Introduction of Friendship City Nozawa Onsen Village (Nagano Prefecture)

Nozawa Onsen Village, a warm hot spring town adorned with the beauty of nature in all four seasons

Overview of Nozawa Onsen Village

Nozawa Onsen Village is located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, bordered to the south by Kijimadaira Village, to the west by Iiyama City, and to the north and east by Sakae Village. It has long prospered as a hot spring area and is also famous for its ski resorts.
The population is 3,442 (as of March 1, 2022), and the area is 57.96 square kilometers.

• Nozawa Onsen Village Website(External Link)
• Nozawa Onsen Village (Google Maps)(External Link)

• Village Flower: Nozawana Flower
  (Established in 1976 as part of the 20th anniversary commemorative project)
• Village Tree: Beech
  (Established in 1996 as part of the 40th anniversary project)

Hot Spring

Nozawa Onsen Village has long prospered as a hot spring area, as its name suggests, with over 30 hot spring sources within the village. Its high-quality natural hot springs are enjoyed by many visitors to Nozawa Onsen Village.
In addition, there are 13 free public baths called "soto-yu" in the hot spring town, and the local residents have created and maintain a system called "yu-nakama".

Skiing

50.7% of the village is covered by forests (according to the 1996 Prefectural Statistical Report), and due to its scenic beauty, it has been designated as part of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, with 297 hectares currently designated as a ski area.
The ski resort, with the longest run of 10 kilometers, an elevation difference of 1,085 meters, and a maximum slope of 39 degrees, has served as a venue for various ski competitions, including the Nagano Olympics.

Exchange with Nozawa Onsen Village

Nozawa Onsen Village signed an agreement to open the "Gather, Inagi Kids! Nozawa Onsen School" in 2005, accepting summer and winter experiential learning for city-run Elementary and Junior High Schools, and has continued exchanges in the field of education for 10 years.

Subsequently, in 2008, a mutual support agreement for disaster response was concluded, and as exchanges deepened, the friendship that blossomed among residents was cherished. To deepen mutual understanding and trust, the Friendship City agreement was established on November 17, 2015.