26 December 2026 on days the resort will publish, on a separate ¥2,850 ticket valid 17:00 to 20:00.
FreeOpen in Maps
Walk to Oyu
- Walk · 10 minFrom the Nagasaka Center House walk down into the village, about 700 meters, to the Oyu bath on Oyu Street.
- or: Walk · 15 minThe same walk down with a short detour to Ogama, about 1.2 km in total.
On the way you can stop at:
Ogama: The hottest of the 30 sources in the village, 90 degrees, above Oyu Street. Villagers cook vegetables and eggs in it, and only residents may go to the pools, so you watch from a distance.
16:0017:00
Stop 5OnsenMust
Oyu: the public bath in the center of the village
You end the skiing in hot water. The village has 13 public baths, soto-yu, kept up by the local community. Entry is free, and there is a donation box at the entrance. Oyu, in the middle of the village, is the village's symbol according to the resort's website. From December to March the baths are open 06:00 to 23:00. Bring your own towel and soap, wash your body before you get into the water, and keep towels and hair out of the bath. The water is usually 45 to 49 degrees, so you get in slowly. Tattoos: the resort's website publishes no rule, and a local lodging company, Nozawa Holidays, wrote in 2018 that you can usually go in with them without a problem.
FreeBring your own towel and soapOpen in Maps
Down to dinner
- Walk · 2 minFrom Oyu about 150 meters down the street to Wakagiri. Daimon and Toyo Ramen are right next to Oyu.
17:0519:15
Stop 6DinnerRecommended
Dinner on Oyu Street
You eat between the bath and the terminal, so you do not miss the last bus. If you sleep in the village, there is no rush. The options:
- WakagiriVegan options, not kosher¥1,000 to ¥2,000
  Sushi, soba, ramen and good value set meals, and a separate menu with vegetarian and vegan dishes. Dinner 17:00 to 20:30, and they take reservations for the evening.
- Daimon¥1,000 to ¥2,000
  A soba house founded in 1926, in a lane next to Oyu Street: ten zaru soba, cold soba with prawn and vegetable tempura. 20 seats, and in season there is a line. Dinner 17:30 to 20:30, closed on Tuesdays.
- Toyo Ramen¥1,000 to ¥2,000
  Under the Tokiwaya ryokan, at the end of Oyu Street: ramen, Chinese-style stir fries and gyoza. In winter dinner 18:00 to 22:00.
- Kosher or vegan? Every kosher and vegan place in this city
¥2,000 · ≈ $13Open in Maps
Walk to the terminal
- Walk · 2 minFrom Wakagiri about 140 meters to the Central Terminal, and from Daimon about 200 meters.
19:2520:35
BusMust
The Central Terminal: the last Liner and the shinkansen back
You finish at the village's Central Terminal. In winter 2025-26 the last Liner left at 19:35 and reached Iiyama at 20:05, and from there Hakutaka 576 at 20:24 reaches Nagano at 20:35 and Tokyo at 22:12. If you want a margin, take the 18:15 Liner, which reached Iiyama at 18:40, and Hakutaka 574 at 19:28, which reaches Tokyo at 21:16. The Liner is ¥600, the shinkansen to Nagano ¥1,410, and to Tokyo ¥8,360 in an unreserved seat. If you sleep in the village, you stay.
¥600 · ≈ $4No booking, the last Liner leaves at 19:35Open in Maps

Nozawa Onsen: a ski day above an onsen village, and a free soak at Oyu to finish

6 stops, in order

Nagano Station: the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama

Iiyama Station: the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus

Salomon Station: rental and lift ticket at the Nagasaka Center House

Nagasaka Gondola: a morning near the summit and at Uenotaira

Lunch break on the mountain

Afternoon: the descent runs down to the base

Oyu: the public bath in the center of the village

Dinner on Oyu Street

The Central Terminal: the last Liner and the shinkansen back

Nagano: the snow monkeys in the onsen, Zenko-ji Temple and the town of Shibu Onsen

GALA Yuzawa: a ski day from Tokyo, with no luggage and no gear

The Nakasendo trail: Magome to Tsumago, 8 km on the samurai road

Kamikochi: the Japanese Alps valley, from Taisho Pond to Hotaka Shrine

Hakuba: skiing the Olympic runs of Happo-One and an alkaline onsen

Takayama: the morning markets, the Sanmachi lanes, sake and Hida beef