Nozawa Onsen has been surging in popularity recently and is no longer the secret it used to be. 

Prior to 2013, most people traveling to ski in Japan had not heard of Nozawa Onsen. Nozawa Onsen is now being compared to the more famous ski areas such as Hakuba and Niseko.

So what's the difference between Nozawa, Hakuba, Niseko and Myoko?

Bias alert: We live in Nozawa Onsen and own a guesthouse here. We love to travel and ski in Japan as we have done intensively since 2013. We actively encourage anyone visiting Japan to try other areas.  Although the resorts we are comparing are the most popular, they also have smaller neighbouring ski resorts which can do with all the support they can get. 

1. Nozawa Onsen is a traditional hot spring and ski resort village located in Nagano prefecture. Everything is within easy walking distance. There is one ski resort. Nozawa Onsen is located approximately 2 hours from Tokyo connected via bullet train/bus. 

2. Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Japan (to non-Japanese), located in Hokkaido (the north island in Japan) There are 4 interlinked ski resorts. It is also the most developed with modern, western facilities. Niseko is located Approximately 7 to 8.5 hours from Tokyo via plane and taxi/bus.

3. Hakuba is a town known as "Hakuba valley" with 9 ski resorts, located in Nagano prefecture. Ski resorts are connected via ski shuttles. Hakuba is located approximately 3 hours from Tokyo via bullet train/bus.

4. Myoko Kogen consists of several different areas and 5 ski resorts which are connected by ski shuttles. Myoko is located 2.5 hours from Tokyo via bullet train/bus located in Niigata prefecture.

Nozawa Onsen: We would choose Nozawa Onsen if looking for a compact, traditional Japanese village with a large ski resort. 13 public hot springs (onsen), english ski school, large variety of restaurants, friendly locals. While Nozawa Onsen is evolving and has become much busier, it still holds its charm, especially when comparing with the other ski resorts mentioned here. Ease of access from Tokyo and easy walking distance in the village is a huge plus.

Niseko: We would choose Niseko if we wanted a high-end, western experience, or if we were chasing very cold weather and the lightest snow which Hokkaido is famous for. The ski resorts are also fantastic, especially as they are connected. This area is very busy now.

Hakuba: We would choose Hakuba if we wanted the large variety of the ski resorts within close proximity. Compared to Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba feels more western and is much more spread out. It is necessary to take taxis or buses throughout the stay (or preferably a rental car). Similar to Nozawa, it is a very easy option for families with english speaking ski school(s), rentals etc.

Myoko: While all the ski resorts in this list receive a lot of snow (sometimes too much), Myoko Kogen often receives the most. While this may not be a positive for everyone (eg. families skiing on piste). If we wanted to ski in very deep snow, we would choose Myoko.

Nozawa Onsen is a thriving, traditional rice farming village which has many festivals and events throughout winter and summer. 

Each of these famous ski resorts have less know ski resorts nearby which are often very quiet. Each year we hear of some ski resorts shutting down due to aging facilities and lack of finances. We like to support these ski areas as much as possible and will list some options below (Please note, this list does not mean that these ski resorts are going bankrupt, they are just less known:

Nozawa Onsen neighbouring ski resorts: Togari Onsen, Ryuoo ski park, Kijimadaira, Sakae club (and more).

Niseko optional ski resorts: Iwanai, Niki Chomin Ski Area. Please note, Hokkaido ski resorts are more spread out compared to those on the main island of Honshu. Certain areas of Nagano or Niigata prefectures seem to have a ski resort around every bend. 

Hakuba optional ski resorts: Itoigawa Seaside Valley. (Hakuba already has 9 ski resorts so you will need to travel further to find one officially not part of the "Hakuba valley"). 

Myoko neighbouring ski resorts: Kurohime Kogen snow park.