Nozawa Onsen15M JapowPension粉雪館

“Misleading name, freezing conditions, and terrible location”

The friends I made there were great, yet this was one of the worst places I’ve ever stayed. The name is totally misleading—though advertised as “Nozawa Onsen,” it’s actually on the outskirts of Iiyama near Togari Onsen, far from the real Nozawa Onsen town with its shops and restaurants. Without a car you’re basically stranded; public transport is scarce, and the only way to reach Nozawa Onsen is by arranging a ride with the lodge manager around 8:30 am. Once there, options for moving around or even eating are almost nonexistent. Calling it “Nozawa Onsen” is honestly deceptive. The living conditions are awful: the building is freezing, hallways and common areas aren’t heated, bathrooms are ice‑cold with weak water pressure and almost no hot water, tile floors feel like ice, and the kerosene heater in the room made the air feel heavy. After the first night I complained, and the manager finally gave me a small electric heater that made things a bit better. Wi‑Fi worked only on the first night and then stopped, adding to the frustration in such a remote spot. The balcony felt unsafe, adding to the discomfort. The only bright spot was the people I met—most were ski instructors staying as part of staff accommodation from their ski schools, not regular paying guests. In short, the place is poorly located, poorly maintained, and misleadingly advertised. Don’t stay here—always double‑check the actual location before booking.

Hoang·Il y a 7 mois

The staff are very friendly, but the shower water temperature fluctuated and the washing machine is too small.

Shih-ching·Il y a 8 mois

“Great bang for buck outside of Nozawa Onsen”

I got a good deal staying in a traditional futon setup just outside Nozawa Onsen resort, and I was lucky enough to snag a free mountain resort shuttle from the Lawson shop in the morning and afternoon. The host, who speaks English, Chinese, and Japanese, was hilarious and upbeat. I found inexpensive meals and an onsen within walking distance, and the ski field at Tagari Onsen is a 10‑minute walk away, which is worth checking out. The GPS coordinates were accurate, and the electric blankets for the futons were a nice addition. Breakfast was simple: eggs, sausage, toast, jam, and coffee. The only downside was that the location name was confusing and getting there was tricky depending on the time and day from Iiyama station; a taxi cost 60000 yen. Getting to the Nozawa Onsen ski field from the lodge involved a complex and long bus/train combo if you wanted to go outside the lodge’s escort times. The bathrooms and showers felt old‑school and had a kerosene heating smell.

Morgan·Il y a 8 mois

“Pleasant stay - location a challenge if you want to visit Nozawa Onsen but don't have a car.”

Leon was a fantastic host—friendly and very helpful with service, transport, and advice. The only issue was the location; despite its name, it’s some distance from Nozawa Onsen and there are no direct buses.

David·Il y a 8 mois

Breakfast could use some improvement; the eggs were cold and I’d rather have bacon than sausage. I’m not used to futons and could feel the floor through the mattress. The common areas were unheated.

Jon·Il y a 8 mois