7questions about NOZAWA ONSEN SKI RESORT
We've got some questions about NOZAWA ONSEN SKI RESORT from one of our future guest from Australia.
I'll write down here for next person.
1) What is the earliest transport available to Nozawa Onsen from 1166bp?
(ANSWER)
- FROM 1166backpackers, there are 2 options.
Take JR train (JR Iiyama Line) to TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN Station. (est 60 min). From TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN Station, either catch the local bus that runs up to Nozawa Onsen or you can grab a taxi. (est 15 min),
**to check the time table between JR "NAGANO" station to JR "TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN" station, this site will help you. http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ This is JR train. so JR pass will cover this line. The first train leaves at 6:58 from Nagano station and arrive at TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN station 8:06. Next one leaves 8:34 and arrive at 9:36.
***The first local bus from TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN station will leave at 8:25. Next one is 9:45. You can pay 300yen for local bus on board directly to the driver ( better to have small change ) . I checked last years time table but there are not much differences, I believe. The newest time table will be available from Nov.
OR
Take a direct Nagaden Express Bus from Nagano Station to Nozawa Onsen (est 80 min)
Alight at Nozawa Onsen – Shinden or Central bus stop. From there, it’s just a stroll to Nozawa Ski resort.
**** The timetable of this direct bus will be available from Nov. If I remember rightly, it is quiet late. Departs around 11:15am and arrives 12:35 pm.
2) We will not have any of our own ski gear (we do have pants/jackets): Can you recommend a ski hire place where we can hire skis/boards, boots, poles, etc? Can we book online or do you recommend we wait until we arrive in Nagano to hire on the spot?
(ANSWER)
-There are many rental shops around NOZAWA ONSEN ski area and they are opening from 8am ( some of them opens at 7am) . Some of them has english website. I'm sure that will help you!
http://www.shirakaba8.com/rental/english/ （ SHIRAKABA )
http://nozawa.com/stanton/ ( HAUS ST. ANTON )
http://www.tomy-r.com/english/index.html ( RENTAL SHOP TOMY )
http://kawatatsu.com/rental-ski-english.html (RENTAL SKI KAPPA )
As I show you some URLs, you can book online in advance. As you're coming in new years holiday, it might be busy. It's better to ask the shops.
3) Can we organise lift passes for Nozawa Onsen online or do you recommend we wait until we arrive at Nozawa Onsen? Or can we organise through 1166bp or through a travel agent?
(ANSWER)
-The one day ticket will be 5600yen per person but we will give you coupon and with that it will be 5100yen incl. 1000yen meal ticket. On Wednesday, it might be much cheaper like 4600yen. ( I checked the price from last season but almost same in this season!)
4) My friend has never seen snow let alone skiied/snowboarded. How do I go about booking her in for a lesson at Nozawa Onsen?
(ANSWER)
- This site will help you for ski / snowboard lessons. Since these private lessons cost a lot but it will be much more fun! http://www.nozawaski.com/school/english/english.php
5) Can we pre-book a tour to the snow-monkey onsen through 1166bp or should we wait until we arrive in Nagano?
(ANSWER)
- No worries. Nagano takes public transportation pretty seriously. We will give you direction map and time table when you check-in. It's easy without tour and will cost about 2500yen including transportation, admission fee and onsen ticket. Please make sure that this is not covered JR pass.
6) What Onsens in Nagano and Nozawa Onsen do you recommend?
(ANSWER)
- The spring source temperature in Nozawa onsen is over 60℃, Yes, it's extremely hot!! But "KUMANO TEARAIBA" is the only one which you can slowly warm up. There is another onsen just 15min walk from 1166backpackers ( opens from 6am to 11pm and they have both of inside and outside bath) . If you are going to Snow monkey, as I wrote before, there is small onsen which is for human ;) There are over 200 onsens in Nagano prefecture!
7) Will there be any events/activities in Nagano or Nozawa Onsen which you think will be interesting to attend between 1-4 January 2014 during our stay?
(ANSWER)
- I'm sure that we have some events both in Nozawa and Nagano city. One of the long‐established custom of Japanese new year day is to visit temple or shrine in order to make traditional New Year's wishes for health and happiness. You can have Omiki (sacred sake) at temple.
I'll write down here for next person.
1) What is the earliest transport available to Nozawa Onsen from 1166bp?
(ANSWER)
- FROM 1166backpackers, there are 2 options.
Take JR train (JR Iiyama Line) to TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN Station. (est 60 min). From TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN Station, either catch the local bus that runs up to Nozawa Onsen or you can grab a taxi. (est 15 min),
**to check the time table between JR "NAGANO" station to JR "TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN" station, this site will help you. http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ This is JR train. so JR pass will cover this line. The first train leaves at 6:58 from Nagano station and arrive at TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN station 8:06. Next one leaves 8:34 and arrive at 9:36.
***The first local bus from TOGARINOZAWA-ONSEN station will leave at 8:25. Next one is 9:45. You can pay 300yen for local bus on board directly to the driver ( better to have small change ) . I checked last years time table but there are not much differences, I believe. The newest time table will be available from Nov.
OR
Take a direct Nagaden Express Bus from Nagano Station to Nozawa Onsen (est 80 min)
Alight at Nozawa Onsen – Shinden or Central bus stop. From there, it’s just a stroll to Nozawa Ski resort.
**** The timetable of this direct bus will be available from Nov. If I remember rightly, it is quiet late. Departs around 11:15am and arrives 12:35 pm.
2) We will not have any of our own ski gear (we do have pants/jackets): Can you recommend a ski hire place where we can hire skis/boards, boots, poles, etc? Can we book online or do you recommend we wait until we arrive in Nagano to hire on the spot?
(ANSWER)
-There are many rental shops around NOZAWA ONSEN ski area and they are opening from 8am ( some of them opens at 7am) . Some of them has english website. I'm sure that will help you!
http://www.shirakaba8.com/rental/english/ （ SHIRAKABA )
http://nozawa.com/stanton/ ( HAUS ST. ANTON )
http://www.tomy-r.com/english/index.html ( RENTAL SHOP TOMY )
http://kawatatsu.com/rental-ski-english.html (RENTAL SKI KAPPA )
As I show you some URLs, you can book online in advance. As you're coming in new years holiday, it might be busy. It's better to ask the shops.
3) Can we organise lift passes for Nozawa Onsen online or do you recommend we wait until we arrive at Nozawa Onsen? Or can we organise through 1166bp or through a travel agent?
(ANSWER)
-The one day ticket will be 5600yen per person but we will give you coupon and with that it will be 5100yen incl. 1000yen meal ticket. On Wednesday, it might be much cheaper like 4600yen. ( I checked the price from last season but almost same in this season!)
4) My friend has never seen snow let alone skiied/snowboarded. How do I go about booking her in for a lesson at Nozawa Onsen?
(ANSWER)
- This site will help you for ski / snowboard lessons. Since these private lessons cost a lot but it will be much more fun! http://www.nozawaski.com/school/english/english.php
5) Can we pre-book a tour to the snow-monkey onsen through 1166bp or should we wait until we arrive in Nagano?
(ANSWER)
- No worries. Nagano takes public transportation pretty seriously. We will give you direction map and time table when you check-in. It's easy without tour and will cost about 2500yen including transportation, admission fee and onsen ticket. Please make sure that this is not covered JR pass.
6) What Onsens in Nagano and Nozawa Onsen do you recommend?
(ANSWER)
- The spring source temperature in Nozawa onsen is over 60℃, Yes, it's extremely hot!! But "KUMANO TEARAIBA" is the only one which you can slowly warm up. There is another onsen just 15min walk from 1166backpackers ( opens from 6am to 11pm and they have both of inside and outside bath) . If you are going to Snow monkey, as I wrote before, there is small onsen which is for human ;) There are over 200 onsens in Nagano prefecture!
7) Will there be any events/activities in Nagano or Nozawa Onsen which you think will be interesting to attend between 1-4 January 2014 during our stay?
(ANSWER)
- I'm sure that we have some events both in Nozawa and Nagano city. One of the long‐established custom of Japanese new year day is to visit temple or shrine in order to make traditional New Year's wishes for health and happiness. You can have Omiki (sacred sake) at temple.
http://www.1166bp.com/
