Where to Stay in Nozawa Onsen
- Last Updated On September 17, 2026
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Nozawa Onsen is one of the most popular ski villages in Japan, pulling in powder hounds from all over the world. After four months living there, it’s easy to see why. We absolutely fell in love with the place and are already going back for another season!Â
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favourite Hotels in Nozawa Onsen
Like most people planning a trip, working out where to stay in Nozawa Onsen is one of the first things you’ll want to nail down. Easy access to the slopes can make or break a powder day, and where you base yourself has a real impact on how long you’re queuing for that first lift.
In reality, Nozawa is small enough that you’ll get to the mountain from almost anywhere, whether that’s a short walk or a hop on the free shuttle bus. But not all hotels are created equal, and picking the right area for the kind of trip you want makes a big difference, whether you’re chasing fresh powder or wanting to party till 3am, or both!
In this guide we’ll walk you through the best areas to stay in Nozawa Onsen, our reasons for choosing each one, and a few tips for making the most of your stay.
Best Area to Stay in Nozawa
Like we said, Nozawa is a small village so no matter where you stay you’ll have access to the main street and the mountain. It’s all just a matter of preference based on what kind of trip you’re planning.Â
We think it’s best to break Nozawa down into three areas. Hikage, Nagasaka, and the main village. This differentiates between access to the two main gondolas and the village area.Â
Each one offers a different experience so let’s get into it!Â
Staying Near Hikage Gondola
Staying in the north of Nozawa gives you greater access to the Hikage plateau which is ideal for beginner skiers or those who want easy access to the lower mountain with fewer queues.Â
The north end of the village is a warren of hotels, cafes and onsens, all sitting higher up in the village. That does mean that going into the main town centre is a bit of a trek (especially walking back up the hill) but the escalator that leads to Hikage plateau means you can quickly and easily access the best beginner runs in Nozawa.Â
The Hikage plateau is home to the infants park, making it a great location to stay for families wanting to drop their kids off at the local ski school before heading further up the mountain.Â
This area of Nozawa is also home to one of our favourite cafes in the entire village, Nappa Cafe. This place is a small family run cafe that serves incredible ice coffees and THE BEST curry in the village. We’re suckers for Japanese curry so Nappa Cafe quickly became our regular, even though we lived at the opposite end of town.Â
Our Hikage Hotel Recommendations
Tanuki Nozawa
Tanuki is a staple in Nozawa, it’s not just a hotel. It’s a cafe, a restaurant, and a cocktail bar all rolled into one. If you’re visiting Nozawa Onsen it would be hard to miss Tanuki.Â
It gets its name from the cute little raccoon dogs that are native to Japan, although after 4 months living there we’ve still never seen one!
The hotel is located at the end of the main street through Nozawa, close to the Hikage plateau escalator.
It’s the perfect blend between being close to the town centre and having easy access to the Hikage gondola.Â
It even has what is probably the best looking, and coolest onsen in the village right next door!Â
They offer a range of modern rooms from standard twins to large family rooms and apartments, making it the perfect place for any group size. If we were revisiting Nozawa, just the two of us, this is where we’d stay.Â
👉Book Your Stay at Tanuki Nozawa
Himecho@Yasushi
This is the ideal hotel for large groups wanting the nearest access to the Hikage plateau escalator with a splash of luxury.Â
Himecho@Yasushi is made for large groups, think of it like renting a chateau in the alps but much more affordable. It’s an elegant five bedroom apartment with modern Japanese decor and amenities.Â
It sleeps 12 people! So if your trip makes it out of the group chat then this is the place to book.
If we were visiting Nozawa with all of our friends, this is 100% the place we’d stay. Just be aware that as it’s a single apartment listing it can book up in advance quickly, especially during the ski season.
👉Book Your Stay at Himecho@Yasushi
Staying Near Nagasaka Gondola
Arguably Nagasaka Gondola is the ‘main’ gondola in Nozawa Onsen, it’s new, it’s modern, and it has vastly improved the time it takes to get to the top of the mountain.Â
Staying near here is your quickest and easiest route to the powder runs and off piste zones near the summit of Mt. Kenashi.Â
So if waking up early and catching that first lift is important to you, make your life easier and stay in the east of the village for the easiest access.Â
Whilst our staff accommodation wasn’t near Nagasaka, it was the lift we went up every morning.
For a more detailed guide on skiing Mt. Kenashi as well as where to rent gear and season pass prices check out our Nozawa Onsen ski guide.
The perk of staying near the gondola is that once you’re done skiing for the day, you can head straight into après. Our favourite spot, Craftroom, is just a short walk away, so you can grab a few pints and a panini before making the journey into town.
Our Nagasaka Hotel Recommendations
Lodge Seizan
During the early season, before the shuttle bus had started, we had to walk from the very bottom of the village up to the gondola. Every time we’d walk past this hotel and wish we were staying there.Â
Staying at Lodge Seizan means you’re only a short walk away from the Nagasaka gondola. Roll out of bed, grab your skis, and you’re on the slopes in no time.Â
It’s also right next door to Nozawa’s only climbing wall, The Dojo, which is a great activity away from the slopes and has an incredible cafe.
Lodge Seizan has double and family rooms with shared bathing facilities in the form of a japanese onsen. It’s a traditional Japanese hotel experience, sleeping on top of futons on tatami mat floors, something we think everyone should try. It’s super comfy and feels like you’re having a big sleep over!Â
👉Book Your Stay at Lodge Seizan
Kawahiro
Kawahiro has a special place in our hearts for the most random reason.Â
During the ski season someone discovered that an old Japanese lady who worked at the hotel was knitting hats and selling them for only Â¥1000 (£4.80)! Well, once word got out they became the hat of the season. Every seasonaire was getting one.Â
This hotel is the closest you’ll get to being on the mountain whilst still being close to the village. You can literally ski right up to the door!Â
Kawahiro has traditional Japanese rooms and offers the true ryokan experience of serving home cooked breakfasts to get you fuelled for the slopes.Â
Want to experience an onsen? You don’t even need to leave the hotel, Kawahiro has its own on-site hot spring bathing facilities for guests.Â
They have onsite ski hire so you can rent your skis and get straight on the mountain, which means a lot on a powder day!Â
👉Book Your Stay at Kawahiro
Staying in the Village
We spent 4 months living in staff accommodation in the village and absolutely loved it!
If you’re staying in the village you have two options to get to Nagasaka Gondola. Catch the free shuttle bus or walk up the hill. We were extremely fortunate that the bus stopped right outside our accommodation!
It does mean you’re at the mercy of the bus timetable when you want to get to the mountain, although the bus runs regularly and gets to the gondola in time for opening.Â
Want to be first in the queue for opening? You’ll probably have to walk.
Staying in the village gives you the best access to all the local coffee shops and restaurants in Nozawa Onsen.
It’s the ideal location if apres and partying is on your agenda. Not having to navigate the uphill, slippery climb back to your hotel at 3am makes life a lot easier.Â
One of the advantages of staying in the village, closer to the bus station, means that you don’t have to carry all your luggage to your hotel. Our friends stayed in Ikemoto Hotel right next to the main bus station and their life was made so easy thanks to the convenient location.
If you are staying in the village and plan to rent ski gear we recommend renting from Sports Thanx near the gondola.
They allow you to store your rented gear in their store room at the end of the day, that way you don’t have to lug your skis up and down the hill each day.Â
Our Village Hotel Recommendations
Shirakaba
Shirakaba is a traditional Japanese hotel with modern amenities. They offer large family rooms and apartments making it ideal for those travelling with children who want easy access to the village and the slopes.Â
It’s a super convenient place to stay as they sell ski passes and have their own on-site ski rental facilities that are heavily discounted for guests. Making it that much easier to arrive, drop your bags off, and get on the slopes.Â
This hotel kind of sits on the cusp of being near Hikage and being in the village, giving easy access to both. Either a short walk to the Hikage plateau escalator, or to the main bus station for the free shuttle to Nagasaka gondola giving you the best of both worlds.Â
👉Book Your Stay at Shirakaba
Nozawa Peaks
For something a bit more tucked away in the village, check out Nozawa Peaks. It might look out of the way at first, but trust us it’s actually in an ideal location.Â
The best way up the mountain from here is to walk to the Nagasaka Gondola Link at the bottom of Karasawa, only a short 4 minute walk away. From here you can ski right up to Nagasaka gondola.Â
No need to wait for the bus or walk to the gondola!
We’d sometimes take this route to the mountain after stopping off at Akari House Swiss Bakery near Nozawa Peaks. We lived with the staff from the bakery and can confidently say that the sweet treats, coffees, and pizzas from here are delicious!Â
Nozawa Peaks offers a range of room sizes for all group types, all in a traditional Japanese setting with some modern amenities thrown in. They have their own ski room so you can ski straight from Karasawa and after a short walk take your boots off in the comfort of your hotel.Â
👉Book Your Stay at Nozawa Peaks
Tip for Staying in Nozawa Onsen
If this is your first time visiting Nozawa or Japan in general, here’s a few tips to make it more enjoyable.
Getting to Nozawa Onsen is going to be easier with a Suica card. You can use it on the train and the Nozawa Liner, so it’s worth setting one up before you travel. We’ve written a full guide on setting up a Suica card, including how to link your Shinkansen ticket to your card.Â
Experience an onsen. When in Japan, do as the Japanese do. Let go of any hang ups you have and embrace the culture of bathing in a natural hot spring with strangers. Nozawa is home to 13 free public onsens used by locals and tourists alike.Â
Getting an eSIM is also a good idea, as reliable data makes using Google Maps and Google Translate so much easier. Even after 10 months in Japan, we still relied on them daily. Check out our guide to the best eSIM options in Japan.
Japan is a very safe country, but travel insurance is still worth having, especially if you’re skiing! It can cover things like lost luggage, cancelled flights and theft, as well as giving you extra protection throughout your trip. Make sure you arrange it before you fly. We’ve put together a guide to the best travel insurance for long-term trips, which includes winter sports coverage!
Finally, it’s worth learning a few basic Japanese phrases before you arrive. You don’t need to be fluent, but knowing phrases like konnichiwa (hello), sumimasen (excuse me) and arigatou (thank you) can go a long way. Bonus points for using gochisousama deshita after a meal.
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Hi! We’re Mark & Sarah.
We’ve been travelling the world together for the past 4 years. Exploring destinations such as Europe, South America, South East Asia, Japan and Australia. Now we’re sharing everything we’ve learned on our travels, to help you get out there and have your own adventures!
