Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is a ski resort operated by Nozawa Onsen Co., Ltd. Until it was privatized in 2005, it was run by the village mainly for group tours. In the 2016–2017 season, it reached 400,000 visitors for the first time since privatization, making it a hugely popular resort. There are 20 courses designed for everyone from families with children and beginners to advanced skiers. In particular, Hikage Slope is said to be the birthplace of skiing in Japan, and it is also home to the Japan Ski Museum. The ski area boasts Japan’s largest course area (297 hectares), Japan’s longest run distance (10 km), and a vertical drop of 1,085 m. Until a few years ago, it was operated entirely on natural snowfall. The views from the slopes are outstanding, and visitors come not only in winter but also in summer for sightseeing. The resort operates from November to early May, and thanks to convenient access from the Tokyo metropolitan area and beyond, avid skiers often come right up to the very end of the season in early May. After skiing, many people head straight to soak in the hot springs—being able to enjoy both skiing and onsen is one reason it has been loved for so long since opening in 1924.