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Good little travel article in an Australian Newspaper “ The Sunday Mail – Escape Section” about a Holiday in Japan on the weekend, called a Yen for Japan. It features 25 things about travelling in the Land of the Rising Sun and what makes it such a safe, interesting and easy place to have a holiday. No mention of Nozawa Onsen which is not always such a bad thing! It does mention the importance of doing your research before you go, make sure you know your way around the big cities and understand the unique customs that make Japan so special. Great if you can study up a bit of the language too before you come. Japanese is not as […]

Beautiful photo across the rice fields as you turn the corner and enter the village of Nozawa, it shows how Green Nozawa gets in the “Green Season”! Bet you never thought those mountains that are covered in a white blanket over the Winter months could look like this! Thanks Seiji On the other Green side, like most places in the world the environment is very important in Nozawa. The locals rely on clean water and fresh air to help grow all the amazing fresh produce that it does over the Summer months. Nozawa is famous throughout Japan for producing some of the best rice due to the fertile soil and abundance of fresh mountain water that washes thru the fields. […]

Traditional Japanese Hospitality – Sumiyoshi Ryokan is the lodging of the week in Nozawa Onsen. It is different to many places we offer in that it is a Ryokan or Japanese Traditional Inn and compared to many other Minshikus or Pensions they are more upmarket and a higher rate. If you are feeling like a splurge and total immersion into old school Japanese Hospitality then they are a fantastic experience. Sumiyoshi is the number 1 rated Ryokan or Hotel in Nozawa Onsen and is a beautiful Inn with outstanding service and friendly hosts. The Kono Family has been running Sumiyoshi since 1869 so have a long history in taking care of guests from all over Japan and the world. They […]

“Ganbate” to all those Student’s studying hard for their last year in High school or University. Ganbate is a Japanese word that is used a lot it means fight and good luck combined so is fitting for people going through the challenges of the big tests. What are you going to do at the end of it all to celebrate? In Australia it has always been a traditional rite of passage to grab your mates and head up to Surfers Paradise or one of the hot spots and let your hair down for a week known infamously as “ Schoolies Week” The past few seasons in Nozawa we have seen a trend for groups saving their coin and instead going […]

Here is a little shot to help cure your Mondayitis from Nozawa Onsen. It is the first day of August, which means that only about another 18 Mondays and you could be in the mountains of Japan. Might be time to book now. The season generally starts around December 1st with Mother Nature’s blessing. Depending on the season we have decent coverage by mid December. So cheer up and think of snowy thoughts this week. If you have not already booked it may be time so drop us an email to stay@nozawaholidays.com Or get on the site Nozawa Holidays We look forward to hearing from you and having you up to stay. Season Open and Close dates for Nozawa Onsen […]

Kaiya Nozawa went under a big renovation just before last season. It is a cosy little boutique lodge with only 9 guest rooms and in the perfect location. Located just 50m to the slopes, can almost ski back to the door, and an easy stroll into the center of the village and all the restaurants and bars. Great location to take full advantage of the Onsens too, with Akiha free public onsen a few doors up and Sparena Private outdoor Onsen over the road.   Other features of ski lodge Kaiya Cosy Fireplace and lounge room Amazing views across the valley from most rooms Large drying room and ski room in house with waxing bench The free Nozawa Holidays Ski […]

Wanted to give everyone plenty of time to plan this year if thinking of coming up to join us in Nozawa Onsen for the amazing Lantern Festival held on the 8th and 9th of September every year. It is a local celebration held over 2 days and for me one of the best festivals we hold in the town. Much more intimate than the famous Nozawa Fire Festival held in winter on the 15th of January every year. The first day of the festival is a Thursday this year the 8th and it is mainly an evening affair. The main street Oyu Dori comes to life with street vendors and festive locals all dressed up for the occasion. There is […]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsEIBUto2QE Anyone visiting Nozawa last season may have noticed an occasional movie crew and camera floating around the village. A new release feature film was being shot in our little town. It has a lot of famous Japanese Actors and is based on a novel by a very famous Japanese writer Keigo Higashino. It is a mystery thriller with a bit of comedy thrown in as only the Japanese can do. The name of the film is “Shippu Rondo”. The story line is a secret weapon is stolen from the lab. But as it is top secret the lab staff cannot tell he police so they need to find it for themselves and it is supposed to be somewhere on […]

The whole history of Nozawa over the years has been based on strong family values and unity. Like many places in Japan multiple generations live together under one roof, and with Nagano being one of the oldest living places on the earth that can mean sharing a house or in Nozawa’s case a Ski Lodge with your family for many years! Due to fewer constrictions on space living in the country say compared to Tokyo the birth rate in Nozawa is also higher with 3 kids in a family pretty common. So the local community loves kids and families and the resort and village is very much geared up to cater for families from Japan and abroad. Here are a […]

This week’s “ Lodge of the week” Aitoku still has rooms! It is no secret the month of January is the busiest of the season in Nozawa and especially the middle of January. The famous Fire Festival always falls on the 15th of January every year and it is also in the middle of School holidays for many countries so a lot of families like to be in Nozawa at that time. Good news is if you are in the same boat and cannot come another time due to school commitments we still have some good options available but yes things are filling up. Lodge Aitoku has rooms for most of January still and it is a terrific choice just […]