3 Nozawa Onsen Winter Activities That Aren’t Skiing
Most of us visiting during Nozawa Onsen winter do so to ski and board upon Mount Kenashi. The snow, traditional village and the locals who make it special, among the drawcards. That’s even before we’ve mentioned the food and the onsens themselves! But what many don’t realise is that there are a few extras to get a bit more out of your downtime.
The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort runs three unique tours that guests may not ordinarily get around to experiencing.
Snowfield Sightseeing Tour
The resort runs snow groomer tours for a large chunk of the season. It’s a pretty cool way to see the winter mountainscape from an angle you’re not likely to get any other way. At only 500 yen per person, it’s quite cheap too. They even throw in a beverage!
Tour Dates;
・January 4th-Sunday March 31st (excludes Thursdays)
・April 1st-Sunday April 21st (Weekends only)
・April 27th-Monday May 6th (Runs each day)
Departure schedule: 9:45, 10:30, 11:15, 13:00, 13:45, 14:30
Charge: 500 yen (with one drink)
To organise a tour, have a chat to a Nozawa Holidays staff member or call Uenotaira Ski Center on +81269-85-2506.
Ziplining
Opened in 2017, the “Zip-Skyride” is a thrill achieved quite simply. You slide through the air from the top of the Hikage area down to the bottom. Over a length of 652 metres, the vertical drop from start to finish is 122 metres. It claims to be one of the longest of its kind in the whole country and certainly provides a view of the mountains from a different angle.
Opening hours;
9:30-16:00
1st of December – 1st of April ＆ 28th of April – 6th of May (excluding Thursdays).
Pricing;
1 ride;
Adults: 1,600yen, Kids (under 15yrs old)：1,000yen
Second ride;
Adults: 1,300yen, Kids (under 15yrs old)：800yen
1 Ride (Lift ticket included);
Adults: 2,000yen, Kids (under 15yrs old)：1,200yen
Second ride (Lift ticket included);
Adults: 1,600yen, Kids (under 15yrs old)：1,000yen
For more information ask a Nozawa Holidays staff member for assistance or visit http://nozawaonsen.co.jp/.
Snowshoeing
This is a unique way to both explore and learn a bit about the area. Interpretive tours cover everything from the history of the area to local flora and fauna. The local guide will customise your journey to your interests while guiding you through beautiful beech forests and over a frozen lake, with great views of the Nagano Alps.
Tours run from the 10th of January to the 15th of March. The ¥6000 cost will cover guide, snowshoes and poles cost over the 3-hour tour. Guests may or may not need a lift ticket, depending on the exact route, so it’s best to ask at the time of booking. To book or ask specific questions, please ask a Nozawa Holidays staff member or email the Nozawa Ski School at nozawaskischool@gmail.com.