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Onsen · Chubu & Hokuriku

Nozawa Onsen

Nozawaonsen, Nagano♨ Simple sulfur spring; sulfur-containing sodium-calcium-sulfate spring (varies by bathhouse)
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Overview

Overview

The only village in Japan with the word onsen in its name, dotted with 13 public bathhouses (sotoyu). The baths are looked after by local bath-keeping groups (yunakama), and you can use them by leaving a small donation. It is about 25 minutes by direct bus from Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Oyu, at the center of the onsen town, is the symbol of Nozawa Onsen and carries on the bathhouse architecture of the Meiji era. Ogama, where water of about 90°C gushes from the source, is a village-designated Natural Monument and serves as a communal kitchen where locals boil vegetables and eggs. Winter brings skiing, and every January 15 the Dosojin Fire Festival, a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is held.

Location
Nozawaonsen, Nagano
Best time to visit
Powder-snow skiing and bathhouse hopping in winter; in autumn, the Lantern Festival (September 8–9) and the late-autumn onaarai (washing of nozawana greens)
Official website
https://nozawakanko.jp/
Official website (English) ↗
Day-Use Baths

Baths you can visit without staying

Public baths, day-use spas and foot baths open to non-staying visitors.

Public bath

Oyu

Price
Free (a small donation as a contribution to the yunakama) (as of October 2026)
Hours
5:00–23:00 (December–March 6:00–23:00)
Note
Divided into a hot bath and a lukewarm bath. Free-flowing spring water that runs on the hot side
Official site
https://nozawakanko.jp/spot/spot-7450/
Public bath

Kumanotearai-yu

Price
Free (a small donation as a contribution to the yunakama) (as of October 2026)
Hours
5:00–23:00 (December–March 6:00–23:00)
Note
The source is about 40°C, a relatively comfortable temperature. Has a hot bath and a lukewarm bath
Official site
https://nozawakanko.jp/hotspring/
Day-use spa

Ogama Onsen Park Furusato no Yu

Price
Adults ¥700, elementary school age and under ¥500 (as of October 2026)
Hours
April to mid-December 10:00–19:00 (reception until 18:30); mid-December to March 11:00–20:00 (reception until 19:30)
Closed
Thursdays (open on public holidays)
Note
A day-use facility with water adjusted to a comfortable temperature. Showers and hair dryers available. Towels for sale only. No parking
Official site
https://www.vill.nozawaonsen.nagano.jp/www/contents/1050000000241/index.html

Prices and hours are as of the date shown and may change, with occasional closures. Check each facility’s official website before you go.

🖋 If you have tattoos

Policies vary by facility, so check with each facility

Spring

Spring type and features

♨ Simple sulfur spring; sulfur-containing sodium-calcium-sulfate spring (varies by bathhouse)

According to the Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association, many of the public bathhouses are said to be effective for neuralgia, joint pain, digestive problems, diabetes and skin troubles

Etiquette

Bathing etiquette

  • ✓Wash your body before bathing
  • ✓Do not put towels in the bath
  • ✓If you add cold water to a hot bath, turn it off once it reaches a comfortable temperature
  • ✓Be considerate of the people around you
Sights

Nearby sights

Ogama

A village-designated Natural Monument where water of about 90°C gushes from the source. A communal kitchen where locals boil vegetables and eggs

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort

A historic ski area that began with the Nozawa Onsen Ski Club, founded in 1923

Oborozukiyo no Yakata (Hanzan Bunko)

A memorial museum dedicated to Takano Tatsuyuki

Tips

Good to know

  • !Public bathhouses have no showers or hair dryers
  • !The bathhouses use free-flowing spring water with no temperature adjustment, so they are hot. Kumanotearai-yu is relatively mild
  • !For security reasons, the public bathhouses cannot be used late at night
  • !There is no public transportation to the village from Kamisakai Station or Togari-Nozawaonsen Station on the JR Iiyama Line
Access

Access

Nearest station / bus stop
  • Iiyama Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen)About 25 minutes by the Nozawa Onsen Liner
From major cities and airports
  • Iiyama Station: Nozawa Onsen Liner direct bus (About 25 minutes)
Open in Google Maps ↗
Getting There

Getting there from major cities

Tokyo → Nagano

Fastest: Approx. 1 hr 20 min (example timetable: Kagayaki 501)

🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus
Travel Passes

Travel passes for getting there

🚄 JR

Japan Rail Pass

Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed

From ¥50,000

🚄 JR

Hokuriku Arch Pass

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ 7 consecutive days from the first day of use

From ¥35,000

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Nozawa OnsenPR

PRSee more places to stay near Nozawa Onsen on Agoda →

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen

Zoo

Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Snow Monkey Park)

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen

A park in the mountains of Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, where you can observe wild Japanese macaques up close. It's famous for its monkeys bathing in hot springs in winter. The entrance is about a 30-minute walk along a mountain path from the parking lot or bus stop, so wear shoes and clothing suited to the season.

See all attractions →
Onsen

Onsen towns in Chubu & Hokuriku

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Gero Onsen

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Gero, Gifu

♨ Day use Adults ¥470, elementary school students ¥180, preschoolers ¥100 (as of October 2026)

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Okuhida Onsen-go

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Takayama, Gifu

♨ Day use Adults ¥700, children ¥500 (as of October 2026)

Private baths
♨ Onsen

Shibu & Yudanaka Onsen

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Yamanouchi, Nagano

♨ Day use Junior high school students and up ¥500, elementary school students ¥300 (bathing tax included) (as of October 2026)

♨ Onsen

Yamanaka Onsen

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Kaga, Ishikawa

♨ Day use Age 12 and up ¥500, ages 6–11 ¥150, ages 3–5 ¥70, under 3 free (as of October 2026)

See all onsen towns →

Prices, hours, tattoo policies and spring types are based on official facility, municipal and tourism association information. They can change, so check the official websites before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-08

PRKlookJR Hokuriku Arch PassUnlimited rides for 7 days on JR lines between Tokyo, Hokuriku and the Kyoto/Osaka area, including the Hokuriku ShinkansenView