So Much to See and Do, from Hot Springs and Food to Outdoor Fun! A Travel Guide to Nozawa Onsen

“Sotoyu meguri” refers to the traditional Japanese way of enjoying a hot spring trip by visiting multiple public bathhouses for day use, and it can be called one of the best parts of onsen sightseeing. *Details of the public bathhouses are given later.
Nozawa Onsen has 13 public bathhouses, each with different characteristics and benefits, and the hot spring culture here is closely tied to the local community and daily life.
If you interact with locals who carry on long-standing traditions, you will get a sense of the true spirit of Nozawa Onsen.
Another appeal is that strolling through the atmospheric hot spring town lets you encounter beautiful scenery and traditional buildings.

“Shu-in meguri” is something like a stamp rally where you collect stamps at locations set up around local landmarks and historic sites.
Nozawa Onsen has 27 stamp locations throughout the village, making it a fun activity to enjoy alongside bathhouse hopping and sightseeing.
If you visit at least 10 locations, you will also receive an original hot spring towel dyed with the kanji character for “hot water” by artist Taro Okamoto, which is another nice bonus.
The stamps also serve as a record of your trip and will likely become a great souvenir of your memories.
*You must purchase a stamp book (462 yen) at a souvenir shop, tourist information center, or similar location.

The hot spring town is lined with restaurants, and you can also enjoy sampling local specialties as you walk around.
One especially recommended item is authentic Nozawana pickles, made using traditional methods with “Nozawana,” a leafy vegetable that originated in Nozawa Onsen.
They have a natural sweetness and freshness that make the most of the ingredients’ flavor, and it is fun to notice how the taste changes depending on the season and variety.
Another uniquely Nozawa Onsen experience is bringing eggs bought at a supermarket or shopping street and making authentic onsen eggs yourself.
Besides that, you can enjoy a wide range of food, including soba and wine.

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is one of the most popular spots in Nozawa Onsen and one you should not miss.
It is a historic ski resort that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024 and ranks among the largest in Japan.
It is also easy to access, about 20 minutes from the hot spring village by free shuttle bus.
One of its key features is its wide variety of runs covered with 100% natural snow, making it enjoyable for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
As you ride down the slopes, you can also take in the beautiful natural surroundings, and the views from the resort are excellent.
After enjoying winter sports, a classic plan is to unwind in the hot springs.
From summer through fall, be sure to ride the Nagasaka Gondola, where you can enjoy a thrilling aerial walk in a fully glass-enclosed cabin.

To fully experience the natural beauty of Nozawa Onsen, Uenotaira Highland, which spreads out at the foot of Mt. Kenashi about 30 minutes by car from the hot spring town, is the perfect spot.
The highland area is surrounded by especially beautiful primeval beech forests, and the mysterious scenery leaves a deep impression on visitors.
From lingering spring snow and fresh buds to summer greenery, fall foliage, and winter snowscapes, the seasonal views are truly beautiful.
There are also excellent facilities such as Uenotaira Picnic Garden and Lake Sutaka Campground, where you can enjoy a variety of activities including ski tours and bamboo shoot picking, a local specialty.
Also, at Hokuryuko Lake and the Chikuma River, both about Approx. 10 minutes away by car, you can enjoy outdoor activities such as rafting, fishing, and cycling.

Located in the center of the hot spring town, Oyu is something of a symbol of Nozawa Onsen.
Its wooden bathhouse architecture, which still conveys the atmosphere of the Edo period, stands out, and its dignified exterior is full of charm.
The spacious bathing area is divided into “hot water” and “lukewarm water” baths, but since the source is nearly 151°F, even the “lukewarm” bath is still quite hot.
The spring quality is a mildly alkaline simple sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as stroke-related symptoms and digestive disorders.
It is also known for being gentle on the skin, warming the body thoroughly even in a short time, and helping prevent chills after bathing.

A little downhill from Oyu, Kawarayu is a high-temperature hot spring popular for morning baths and summer bathing.
It uses a free-flowing source with a slightly greenish tint, so the water is exceptionally fresh.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as skin diseases and rheumatism.

Akiba no Yu stands in a quiet residential area a little away from the hot spring town.
Its exterior is simple, but the changing area and bath are separated, and the bathing area is larger than many others, so you can relax comfortably.
The clear, colorless source water is a nitrate-gypsum sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as diabetes and neuralgia.

Located near the Ogama mentioned above, Asagama no Yu draws its hot spring water from Ogama.
It uses the same kanji characters, but the reading is different, so be careful not to confuse them.
Its features include a compact black stone bath and spring water temperatures close to 194°F.
The spring quality is a nitrate-gypsum sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as chronic poisoning and menstrual irregularities.

Kamidera-yu is a long-established hot spring standing alone partway down a slope.
The simply designed bath is large enough for about five to six people, and because the water is refreshed quickly, one of its attractions is that you can always soak in fresh hot spring water.
The spring quality, a gypsum-salt sulfur spring drawn from Ogama, is said to be effective for cuts, burns, and hemorrhoids.

Kuma no Tearai-yu is a hot spring named after a legend in which an injured bear healed its wounds there.
Renovation work was carried out in 2015, and while preserving its history, it became a new facility wrapped in the warmth of wood.
Unusually for Nozawa Onsen, the source temperature is Approx. 104°F, making it easier to bathe in than the other bathhouses, so it is also recommended as a good starting point for bathhouse hopping.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective for burns and cuts.

Located in the center of the Matsuba minshuku district, Matsuba no Yu is a striking two-story hot spring bathhouse.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as neuralgia and hemorrhoids.
The bathing area is on the second floor up the stairs, and at the bottom of the staircase there is a box for making onsen eggs.

The largest of the public bathhouses, Nakao no Yu is a hot spring with substantial wooden bathhouse architecture that creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a shrine or temple.
Inside, the bathing area also has a high ceiling and an open feel, and its overall design makes it especially easy to use.
Since there are two baths with different temperatures, you can enjoy bathing according to your preference.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective for mercury poisoning and women’s health issues.

Shinden no Yu, which has a history dating back to development in the late Edo period, is located behind Nishinomiya Shrine.
Thanks to a 2018 renovation, it now has a brighter atmosphere that makes it easy for tourists to stop by as well.
Another highlight is the interior, where the warmth of wood creates a comfortable space to spend time in.
The spring quality is a nitrate-gypsum sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as diabetes and rheumatism.

Located a little north of the center of the hot spring town, Shin-yu is a popular public bathhouse with many repeat visitors who love hot springs.
Also known as the “Five Colors Bath,” one of its most distinctive features is water that changes color to cloudy white, green, and other shades depending on the air and ground temperature.
There is a lot of mineral sediment in the water, and the strong sulfur scent also suggests how rich it is in components.
The spring quality is a simple sulfur spring, said to be effective for ailments such as hemorrhoids and other conditions believed to improve with warming.

Located up the slope from Ogama, Taki no Yu is a hot spring memorable for its aged wooden bathhouse.
Its distinctive emerald-green water pours generously into a tiled bath.
Black mineral sediment floats in the bath, and this hidden gem is popular with users who say their skin feels refreshed after bathing.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective during recovery from serious illness and similar conditions.

Blending into the hot spring town, Yokochi no Yu has such an understated exterior that you might accidentally walk right past it.
The changing area is spacious, and the clear, colorless water has no strong characteristics, making it easy and comfortable to use.
An interesting point is that the men’s bath is square, while the women’s bath is round, so the bath shapes differ by gender.
The spring quality is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be especially effective for skin diseases.

Built of concrete, Juodo no Yu stands out as a rather unusual presence among Nozawa Onsen’s public bathhouses.
It is a two-story bathhouse with a retro Showa-era feel, with the women’s bath on the first floor and the men’s bath on the second floor.
The relatively spacious bath is often extremely hot, with steam rising from it, so be careful when entering.
The cloudy, rich water with a sulfur scent is a gypsum-salt sulfur spring, said to be effective for conditions such as rheumatism and digestive disorders.

Atarashiya is a Japanese-style chicken restaurant located right near Shin-yu.
It is a popular place with lines, and many people say they always stop by when they come to Nozawa Onsen.
Its exterior has the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house, and inside the clean restaurant, you can enjoy warm hospitality.
The most popular menu item is the yakitori rice bowl. The juicy charcoal-grilled chicken has a delicious contrast, crisp on the outside and tender inside, with the smoky aroma standing out.
The rich, sweet sauce also pairs perfectly with the rice, making it a dish you can enjoy to the very last bite.
At 900 yen, the reasonable price is another plus.
It is also recommended to order the local specialty Nozawana pickles with it.

Sobadokoro Daimon is a long-established soba restaurant with a long history dating back to 1926.
Tucked away on a side street off Oyu-dori, it is often visited before or after bathhouse hopping and on the way back from enjoying winter sports.
The restaurant takes pride in its firm handmade soba chilled with Nozawa’s cold water and its freshly fried tempura.
Among its popular standard menu items are the mellow tororo soba with egg and the tempura soba served with crispy maitake mushroom tempura.
The onsen egg, which pairs well with the soba, is also said to be delicious.
Another appealing point is the generous portions even in a regular serving, offering excellent value for money.
The restaurant has an English menu, and because many foreign visitors come here, international travelers should find it easy to stop in.

Located on Oyu-dori, the main street of Nozawa Onsen, this cafe and shop offers not only snow sports in winter but also a variety of activities during the green season.
At the shop, you can buy jams and juices carefully handmade by artisans using generous amounts of fruit such as apples and peaches grown in the Hokushinano area.
At the attached cafe, you can enjoy handmade gelato made with local milk and packed with fruit flavor, food made with carefully selected jams, Shinshu specialty oyaki buns steamed in a bamboo steamer, and coffee brewed by a barista using Allpress Espresso from New Zealand.

Nozawa Grand Hotel is a resort hotel located on a hill overlooking the hot spring town.
Because it stands a little away from the center, the guest rooms and open-air baths offer views of the simple, charming scenery of Nozawaonsen Village.
Another attraction is that it is surrounded by beautiful nature, allowing you to feel the changing seasons.
The hot springs feature two types of free-flowing source water, Shin-yu and Ogama, and there is also a rare tatami bath, unusual even within the prefecture, where warmth rises from your feet.
The special tatami combines safety and comfort and is hygienic as well, making it a fun experience to try.
It is also well regarded by travelers arriving by car or rental car for its spacious parking lot.
Another recommended highlight is the breakfast buffet, which offers a wide variety of items including fresh vegetables, fruit, and onsen eggs made with water from Ogama.

Located a 3-minute walk from the Nozawa Onsen bus stop, Ryokan Sakaya is a long-established 4-star hotel run by the same family for 18 generations.
Its greatest attraction is the large bathhouse built in traditional bathhouse architecture by master shrine and temple carpenters.
Its dim, quiet atmosphere even during the daytime is filled with hot spring ambiance, creating a relaxing space that soothes travelers’ fatigue.
In addition to the large baths Taka no Yu (men only) and Tsuki no Yu (women only), there are also open-air baths and an open-air spa, allowing guests to fully enjoy the naturally flowing sulfur spring water.
The water is said to be so fresh that you could drink it, and it is known for its rich aroma and smooth feel on the skin, as well as being effective for muscle pain and joint pain.
Another nice point is that the private bath (family bath) is free to use (reservation required / 45 minutes).

Asahiya Ryokan is known for its excellent location in the center of the hot spring town.
It is ideal for bathhouse hopping, with about half of the 13 public bathhouses within a 5-minute walk.
The interior is unified in a calm Japanese-modern style, and with reasonable prices and solid facilities, it offers a comfortable stay.
Its greatest pride is its free-flowing scenic view bath fed directly from the source.
From the bath, you can take in superb views of the Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu, the Northern Alps, and the ski resort, offering a different kind of experience from the public bathhouses.
Another recommended point is the seasonal creative kaiseki cuisine made with local Shinshu ingredients.
Using the best cooking methods for each season’s peak ingredients and local flavors, the chefs serve lavish meals worthy of a special trip.