RIDE Nozawa, our very own Ski School.

Whether you're a complete beginner or have a bit more experience, we’ll help align everyone’s skill levels so you can progress quickly and start skiing together as a group—no one left behind!

For those more advanced riders, we can help you level up your skills and master advanced techniques.

https://www.ridenozawa.com/about

Our preferred Snowshoe instructor at HIKAGE & NAGASAKA ski area and gondola - Takako Iida-san and team at Nozawa Onsen Tours. The team and instructors are able to communicate in both English and Japanese and you may also prebook your lessons in advance. 

https://www.arukulatoursnozawaonsen.com/snowshoetour

The Jigokudani Yaen-koen (altitude 850 meters) is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in northern part of Nagano prefecture.

It is buried in snow almost one third of the year. Even that kind of severe environment here is a paradise on earth for monkeys to live in.

The troops of wild Japanese macaque (they are popularly known as snow monkeys) inhabit here naturally through the ages.

https://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/

The Dojo is a welcoming climbing café with a cosy atmosphere, conveniently located close to the Nagasaka Gondola. It's the perfect place to warm up with a great coffee and a delicious toastie after a day on the slopes.

Open to everyone, whether you're planning to climb or simply looking for a comfortable place to relax. Great place for the kids.

Walk in only. Cash and card.

https://thedojoclimbing.com/

The Nozawa Onsen stamp trail highlights many of the famous places and historic sites in Nozawa. There are 27 stamps or commemorative plaques placed around the village and you will get a feel for the history of Nozawa onsen while you try to find them all.

If you find more than 10 you will receive a Nozawa Onsen “yu” towel- with the famous “yu” design by Artist Taro Okamoto. Take it home as a keepsake from Nozawa Onsen.

In a calm atmosphere, you can learn the Japanese art of "origami" with a dedicated instructor who will guide you carefully. Using high-quality Japanese origami paper, you can create works that embody the beauty of Japan, folding each piece with care. Experience Japanese culture and take home a handmade souvenir. The venue is conveniently located near the tourist information center, easily accessible from any accommodation in the hot spring area.

https://nozawakanko.jp/spot/spot-0-243/

"Uchiyama paper" is a beautiful Japanese paper that makes the most of the characteristics of paper. It is bleached using a unique method called "yuki-sarashi" (snow bleaching), and due to the high level of papermaking technique involved, it is used not only for shoji paper, but also as a material for a variety of other paper products. 

Located in Iiyama, close to the Doll Museum.

https://www.city.iiyama.nagano.jp/soshiki/shoukou/shoukou/dentou/iiyama_wasi_taiken

Mizuo is a small, 150 year old, family owned sake brewery, learn about their commitment to local ingredients and tradition on this special tour and tasting. The natural spring water in Nozawa-onsen village at the foot of Mt. Mizuo is used to make our local sake, Mizuo. As Mizuo stands for “water source,” it is a plentiful spring that gushes water all year around. This special water is famous for its clear and sweet flavor and is indispensable for making Mizuo, known for its rich flavor, aroma, and pleasant aftertaste.

https://www.mizuo.co.jp/english/

The Iiyama Restaurant Kamakura Village is made up of 20 Kamakura huts created from snow, and is open for a limited time from late-January to late-February every year.

You can warm up inside a Kamakura with a Noroshi Nabe, a local specialty hot pot made with Shinshu Miso, locally grown mushrooms and vegetables.

At night, lanterns illuminating the Kamakura create a beautiful fairytale-like atmosphere that is perfect for family, friends and lovers alike.

Reservations for Restaurant Kamakura Village are essential, and we also recommend booking taxis in advance.

https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/special/kamakura/

Located at the Doll Museum in Iiyama, visitors can enjoy a variety of hands-on cultural experiences, including Bamboo Craft, Oyaki Making, and a Matcha Experience. These workshops offer a chance to engage with traditional Japanese culture and the heritage of Nagano Prefecture in a fun and interactive way.

https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/bamboo-craft-oyaki-making-and-matcha-experience-programs/

Try your hand at boiling eggs in the mini onsen located throughout the village. Onsen 'Tamago' or Onsen Eggs have a natural umami flavour from the sulphuric water. The yolks are perfectly soft with a silky egg white. You can purchase eggs with a special onsen net from many of the souvenir shops located on the main street.

There are 13 free public onsen in town that remain open year round. 

Known as soto-yu, these free public baths are operated by a villager’s association called yu-nakama (‘hot water friends’), and are open from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm every day. Many of them are designed in an eye-catching Edo Period architecture making them pleasant from the outside in. 

In addition to the thirteen public onsens, Nozawa Onsen has an unofficial fourteenth, Soto Yu bath house: Furusato no Yu. 

This more modern hot spring facility has towel hire, waiting-room with drinks, hairdryers, separate booths for showering with shampoo, conditioner and soap supplied, and multiple baths for each gender- one outdoor bath and two indoor baths on each side. 

https://www.vill.nozawaonsen.nagano.jp/www/contents/1050000000241/index.html

Located near Karasawa Lift, SPArena offers a heated indoor pool and shared outdoor onsen - good for families and mixed groups. For a more authentic experience, there are two gender-separate onsen located inside. At SPArena, guests can purchase a day pass for the gym and grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria onsite. 

Swimwear is required for the mixed onsen and indoor pool

https://en.nozawaski.com/the-village/activities/nozawa-onsen-sparena/

Yoga lessons by instructor Rowie and her team, located in the View Hotel Shimataya.

https://www.shizencollective.com/classes

Located in Nagano, a beautiful train ride away from Iiyama.  Zenkō-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nagano, Japan. The temple was built in the 7th century. It is one of the few remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan. The modern city of Nagano began as a town built around the temple. Zenkō-ji was founded before Buddhism in Japan split into several different sections. 

We can assist you with a walking guide for day.

https://www.zenkoji.jp/en/