Cool places visit Japan Kamikochi you got me Have run photos of this amazing location before but this is one I took myself in May this year when I visited Kamikochi for some hiking. The water really is as crystal clear as it looks. I even took a swim in it to make sure and in May with the winter snow melt it certainly was refreshing. Kamikochi is just over 2 Hours drive from Nozawa Onsen. Like some mountain areas in Switzerland, which it reminded me of you are not able to drive all the way. You need to take a dedicated bus into the National Park for the final leg which is a good thing. This photo is just […]
Nozawa Onsen Summer
Mountain Bike Season Nozawa
Mountain Bike Season Nozawa Ticket to ride in Nozawa Mountain Bike season is in full swing in Nozawa now and a great time of year to explore the slopes and trails on the mountain. You can take the Nagasaka Gondola all the way to the top and ride nearly 15km back down the mountain. Mountain Bike Season Nozawa Just 2000 Yen for a ticket to ride with your bike or a day pass for 5000 yen and ride unlimited times. Bit like a ski pass only you can take your bike too. If need to rent a bike or any gear or want a lesson drop in and see Take san and the gang at Compass House. They helped design […]
Eichigo-Tsumari Art Nozawa
Eichigo-Tsumari Art Nozawa Eichigo-Tsumari Art Nozawa is only 1 hour away! The Tunnel of Light Just under 1 hours drive from Nozawa Onsen will lead you to the Eihigo-Tsumari Art Field in neighbouring Nigata Prefecture. The amazing tunnel that bores through the heart of snow country leads you out to this impressive window on the world that stares down at the massive Kiyotsu Gorge. Eichigo-Tsumari Art Nozawa It was fully restored in 2018 by MAD Architects with the goal of bringing back the cultural energy that once flourished in the region. The Art Festival in on this year and runs all the way until mid November 2022 with various events and exhibitions running in the area. You can book now […]
Lake Nojiri Nozawa Onsen
Lake Nojiri Nozawa Onsen A Day at the Lake Lake Nojri or Nojiriko is a good size lake only 45 minutes drive from Nozawa or we often ride and takes about 2 hours then you really feel like a swim when get there. It is a great little day trip from Nozawa year round and especially good in Summer when you can enjoy all the water sports. The lake has a bit of a feel of a mountain resort lake with Holiday homes and little cafes dotted around the shores of the lakes. Personal favourite is Funagoya Italian with magic views across the lake and delicious Gnocchi. The Lamp is also a pretty cool set up and can rent Sups […]
Nozawa Onsen Rich History
Nozawa Onsen Rich History Throwback Thursday to the Ogama the Cooking Onsen in Nozawa. If you have been to Nozawa no doubt you have walked around this area known as Ogama and soaked in the atmosphere. Now imagine back to the early 1900’s and what it was like then. Still an amazing location and still locals cooking up fresh vegetables in the boiling hot spring waters. Since those days it has been renovated and a fence put around it. Probably a good thing as if you dipped your toe in unknowingly, you could end up with some boiled extremities. Who enjoys walking around this area when you visit Nozawa?
Farming Nozawa Onsen Japan
Farming Nozawa Onsen Japan Farming the fields in Nozawa – Farming Nozawa Onsen Japan Farming is still one of the biggest industries/ pass times in Nozawa over the Green Season. As soon as the snow starts to melt the local farmers get busy planting Rice and all sorts of vegetables. With the rich volcanic soil and abundance of fresh mountain water things grow like crazy. My neighbours are constantly pulling out a wide range of fresh vegetables from the ground and we are often lucky enough to get some direct from the farmer. You can also buy them at Rainbow Supermarket, the morning markets or from many little shops in town and the Michi No Eki stores on the main roads […]
Food Festival Japan Nozawa
Food Festival Japan Nozawa Night Markets on the streets of Nozawa from tomorrow The popular Take No Ko Matsuri or Bamboo Shoot Festival is back and starts tomorrow June the 13th and runs for 2 weeks. The little laneway beside the Chemist below Kaze no Ko Italian and opposite Oyu Onsen literally comes to life. It is a pretty quiet lane usually and you have probably walked past it many times and barely even noticed it. From tomorrow it will be lined with Food Stalls and friendly locals selling their wares. The main theme being the bamboos shoots that everyone has just recently picked from the mountains surrounding Nozawa. Food Festival Japan Nozawa Lots of tasty healthy options and you can […]
Mountain Climbing Mecca Japan
Mountain Climbing Mecca Japan Still snow in Japan if you go high enough. Kamikochi is a Mecca for hikers and mountain lovers in Japan. Have been meaning to get there for a while and luckily managed to get there this week. With the Spring season in full swing it is the perfect time to visit. The valley floor is green and fresh mountain water runs deep through its veins. Above 1700m there is still plenty of snow so need to be prepared with crampons and mountain gear if venturing up high. Kamikochi is just over a 2 hour drive from Nozawa via Matsumoto. Public transport will take a fair bit longer and either way you need to take the Alpico […]
Summer Holiday Nozawa Japan
Summer Holiday Nozawa Japan After the lifts stop rolling in Nozawa Firstly a huge Arigatou gozaimasu to everyone that visited Nozawa Onsen this season. It was a pleasure having you and hope you really enjoyed all the amazing snow this winter. It was a big one, one of the biggest and best for snow in over a decade. Very encouraging in these times of global warming that we can still have so much snow. There were days when we thought it was never going to stop falling. There was lots of action on the slopes and on the shovels in town to keep ahead of the amazing onslaught from Mother Nature. Summer Holiday Nozawa Japan The Corona affect naturally still […]
Sakura Cherry Blossoms Nozawa
Sakura Cherry Blossoms Nozawa Sakura Fubuki – Cherry Blossoms falling like snow Have not seen much fresh snow fall in Nozawa for a while now but lots of Cherry Blossom petals as this beautiful fleeting flower reaches its peak bloom. Looking out the window it almost looks like snow falling. No chance of that at the moment though with the mercury at the front door hitting 25 degrees yesterday. Still a fun slushy ski up on the slopes with plenty of snow but definitely poor mans powder now. Fun and still reasonably fast on the steeps at Yamabiko early but the lower flatter slopes are slow going. A Big arigatou to all the crew that turned out on the weekend […]