Nozawa Onsen is known for its unique blend of great ski resorts and quaint traditional Japanese village—a winning combination that draws thousands of visitors, domestic and international, each year.
However, while the ski slopes may be the main attraction during your trip to Nozawa Onsen, there will inevitably be days when you and your group don't or can't ski—either due to bad weather or simply wanting a day of rest. On these days, there are many options for activities both within Nozawa and in the surrounding areas.
On this page you will find the following information:
Where is Nozawa Onsen?
Nozawa Onsen is a hot spring town in northern Nagano prefecture, located around 50km to the northeast of Nagano City and about 260km from Tokyo. Nozawa’s history as a hot spring town stretches back more than 1000 years but for international visitors, it is best-known for its fantastic ski resort and lively village offering some of Japan’s best apres-ski. Outside of winter, Nozawa Onsen is much quieter but developing as an all-year-round destination with some excellent accommodation, dining, outdoor activities, hot springs and a couple of very good breweries enticing you to visit. For more information about Nozawa, Our ’25 Things To Do Around Nozawa & Where To Stay’ page has some great information about what’s on offer all-year-round including accommodation listings.
What to Do in Nozawa Onsen When You're Not Skiing?
Nozawa Onsen is a bustling village that has many activities to participate in when you aren't skiing. Additionally, it is within easy access to other parts of Nagano prefecture—including historical sites, temples and shrines, and of course the famous Snow Monkey Park that Nagano is so well-known for.
Here you will find the following day-trip destinations that we recommend for your day off from skiing:
Nozawa Onsen Village & Hot Springs
Nozawa Onsen is of course famous for its "onsen" or natural hot springs—which are not only free to use, but also the perfect way to relax after skiing or on your day off. In total, there are 13 different hot spring baths, known locally as "Soto-yu", available to the public and maintained by the local community for more than 150 years. Dating back to the Edo period, they maintain a simplistic and rustic aesthetic, that, whilst not perhaps the most luxurious, is not without is own endearing sense of charm and style. For those who want something a little more intimate, there are also a variety of Ryokan Inns, some of which offer private baths for couples and families to enjoy. You will also find a variety of restaurants and bars dotted throughout the village, so you can enjoy local food between each dip in the hot springs.
Snow Monkey Park
The Jigokudani Monkey Park, known colloquially as the "snow monkey park", is not too far from Nozawa Onsen—just about 35km away, or a 50-minute drive. The snow monkeys are something of a treasure, not just to the people of Nagano but to all of Japan. With their distinctive silvery gray fur, bright red faces and playful nature, these gorgeous creatures really must be seen to be believed. They are perhaps best known however, not for their appearance, but for their love of 'onsen' (natural hot springs). The monkeys of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park love nothing better than a long soak in these natural baths to escape the harsh cold of Nagano’s long winter. In this regard, they are unique. To truly understand the beauty of these animals, once must experience them in person.
Recommended
(Winter Only) 1-Day Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyNozawa Onsen
- Pick-up:
- Nozawa Onsen
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityNozawa Onsen
If you are interested in joining a guided tour to the snow monkey park, we have just the tour for you! Offering pick up from multiple locations in Nozawa, this fun and educational tour brings you to the Jigokudani Monkey Park to get up close and personal with the famous hot spring loving snow monkeys. After that, you will be treated to a tasty Japanese lunch before visiting Nagano City and the historic Zenko-ji temple, one of Japan's oldest and most important Buddhist sites.
Recommended
[START FROM NOZAWA/MADARAO] Private Snow Monkey Tour
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow Monkey
- Pick-up:
- Nozawa OnsenMadarao
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakubaNozawa OnsenShiga KogenMadarao
For a more personalized experience, you and your group can book our private tour of the Snow Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Temple. With a guide and vehicle set apart for the whole day to tend to only your group, you can go at your own pace and have the guide's undivided attention. You may also store any luggage you have in the vehicle throughout the day, taking the hassle out of getting around.
NOZAWA ONSEN → SNOW MONKEY PARK (3HR)→ NOZAWA ONSEN
- Duration:
- 5-6 Hours
- Spots:
- Snow Monkey, Nozawa Onsen
Or, if you don't need a guide and want to explore at your own pace on your day off, we also offer private transportation that can take you directly to and from Nozawa Onsen and the Snow Monkey Park! Private transportation is a great option, considering that public transportation would take you back to Nagano station, making the trip longer and more complicated than necessary.
For more information about how to get to the Snow Monkey Park from Nozawa Onsen, please see our "How To Get To The Jigokudani Monkey Park" page here.
Temples & Shrines
1 / ZENKO-JI TEMPLE
Nagano City, which you will most likely pass through on your way to Nozawa Onsen, is the namesake of the larger Nagano prefecture, and the city itself is built around the historic Zenko-ji Temple. While the current temple building is about 300 years old, the temple itself has existed in some form for nearly 1,400 years, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. The story of this temple revolves around the first Buddhist statue to have ever been brought to Japan, which now resides in a secret part of the temple as a "hidden Buddha statue" that is not allowed to be seen. However, you can walk into a dark room underneath the temple where the statue is said to be stored. This experience is called "kaidan-meguri" and is definitely worth a try on your day off from skiing at Nozawa Onsen.
NOZAWA ONSEN → ZENKOJI (2HR) → NOZAWA ONSEN
- Duration:
- 4-5 Hours
- Spots:
- Nagano, Nozawa Onsen
We offer private transportation to and from Nozawa Onsen to Zenko-ji temple, giving you plenty of time and freedom to enjoy the temple grounds, kaidan-meguri, and the various shops and restaurants nearby.
2 / TOGAKUSHI SHRINE
Togakushi Shrine, often referred to as the "five shrines", is a compound of shrines north of Nagano City, the most famous part of it being the "okusha" or upper shrine, which sits deep in the forest at the end of a path of 400-year-old ancient cedar trees. This magical place is rooted in the deep history of Japanese mythology, with an origin story that revolves around the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu. Togakushi shrine has quite a different atmosphere than Zenko-ji temple, and is absolutely worth seeing on your day off skiing.
For a guided tour of the Togakushi area, this is the perfect option. You'll start with family-friendly snow play—or optional skiing at Togakushi Ski Resort (skiing not included in the tour price)—before heading into the tranquil, sacred forests to explore the area's historic mountain shrines. With convenient pickup available directly from Nozawa Onsen, this tour offers a unique chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty, culture, and spiritual heritage of the Nagano region.
NOZAWA ONSEN → TOGAKUSHI (2HR) → NOZAWA ONSEN
- Duration:
- 4-5 Hours
- Spots:
- Nozawa Onsen, Togakushi
Or, if you don't need a guide and wish to explore on your own, we also offer private transportation to Togakushi that will pick you up and drop you off directly from Nozawa Onsen.
For more information about how to get to the Togakushi area from Nozawa Onsen, please see our "How To Get To Togakushi" page here.
Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle is slightly further away from Nozawa Onsen compared to the other destinations listed here, but is definitely a must-see when you are in Nagano. It is one of only 12 remaining original castles in all of Japan, and one of only 5 that are considered national treasures. Built in the 1590s, just before the start of the Edo period, this castle was built for war, but luckily was never attacked nor burned down, leaving it in great condition. Venturing inside the castle walls will give you a firsthand experience of what it was like to live in the time of the Shogunate. If you're into Japanese history, or just interested in unique historical places, this iconic castle should definitely be on your list of day-trips from the ski resorts.
NOZAWA ONSEN → MATSUMOTO CASTLE (3HR)→ NOZAWA ONSEN
- Duration:
- 6-7 Hours
- Spots:
- Matsumoto, Nozawa Onsen
We offer private transportation that can take you to and from Matsumoto Castle, with pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in Nozawa Onsen.
For more information about how to get to Matsumoto Castle, please see our "How To Get To Matsumoto" page here.
Festivals
1 / DOSOJIN FIRE FESTIVAL
While Nozawa Onsen has been increasingly popular in recent years, also rising in popularity is Nozawa Onsen's Dosojin Fire Festival. Japan is full of beautiful festivals that happen during the different seasons, but this festival is unique as one of the three big fire festivals in the country. It happens on January 15th of every year, and consists of two groups of village men who act out a "battle"—one group tries to set the festival float on fire, and the other fights back, until eventually the festival float is set ablaze, signaling the end of the ceremony. Nozawa Onsen Dosojin stems from a mix of Shinto and folk beliefs and like many ‘matsuri’ (festivals) in Japan, is intended to dispel bad spirits and luck, bring good fortune and fertility to the village and strengthen the community.
As of 2024, Nozawa Onsen has set a limit on who can view this festival—only those who are local villagers, or have booked a room to spend the night on the day of the festival, are allowed to join. Because of this, if you want to see this festival, we recommend searching for accommodation in Nozawa Onsen far in advance.
2 / TOMYO LANTERN FESTIVAL
Unlike the Dosojin Fire Festival, the Tomyo Lantern Festival is open for anyone to come and enjoy. This festival takes place in Nagano city, at Zenko-ji Temple, and commemorates the 1998 Winter Olympics that took place here and brought well-deserved attention to the Nagano area. In celebration of the Olympics and the temple, the festival takes places over one week each February with a series nightly events including the lighting of the temple, as well as decoration of the street leading up to the temple with hand-made "kiri-e" (cut-paper) lanterns.
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Zenkoji Tomyo Lantern Festival
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
If you would like to see this festival as part of a guided tour, we would love for you to join us! This tour combines the Tomyo Lantern Festival with a visit to the Snow Monkey Park, Japanese-style lunch, and guided tour of Zenko-ji temple, making it the perfect option for your day off of skiing. Please note, however, that this tour does not include direct pick-up from Nozawa Onsen.
NOZAWA ONSEN → ZENKOJI (2HR) → NOZAWA ONSEN
- Duration:
- 4-5 Hours
- Spots:
- Nagano, Nozawa Onsen
Or, if you would prefer to see the festival on your own without a guide, we offer private transportation that will take you to the Zenko-ji temple area and back, on your day and time of choice.
How to Get to Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen is most easily accessible from Iiyama Station, which is connected to the major cities of Japan like Tokyo and Osaka through the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) line. If you take the shinkansen to Iiyama Station, there are buses and taxis that can take you to your final destination in Nozawa.
If you are heading to Nozawa from Tokyo, please see our How to Get to Nozawa Onsen from Tokyo page for detailed directions. Or, if you are coming from another part of Japan, see our ‘How to Get to Nozawa Onsen – Nagano Ski Resort Info’ page.
We also offer private charter services that can pick your group up directly from areas like Tokyo, Narita Airport, or Haneda Airport, and take you directly to Nozawa Onsen. This is a great option if you are traveling with a large group, small children, or large amounts of luggage—private transportation takes away the hassle of changing trains, getting on crammed buses, and maneuvering through confusing train stations.
★Please note that our instantly-bookable charter services (like the one above) will be the same price in either direction, so please feel free to book the service either coming or going from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen. For information about getting to Nozawa Onsen from the Tokyo Airports (Narita Airport or Haneda Airport), please see our dedicated page here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do in Nozawa Onsen when I'm not skiing?
A: You can visit temples & shrines, the Snow Monkey Park, castles, and festivals when you are not skiing! There are many great options for day-trips in and around Nozawa Onsen.
Q: When is the best time to visit Nozawa Onsen?
A: The best time to ski in Nozawa Onsen is from December to late March. However, you can technically ski into April and even May, and enjoy less crowds during the later period. If you want to see the Dosojin Fire Festival, you must be staying in Nozawa on Jan. 15th.
Q: How long should I stay in Nozawa Onsen?
A: Because there is so much to do in Nozawa, staying at least 4 days is recommended, especially if you want to go on some day-trips to other parts of Nagano.
Q: How to find accommodation in Nozawa Onsen?
A: There are many options for where to stay in Nozawa, from high-end hotels to family-run "ryokan" (Japanese inns). You can find a list of our partner hotels in Nozawa Onsen on our website here. We also recommend searching for accommodation through other websites to find availability.
Q: How do I get to Nozawa Onsen?
A: You can take public transportation or private transportation to get to Nozawa Onsen. For public transportation, you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) to Iiyama Station, and then a bus from Iiyama Station to Nozawa Onsen. For detailed directions, please see our "How to get to Nozawa Onsen" page here. For private transportation, we offer private charter services that can take your group directly from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen.
We hope to see you here in Nagano this winter season! Please feel free to contact us here if you have any questions.