Hostels in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

Nozawa Onsen is one of the most well-known winter sports destinations in Japan. located about an hour and a half from Nagano (host to the 1998 Winter Olympic Games) and four hours from Tokyo. At the altitude of just one thousand six hundred fifty meters above sea level, Nozawa Onsen has a reasonable climate.

Nozawa Onsen has an excellent record of consistently high snowfalls. Slopes are well maintained and there is huge area, not to mention the back country. The lift system is modern and queues are very short, almost nonexistent during the week. Each mountain has a couple of terrain parks and back country possibilities are endless. There are some excellent tree runs and spectacular scenery. Nozawa also has the longest ski runs in Japan with a variety of terrain.

Nozawa Onsen is a very traditional village where you will find onsens (natural hot springs) instead of major commercial enterprises. There are some excellent restaurants where tourists can try Western or traditional Japanese food, and washing this down afterwards with a few bottles of Asahi or Sapporo.

Nightlife is not as vibrant as in Niseko and there are only half a dozen bars in town. On some nights, particularly during the week, these will be empty, as most people tend to gravitate toward one particular bar each night. Many people often choose to spend an evening in one of the many onsens in the village.

Nozawa Onsen hostels attract many weekenders from Tokyo and tourists from nearby countries, with some expats from other Asian cities. Most of the accommodation is located within the village -- some places are virtually ski-in/ski-out.