| Nozawa Onsen is a quaint, traditional Japanese village | | | | 6.2miles (10km) run. There is also the option of off |
| with only 5000 permanent residents is located at the | | | | piste skiing off the back of the mountain however it |
| base of Mt. Kenashi-yama. It is famous (as its name | | | | is recommended that you take a local guide with you. |
| suggests) for its mineral hot spring onsens. This quiet | | | | There are powder fields between the marked trails. |
| village becomes a bustling ski and snowboarder's | | | | These areas are marked with signs "Do no enter |
| destination once the snow arrives in late November | | | | unless you are a good skier." |
| or early December. | | | | An all day lift ticket will cost around 4600 yen or you |
| Skiing was first introduced here in 1911 by Major | | | | can get half-day or night passes. If you do not want |
| Thedor von Lerch an Austrian ski enthusiast. The ski | | | | to bring your own equipment, ski and board |
| resort opened in 1924. It was the first ski resort in | | | | equipment rentals are available. Typical rental prices |
| Japan to install ski lifts and most recently served as | | | | are around 3000 to 5000 yen per day. |
| the host for the Biathlon competition at the 1998 | | | | There are several travel agencies that offer all |
| Nagano Olympics. Nozawa Onsen resort boasts over | | | | inclusive ski package vacations at competitive prices. |
| fifty kilometers of trails or pistes. The ski trails begin | | | | These packages include a Nozawa Onsen |
| at an elevation of 1085 meters and the ski area | | | | accommodation lift passes and transportation to the |
| includes 297 hectares of skiing surface. On a clear | | | | village. |
| day you can see the northern Japanese Alps and the | | | | Nozawa Onsen ski resort offers the promise of fresh |
| Sea of Japan from the peak of Mt. Kenashi-yama. | | | | powder almost every day during the snow season |
| There is a terrain park with jumps, rails, boxes and an | | | | and a vast array of trails offering something for all |
| eighty meter pipe for the snowboarders who are | | | | experience levels of skiers and boarders from novice |
| looking for something more adventurous than just a | | | | to expert. All trails end up back at the village so you |
| trip down the mountain. The resort boasts two | | | | will be able to easily walk to your Nozawa Onsen |
| gondolas and twenty-three chair lifts to whisk you | | | | accommodation or your favorite public or private |
| back to the top once you reach the bottom of one | | | | onsen at the end of your last run. |
| of the 20 pistes or trails the longest of which is a | | | | |