Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort 野沢温泉スキー場

Head to Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort for outstanding snow and extensive courses. The resort is just minutes away from the old-school Japanese atmosphere, hot spring baths and convivial nightlife of Nozawa Onsen town.

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Iiyama (1 hour 40 minutes), then connect to the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus (25 minutes).

Direct buses are available through the winter from Osaka and Kyoto.

The resort is a 10-minute walk from the bus terminal.

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort is one of Japan's largest and most popular winter sports areas, with in excess of 10 meters of snow a season. The resort spreads across the northwest slope of Mt. Kenashi, with beautiful views out to the Northern Japan Alps and the Sea of Japan on clear days. The ski resort starts right at the edge of Nozawa Onsen , providing easy access to a laid-back village with great restaurants, hopping nightlife, and public onsen.

Twenty lifts and 44 trails spread over 50 kilometers of courses across the mountain: a winter paradise for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The longest slope runs 10 kilometers from the summit. For park enthusiasts, there is the two-kilometer Uenotaira Snow Park and its halfpipe.

Private and group lessons are available in English, as are backcountry tours with international guides that get you deep into Nozawa's powder. The resort holds a number of events throughout the season, including extended night skiing on New Year's Eve with free sake and fireworks.

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort has great activities during the green season. Mountain biking has taken off here, and the Nagasaka Gondola opens to downhill riders from the beginning of July to the end of October. There are two main trails, parts of which run over the grassy slopes, or parts through the forest. Different branches of the trails are marked according to difficulty. Bikes and protective equipment are available for rent near the gondola.

Hiking trails open up in other parts of the resort, giving you a chance to explore the mountain at your own pace.

From July, the Hikage slope transforms into the Nozawa Sports Park. It has a 122-meter high zipline that reaches speeds up to 70 kilometers, summer skiing on a 500-meter artificial slope, and a Kids' Park with activities like a giant trampoline, kids zip-line, and hill tubing.