Rainy Season Nozawa Onsen Japan “Rainy” Rainy Season in Japan This year in Nozawa and across many parts of Japan we have seen a bit more wet weather than normal and cooler temperatures. Especially compared to the hot summer last year when the highest temperature ever recorded was hit at 41.1 degrees in Saitama. The cause of the cooler, rainy weather is an anticyclone in the Sea of Okhotsk, off the eastern seaboard of Russia, that has been pushing cold and humid air south across Japan. Japan is hit by a rainy season between late June and early July that has usually finished by now, but looks like still a bit of rain to come. The weather is affecting […]
Nagano Local Snowboarder – Nozawa Onsen
Nagano Local Snowboarder – Nozawa Onsen Ikigai means ” Reason for Being” here is a great little clip about Nagano local Snowboarder Shin Biyajima. He hooks up with Travis Rice and they explore his backyard including Nozawa Onsen. A great look at Japanese Mountain culture and a nice way to spend your Sunday! Nozawa Onsen has a long Alpine Ski History actually the oldest Ski Resort in Japan and people have been trying skiing here for over 100 Years. Over that then the village has produced many Olympic Champions, more than any other town in Japan! Snowboarding however did not get such an easy start in Nozawa and was actually banned in the early years. Probably not the best Marketing […]
Shirakawago Magic Village Japan
Serious Snowfall at Shirakawago Shirakawago is a unique little mountain village nestled along the Shogawa river valley that borders Gifu and Toyama prefectures. It became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1995 and is becoming well known for the beautiful traditional “Gassho-Zukuri Farmhouses in the village some of which are more than 250 Years old. The houses are a unique architectural style developed over generations and designed to withstand the heavy snow the region experiences over Winter. Days like this photo when the whole sky seems to be full of huge flakes. If you are looking to travel on from Nozawa it makes a great stop over between Kanazawa and Takayama. A beautiful destination all year round to experience the […]
Country Escape from Tokyo Japan
Country Escape from Tokyo Japan A birds eye view of how Nozawa Onsen looks right now! For many that visit Nozawa in the Winter months it is always interesting to see how Nozawa looks in the “Green Season”. It is very Green right now and the rice paddies are flourishing with the recent rains and warm weather. Hard to believe in just 5 months all this could be under a few meters of snow! Seiji san arigatou for the great footage Nozawa Onsen is just 2 hours from Tokyo yet a world away. A quaint village of just 3500 people but proudly having some amazing restaurants, bars and cafes to enjoy. Along with fantastic activities to enjoy year round. Along […]
Nozawa Onsen Events Calendar 2019/20
Nozawa Onsen Events Calendar 2019/20 There are a growing number of events and activities in Nozawa Onsen. To keep track of everything, check out our new Nozawa Onsen Events Calendar. If there is anything you happen to stumble upon that we may have missed please let us know – there’s a good chance others will be interested too! Some of the dates for the coming winter season (October onward) are yet to be finalised. Also, as events come and go, we’ll look forward to the next year. That means we’ll be updating the calendar constantly. Enquiries may be directed to stay@nozawaholidays.com. 2019 April Echigo-Tsumari Art Field – 27th (until end of October) Yoga Retreat (with Mariko & Luke) – begins […]
Nozawa Equipment Rental – 12 Reasons You’ll Love to Hire Gear in Nozawa
Getting good rental equipment can make or break your snow holiday. Luckily Nozawa Central Rentals can find the perfect fit for you with a wide range of Standard and Premium rentals, plus plenty of perks to keep you and the family happy. Here’s 12 awesome reasons you’ll love our Nozawa equipment rental: 1. We cater for unusual sizes Got funky feet? We stock ski and snowboard boots in extra big and extra small sizes. 2. Try different skis or boards for free With Premium rentals you get two free swaps. This means that you can try out different skis and boards for fun, or pick the right gear for the conditions of the day. In other words: swap to powder-specific […]
Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival 2019
Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival 2019 Each year, on the 8th and 9th of September, the village comes alive for the Nozawa Onsen Autumn Lantern Festival. It’s a great insight into Japanese tradition and hospitality. However, even if you can’t make those dates, all is not lost. Those who have visited Nozawa will remember that each little area surrounding an onsen is its own little community. Many of these communities (Akiha, surrounding Kaiya Nozawa and Nakao, the area around Villa Nozawa, as examples) host their own mini-festivals, either side of the main event. It makes for a particularly vibrant period. Visitors will hear local participants practicing drums and rehearsing dances in the days leading up to each festival. As mentioned, […]
Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival – Nozawa Onsen
Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival Across the valley from Nozawa, the Iiyama Sawagosa Music Festival features well-known and local music, handmade art and food (the food alone is worth a visit) and skate/bike demonstrations. There are also fireworks, plenty of beer (thanks to staff like the kind gents pictured) and a campsite. It all makes for what is a truly local yet welcoming vibe. Sawagosa takes its name from an expression meaning “let’s make some noise”. While there is plenty of that, it all goes down with the Japanese goodwill and friendliness we love. For such an awesome festival, it surprises to learn it’s organised by a group of volunteers. Actually, perhaps that’s not a surprise. There’s an obvious love for […]
2020 Tokyo Olympics Visit Nozawa
2020 Tokyo Olympics Visit Nozawa It would be fair to say Japan is a fairly Sports obsessed Nation, they love and do well at a whole host of sports. They are even better at hosting Sporting events with an amazing blend of history, culture and high tech you can rest assured Tokyo and all of Japan will put on an amazing show for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Some of the details Dates; Fri, 24 Jul 2020 – Sun, 9 Aug 2020 Host City; Tokyo Japan Opening Ceremony; 24th of July Stadium; New National Stadium Number of Athletes; More than 11,000 New Sports; Baseball/Softball, Karate, Sport Climbing, Skateboarding and Surfing So exciting times ahead and some exciting new sports. We are […]
Beginner’s Guide to Nozawa Terrain
Maybe you’re new to the snow or have tried skiing or snowboarding a few times. Or maybe you have a family, partner or friends who you’d like to introduce to the wonderful world of snow. You’ve probably heard that Japan’s awesome powder snow is great for beginners (it is!) Now you just need to find the perfect resort with plenty of beginner-friendly terrain. You’re in luck. Nozawa Onsen is one of the most beginner friendly resorts in Japan, with 40% of its terrain ideally suited to learners (trail map here). More than that, Nozawa has wide runs with plenty of room to get the hang of things. Plus, not all of the beginner terrain is located at the bottom of […]