Established in 1924, Nozawa Onsen was one of the first ski resorts opened in Japan. It is easy to see why the first skiers in Japan chose this place to start.

In 1930 one of the founders of alpine skiing, Hannes Schneider from Austria, came to Nozawa Onsen to teach the techniques of Arlberg skiing. This boosted the popularity of the sport in Japan. Furthermore, this was the first resort in the country to install ski lifts.

The resort is located on Kenashi-yama mountain [literal meaning "mount no-hair"]. This huge mountain offers a myriad of courses running down to the village. As such, there is something for everybody: backcountry powder-hounds, terrain park daredevils, and family-friendly beginner courses.

The town is set at the foot of the ski resort, with three main areas of access. As such, its worth a careful look at the ski map before heading back to base at the end of the day.

Apart from the snow quality and range of courses, one strong feature of this resort is the fantastic scenery.

The mountain overlooks the traditional spa town of Nozawa Onsen (5,000 population). Every direction you look offers dramatic views of the Japan Alps.

Furthermore, the geological conditions within the resort mean that trees are often covered in frozen snow, as shown in the photograph to the left.