Frequently asked questions

Nozawa Peaks introduction

Nozawa Peaks aims to provide the highest standard of Japanese hospitality with western comfort. Nozawa Peaks facilities are best suited to families and couples looking for a relaxing base to embrace Japanese culture, food, snow and natural hot springs. 

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Where is Nozawa Peaks located in relation to the village centre and Nozawa Onsen ski resort?

Please visit our Nozawa Peaks location page for more information including maps.

Nozawa Peaks is conveniently located four minutes walk from the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort chairlifts. There is a fantastic Japanese restaurant directly next door (Tonkichi), the swiss cafe is a 1 minute walk, along with 40+ restaurants within 1-10 minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks. A ski rental shop is located next door (olive rental). One of the largest and most beautiful hot springs (Nakao no-yu) in Nozawa Onsen is located 2 minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks. The largest supermarket is a 7 minute walk from Nozawa Peaks.

The bus stop for access to and from Iiyama bullet train station (access to/from Tokyo) is a 7 minute walk from our property (550m). The free ski shuttle bus which runs between the Nagasaka gondola and the village centre, departs from a stop which is 4 minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks. The Chuo (central) bus station is located 10 minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks for access to the Nagano Snow Shuttle (the bus to/from Narita and Haneda Airport and between ski resorts).

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How do we get to Nozawa Onsen and Nozawa Peaks?

Please visit our Getting to Nozawa Onsen page for directions, maps and timetables.
Nozawa Peaks Address: 6585-1 Toyosato, Shimotakai-gun, Nozawaonsen, Nagano 〒389-2502

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What time is check-in / check-out?

Check-in: 3:00pm (latest check-in time 20:00)

Check-out: 10:00am

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We are arriving after 8pm, can we check-in?

No. The latest check-in time is 8:00pm. 

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Does Nozawa Peaks offer packages with lift passes, rentals or lessons?

Nozawa Peaks offers accommodation only. A rental shop is located next-door, the ski resort ticket office is within 4 minute walk. Ski passes and lessons can also be booked online here.

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Is there car parking?

Nozawa Peaks does not have car parking at the property, however there is paid parking available at the Ski Resort within 4-5 minutes walking distance. Parking is approximately 1,000 yen per day.

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Do you have wifi?

Yes, complimentary wifi is accessible throughout Nozawa Peaks.

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Is breakfast or dinner included?

We do not offer breakfast or dinner, however all guests have access to cook in our large communal kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a bakery/cafe open for breakfast within 2 minute walk from Nozawa Peaks (Akari Swiss Bakery)

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Do you provide a pick up service?

We do not provide a pickup service from bus or train stations as we are within 7 minutes walk from the Nakao bus stop (if coming from Iiyama bullet train station) and a 10 minute walk from the Chuo bus stop (if coming on the Nagano snow shuttle bus from Tokyo or other ski resorts and arriving in the day time).

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Do you have western beds available? Are futon beds comfortable?

Nozawa Peaks is a Japanese style accommodation which has new futon beds with down feather comforters (doona/duvet). Nozawa Peaks does not offer western beds.

The comfort level would be considered similar to a firm western style mattress. Futons can be moved easily to create space in the room. Kids love them and they are very safe. If you have difficulty getting up and down from the floor, futons may not be for you.

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How many toilets and showers are there in Nozawa Peaks?

Toilets: Three rooms have a private toilet - Room numbers 301 (sleeps 4), 302 (sleeps 2), 303 (sleeps 2). Our other rooms have access to toilets which are shared with guests from other rooms (2 x male toilets, 2 x female toilets, 1 x mixed toilet).

Showers: Nozawa Peaks has two shower rooms in total, each shower room can be locked and can be used privately. 

The shower rooms are spacious and have two showers in each shower room, allowing families or couples to shower at the same time if they wish. 

The doors can be locked so guests can also shower alone if they prefer. There is a changing room inside each shower room. Please note, as we have 12 guest rooms, there could be a wait to use the showers, although this has not been a problem in the past.

Many guests prefer to bath at the fantastic public hot spring (Onsen), located two minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks. This bath house is traditional wooden style, hot and relaxing. Take our complimentary onsen kit including soap and shampoo to wash before relaxing in the tub. All 13 public onsens open from 6am - midnight and are free of charge.

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Can we use the kitchen and living room?

Yes. The large, fully equiped kitchen and living room are for guests to prepare meals and relax at any time.

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Can we send our luggage to and from Nozawa Peaks?

Yes you can. Please feel free to send your luggage to us from the airport or your accommodation in Japan. We will keep your bags in storage until you arrive. We can also assist you to send your luggage to your next destination. Please note if sending luggage to an airport, it must be ready to send by 12pm, at least 2 days prior to your flight. Approximate price for a suitcase or ski bag: 2,500 - 3,000 yen. 

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Do you have a laundry on site?

Fuwara coin laundry is a 5 minute walk from Nozawa Peaks. There is no on-site laundry. 

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What is the cancellation policy of Nozawa Peaks. 

By making a payment for your stay at Nozawa Peaks, you agree to our cancellation policy. All payments are non-refundable. We highly recommend having travel insurance to cover your stay with us. 

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What is provided in our room?

All rooms have sheets, pillows, towels, onsen kit (face towel, soap, shampoo), clothes hangers, heater. Hair dryers are available.  

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Is there room service/cleaning?

For guests who stay 7 nights or more, cleaning staff will change sheets and towels after the 3rd or 4th night. For guests who stay less than 7 nights, sheets and towels will not be changed. 

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Do you have a minimum stay requirement?

In Peak season (Jan-Feb) we have 7 night minimum stay. In low season (December, March) we have a 3-4 night minimum stay. We often have gaps in between bookings which allows us to lower the minimum stay over certain dates. Our booking calendar is live and up to date. If a room is available it will be shown in your search results. Please feel free to contact us if you cannot find what you are looking for. We will be happy to help you find a room. 

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Can the rooms sleep extra guests?

Our rooms have a maximum capacity as listed on the room description (Example. Quad room sleeps a maximum of 4 guests, twin/king room sleeps a maximum of 2 guests). Unless prior arrangements have been made, guests with a reservation who arrive with an amount of persons that exceed the room limit will be denied check-in and will be unable to stay at Nozawa Peaks. For example, if a guest books a twin room and arrives with two adults and one child (3 guests), they will be denied check-in.  

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When does Nozawa Peaks start taking reservations?

April/May each year. 

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Is there an age restriction for children staying at Nozawa Peaks

Nozawa Peaks is not suited to children under the age of 5 years old. There is a fire hazard, lots of stairs and other areas that are not safe for young children. For this reason, regrettably Nozawa Peaks cannot host children under 5 years old. 

Where should I book ski or snowboard lessons?

We recommend the official Nozawa Onsen Ski School. If you plan to take ski lessons, we recommend you book well in advance to ensure your place.

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How do we get to the Nozawa Onsen ski school?

If you have booked lessons with the Nozawa Onsen Ski School, please follow these steps below for directions to the ski school office. 

Novice - Advance skiers: 

1. Walk 4 minutes from Nozawa Peaks to the Nozawa Onsen ski resort.
2. Take the Nagasaka link chairlift.
3. Ski down past the Nagasaka gondola and take the Nagasaka triple chairlift.
4. Ski down to the ski school. 
Travel time: 20 minutes (allow more time for possible delays)

First time skiers: 

1. Walk 4 minutes from Nozawa Peaks to the bus stop next to the ski resort.
2. Take the complimentary ski shuttle bus to the Nagasaka Gondola (3 minute ride).
3. Take the complimentary snowmobile shuttle to the ski school at the Hikage area (3 minute ride). 
Travel time: 20 minutes (allow more time for possible bus/shuttle delays). 

You can rent your gear from over at the ski school area (olive rental) so you do not need to carry any ski equipment with you. Each winter we have many families staying with first time skiers who access the ski school in this way.

Nozawa Onsen Ski Map

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Where should we rent our ski / snowboard gear?

We recommend two different rental shops. Both offer discounts to our guests. 

1. Olive rental which is located 1 minute walk from Nozawa Peaks and offer great gear which often seems brand new. Great service and convenient location. They also have a second rental shop on the snow at the ski resort next to the Nozawa Onsen ski school, so if a guest would like to change gear during the day you do not need to return to the village. They have a great range of beginner to advanced skis and boards. Reservations are only needed for big groups. Small groups can just turn up on the day. If guests require boot US12+, please make reservation as they have limited large sizes.

2. Nozawa Sports Thanx is located within 5 minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks, next to the ski resort chairlifts (Karasawa branch). This location is convenient if a guest has trouble walking in ski boots. It is possible to walk up in shoes and change to boots in the rental shop and only need to cross the road to access the ski resort. We recommend booking online if guests would like to rent specific gear from this conveniently located "Karasawa" store (for example, powder skis/board). They will have the gear ready for guests upon arrival. If guests would like to rent entry level / standard rental gear, a reservation is not necessary.

Nozawa Sports Thanx also have a second rental shop at the Nagasaka gondola at the ski resort. Guests can change gear during the day at this store, so guests do not need to return to the village to change gear (for example if there is a fresh snow and guest wants to try powder skis for the afternoon).

Nozawa Sports Thanx offer online rental reservations or you can arrange your gear from them when you arrive.

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How do we purchase Nozawa Onsen ski resort lift passes? Can we book them in advance?

It is not necessary to purchase lift tickets in advance, you can purchase them upon arrival to Nozawa Onsen. Lift passes are also available to purchase online here, however there is no real benefit to this. There are 1, 2 or maximum 3 day consecutive passes available (3 day pass is the best value). The ticket office is located within five minutes walk from Nozawa Peaks at the ski resort. For more information on official lift ticket pricing, please click here. You may find options from other websites/providers who sell lift tickets in advance. The price is the same whether you buy them in advance or at the ticket office at the ski resort. 

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When does the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort open? Is there Night skiing?

The Nozawa Onsen ski resort opens in November or December depending on snow conditions. The majority of ski lifts are usually operating by mid December. The ski resort recently installed snow making facilities so the opening date will be more reliable.  Ski resort hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm. Night ski is available on Saturdays only. There is one green slope open for night ski, the chairlift runs until 8pm.

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Can you provide some information about the ski resort?

There are 36 ski slopes/courses plus the snow park.

Gondola lifts (2), regular ski lifts (18), moving walkway (1).

Longest ski run: 10,000m
Vertical Drop: 1,085m (Summit: 1,650m / bottom: 565m)
Advanced terrain: 30% / Intermediate terrain: 30% / Beginner terrain: 40% / Max gradient: 39°.

The Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan for international travellers due to its diversity of terrain, abundance of snow, its family friendliness and because English speaking guests are well catered for.

For more information on the ski resort, please click here.

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Ski resort facilities for Children

Day care for children 1-6 years old is available at the Yumin Day Nursery at the Hikage Information Centre on the second floor. The staff speak English. The operating hours are 9am-12pm and 1-4pm so you will need to pick up the children at lunch time. There are many food options around the Hikage Information Centre. The nursery accommodates up to 20 children. We recommend that you make a reservation. 

Prices are subject to change:
¥7,000 per day (¥5,000 from the second day on for multiple days)
¥4,000 per half day
¥2 000 per hour : morning and afternoon refreshments provided.

Please provide your own snacks, otherwise snacks are sold at the facility. 

Nozawa Kids Park is located at the same area. Entry to the Kids Park is free of charge. 

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When is the best time to visit Nozawa Onsen?

December – A fantastic time to experience Christmas and New Year. In general it is not busy in Nozawa Onsen up until the Japanese New Year holiday. Perfect for families and couples. 

January – Famous for its big snowfall and great festive feeling with a mix of Japanese and foreign visitors. January is the busiest month, but with a family atmosphere. Perfect for everyone.

February – Also famous for big snowfall. Less families with the school holidays over, more powder snow enthusiasts arrive with the snow base set for the season. Blue sky days are not uncommon. Perfect for everyone.

March – Our personal favourite month, especially the second half of March. The slopes are uncrowded on weekdays and Nozawa Onsen seems to always receive some serious snowfall at this time. 2019 and 2020 both had some of the biggest snowfall days of the season in late March. Also the best month for families and beginners who will enjoy the wide open spaces on the mountain.

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Is there a supermarket or convenience store in Nozawa Onsen?

Nozawa Onsen has two supermarkets, a butcher, convenience store and liquor stores. You can find all you need to prepare western or Japanese meals including breakfast and dinner. 

Rainbow supermarket is the largest in Nozawa Onsen (still small by western standards) and is located at the Nakao bus stop, which is the closest bus stop to Nozawa Peaks (7 minute walk). The location gives guests the option to purchase food as they arrive to Nozawa Onsen on the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus before walking to Nozawa Peaks. The second supermarket is located on the main street opposite St. Anton cafe. It has an octopus illustration on the window. This store is great to visit on the way back home from a restaurant or cafe in the evening. Alcohol is not sold in the supermarkets. 

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Can we book Shinkansen train or Nozawa Onsen Liner bus tickets in advance?

Japan train tickets can be purchased at the train station once in Japan or online in advance. 

If you are traveling on a Japanese public holiday for example, it could be worth purchasing in advance. If you traveling on a normal day you can purchase tickets upon arrival to the station.

Train tickets, including seat reservation can be purchased online here. Online tickets still need to be converted to physical tickets once in Japan. To pick up reserved and non-reserved tickets (incl. seats with oversized baggage spaces), you can go to several stations with your credit card, reservation, and identification number. For a full list of stations check the JR West website and also see their how-to guide for picking up tickets.

Note: Shinkansen tickets can usually only be bought one month in advance through official channels (mentioned above). However, through some travel agent websites you have the flexibility to buy tickets further in advance.

The Nozawa Onsen Liner bus between Iiyama station and Nozawa Onsen cannot be booked in advance. They run up to 4 buses at each departure time and tickets are available from a vending machine (cash only) outside Iiyama station where the bus departs from. There are also taxi's available.

The Nagano Snow Shuttle which runs directly from Tokyo Airports to Nozawa Onsen should be booked well in advance to avoid any disappointment.

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What is the best way to get around Nozawa Onsen village?

The best way to get around the village is by foot. Nozawa Onsen is a compact village with small, winding, heated streets. The furthest you will have to walk is 15 minutes from Nozawa Peaks to the far side of the village. 

There is a complimentary ski shuttle bus which runs throughout the day time from the village centre to the Nagasaka gondola at the ski resort. This bus passes close to Nozawa Peaks. This service can be busy at peak times, it is faster and more convenient to walk to the ski resort from Nozawa Peaks.

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Are the Hot springs in Nozawa Onsen free to use?

An Onsen (hot water spring) is a bath house with natural, geothermal heated spring water. The village is famous for the abundance of Onsen that were discovered in the 8th century. In some areas, steam rises up amongst the bustling narrow streets and the traditional ryokan inns and shops.

In Nozawa Onsen, visitors are lucky enough to have access to 13 public onsens (a small donation box is located outside each Onsen). You can soak in the hot water to escape the cold and relax the muscles after a long day skiing.

Nozawa Onsens bath houses are well maintained, always kept clean, and provide a comfortable setting for villagers' everyday use, as well as for visiting guests.

With the complimentary bathing set which we provide (body soap, shampoo, face towel) wash your hair and body thoroughly, then rinse off before entering the bath. When you arrive to Nozawa Peaks we will give you further information on bathing etiquette to ensure you enjoy these fantastic baths.

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Do we need to make restaurant reservations in Nozawa Onsen?

There are many fantastic restaurants in Nozawa Onsen. We recommend making reservations in advance if you would like to go to a specific restaurant, especially if you are in a big group. You can pop into any restaurant and make a reservation for another night, or call from our front desk. If you require assistance we are happy to help. Please see the restaurant and village guide available here.

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Which restaurants in Nozawa Onsen do you recommend?

There are many fantastic restaurants in Nozawa Onsen. From Raw Horse meat to vege burgers, there is something for everyone.  

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Are there vegetarian or vegan restaurants in Nozawa Onsen?

Yes there are restaurants which have options of 'niku nashi' (without meat).

Neo Bar, Sakai, Genki burger, Juntos and more.

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Can I pay with credit card in Nozawa Onsen?

While some restaurants do accept credit cards, please be prepared and always have cash with you as many restaurants are cash only, especially up on the ski resort but also in the village. The bus from Iiyama to Nozawa Onsen is cash only (please withdraw cash if coming directly from the the Airport to Nozawa Onsen).

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Is there an ATM or currency exchange in Nozawa Onsen?

Yes, there are two ATM's which accept foreign cards. The closest is located at the post office and is open 9am-6pm. The other ATM is located next door to the tourist information centre at Kura cafe which is open until 8pm.

Currency exchange is located at the ticket counter at Nagasaka Gondola Station. Please bring your passport. Currency exchange is only from foreign currencies to Japanese yen only (cannot change from Yen to other currencies). One transaction for one person which must remain under ¥100,000.

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How do we get to the snow monkeys?

The snow monkey park is located one hour from Nozawa Onsen by bus. We can assist you to book a direct bus from Nozawa Onsen to the snow monkey park. The Monkey park entrance is a 2km walk through the forest from the bus drop off point. 

The bus departs every day at 1pm from the Nozawa Onsen Chuo bus terminal (village center) and is due back at Nozawa Onsen Chuo bus terminal by 5.30pm (snow/road condition dependant). 

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What day trips do you recommend?

There is easily enough to do in Nozawa Onsen for an extended holiday, however we have included a list of day trips for those who would like to see other areas close by. 

Ski resorts:

Togari: The closest day trip option from Nozawa Onsen (8km). Togari now has a direct bus option available to and from Nozawa Onsen, travel time is 20 minutes. 

Madarao: Another good option if looking for a change of scenery with buses departing daily from Nozawa Onsen. Distance is 23km and takes around an hour. 

Other options include: Myoko, Kijimadaira, Ryuoo Ski Park, Shiga Kogen and X-Jam. Car is the best option to visit these resorts. 

Some ski resorts are accessible via the Nagano snow shuttle 'Inter resort shuttles'.

Other destinations (listed in order of distance from Nozawa Onsen)

Iiyama (14km from Nozawa Onsen) - Some great restaurants, large supermarkets / department stores. Museums and cultural attractions. Serves as the bullet train hub.

Obuse (30km from Nozawa Onsen) - A quaint town with great food and art crafts. Don't miss the famous Hokusai museum with his incredible 36 views painted of Mt Fuji. 

Snow Monkeys (32km from Nozawa Onsen) - Contact us for details. 

Nagano city (40km from Nozawa Onsen) - The closest big city. Great restaurants, shops, bars, sake breweries. Don't miss the Zenkoji temple and beautiful surrounding streets. Access by bullet train from Iiyama station (10 minute bullet train ride vs 40 minute drive!)

Matsumoto (110km from Nozawa Onsen) - Very nice city which is easy to walk around. Famous for its historic 'Crow Castle'. Train access via Iiyama. It's worth the journey. 

Kanazawa (350km from Nozawa Onsen) - A beautiful city accessible with the bullet train via Iiyama (1.5 hours from Nozawa Onsen).

Tokyo (250km from Nozawa Onsen) - Take the 20 minute bus from Nozawa Onsen to Iiyama station, then connect to the 1hr 40 minute bullet train to Tokyo. With an early start, you can reach Tokyo by 9.20am, then return on the last train back to Iiyama which departs Tokyo at 7.30pm.