Nozawa-onsen 野沢温泉
Source of life
This village in the Japanese Alps, renowned for its ski area, has above all good onsen maintained by the locals, which is part of the appeal!
The source of the story
Nozawa onsen is a small hot spring town located at the foot of Mount Kenashi in Nagano Prefecture. This one is world-famous for having hosted competitions during the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.
- Also discover: Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
There are traces of the hot spring in the city of Nozawa since the 8th century. It became popular during the Edo period (1603-1868) thanks to the chief of the Matsudaira clan of the Ilyama domain, who had his second home built there to benefit as often as possible from the waters of this source. He will grant the inhabitants of the surrounding area the right to taste these benefits too ... but only after the harvest!
At the source of the inhabitants
From then on, the beneficial source is protected and the village has developed thanks to the inhabitants themselves. Today, 13 free public baths are maintained every day (electricity costs, cleaning, water management, etc.). In each of these small establishments (open every day from 5 am to 11 pm), there is a thank you box to contribute financially to their upkeep.
It should be noted that these public baths are above all for the inhabitants, a place of relaxation and exchange, encouraging communication.
Nozawa-onsen
Wikimedia Commons
The water is very hot, too hot even for passing tourists who will not be able to dip their toes in the minimum 42° (the water coming out of the source reaches 90°). This is why more 'temperate' establishments have opened :
- Furusato no Yu is a paying establishment with all the comforts, with a shower, shampoo, and water at 40°, with an outdoor " rotenburo " bath (open from 10 am to 8 pm, closed on Thursdays / 500 yen or around $4:50/4€)
- Sparena consists of several baths including a mixed exterior, in which you will wear a swimsuit. There is also a restaurant. (open every day from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm / 700 yen or about $6.25/6€)
Also from the source...
You will find all types of accommodation in Nozawa onsen, hotels, ryokans, and minshukus for real Japanese stays, walking around the streets in a yukata. Do not forget to taste the local specialties, onsen manju, nozawana, and sake.
Amusing local feature at the Ogama spring, which gushes out at 100°: locals come here to wash and cook their vegetables and eggs. At Yurari Square, next to Ogama, you are offered to buy a small box with fresh eggs from a trader to cook them yourself in hot spring water and then eat them.
Nagano's specialty, nozawana, comes from this village. It is a Japanese green vegetable from the turnip family, which has been blanched in spring water and then pickled. This process gives it a very special texture and taste so that it comes as an accompaniment to white rice on good Japanese tables.
Nozawana
北信地域振興局
For a little fun, go to the tourist office, opposite the bus terminus, which offers a kind of treasure hunt with a notebook in hand (400 yen or around $3.50/3€). There are 27 places to visit in the village, where you can take the imprint of a relief design on the pages of your notebook. With a dozen places visited, you already get a gift, in addition to learning about the history and culture of Nozawa.
Nozawa onsen has a festival, the Dosojin matsuri, from January 13 to 15, which honors fire, where fighters clash with blows of torches to burn evil spirits. It is one of three matsuris of this type with the Kurama of Kyôto and the Nachi of Wakayama.
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
By train by the Hokuriku shinkansen line, get off at Ilyama station, then 25 min by "Nozawa Liner" bus.
