Nozawa Onsen Summer

Share Space Nozawa Onsen Something different for Nozawa this season  If you have to combine some business with pleasure while on your trip to Nozawa here is a great option for those visiting Nozawa this season  Searching for a nice quiet space to type up that report, crunch some numbers or finish a project then there is a new Co-working Space on the Main Street in Nozawa. Kono san and his family have been running the unique stationary shop in town called Marumiya for decades now. It is an amazing shop many have probably been there, it has just about everything you could ever dream off and more in the way of Stationary, bric a brac and toys.  For a […]

Update Nozawa Onsen Japan Getting back on track in Nagano   Just an update on the clean up situation in Iiyama and Nagano in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis which hit the area badly just last weekend. Some great progress has been made but still a lot of work to be done and the local councils are still looking for Volunteers to help. If you can lend some time or want to donate some funds here are some links from the local JET Teachers   https://naganojets.wordpress.com/2019/10/14/call-for-aid-donations-for-disaster-hit-areas/   If you are keen to come up and help great to see you and Lodge Nagano is offering free accommodation to anyone that is willing to volunteer so just drop a mail to […]

Rugby World Cup Japan Getting to the pointy end for the Rugby World Cup and just quietly haven’t the host nation Japan being doing well! The first Asian country rot make it all the way to the Quater Finals. Now facing off with the old nemesis South Africa this weekend. Just 8 teams remain and it is going to be hard to pick a likely winner at this stage Nozawa Onsen is a great place to visit in between the matches or even for the whole time. So come on up and experience Japanese Country Hospitality at its best. There are a few pubs in the village showing the games on big screens and lots of fun activities to enjoy […]

  Typhoon update Nozawa Onsen Nagano Japan The Power of Mother Nature Things are returning to normal in Nozawa, there was some flooding in the basements of some houses and lodges but we were pretty lucky. Due to Nozawa’s elevation most of the water ran down the hills into the valley. Sadly the residents of Iiyama and Nagano were not so lucky and there has been some serious flooding there from the banks of the Chikuma River breaking. Looking at this video from Nishiotaki Dam just below Nozawa Onsen on Sunday it is humbling to see the power of the water flowing down the river. Typhoon Hagibis Nozawa Onsen Japan Still drizzly in Nozawa today but forecast is for Sunshine […]

Craft Beer Festival Nozawa Onsen Japan Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan believe it or not with locals consuming more off the Amber Ale than even the more historic drink Sake. The market has been dominated by 3 big players for many years Kirin, Asahi and Sapporo all terrific beers on their own and also gaining popularity abroad. When I first arrived in Japan almost 30 years ago I was having a few quiet beers at a small pub in a little town called Tsunami. The bar man shared with me his story of how Beer came to Japan in the Edo Period Centuries ago. I am yet to find out if this is factual but it […]

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 […]

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 […]