Five days Skiing on the slopes of beautiful Nozawa Onsen and a visit to Matsumoto.
We were here in Nozawa Onsen 3 years ago for some great skiing. The snow was perfect, the accommodation was right on the slopes, great food and fantastic locals (see post).
This time, as we only had one week, it was a shorter trip with skiing as the main objective. So from Narita direct to Nozawa Onsen, checking in and getting the ski hire organized, ready for the snow the next morning.
On the first day we had some snow and visibility was a bit restricted, but the next couple of days were great. Not much new snow, so it was a bit icy on the lower runs, but great further up on the hills. As the temperature did rise a bit later in the week, the snow was a bit wetter, and not even a bit of rain could stop us from skiing on our last day.
What we really like about Nozawa Onsen is not just the skiing, but also the charm of the village with all its authentic restaurants with local food, the friendly locals on the streets and the natural hot springs feeding into the Onsens (public hot bath) and the Ogama (natural hot spring for cooking [no access for tourists]).
Like last time there was some local celebration, ‘snow festival’ and a local guy asked us to join a small gathering by the ‘church-like’ looking museum where locals offered sake and a rich kind of Japanese soup with mushrooms, onions, radish and other vegetables. After a couple of refills of the sake, we went back on our way. Just a bit further down the road we came to a somewhat larger gathering of locals and some tourists. Again free sake and soup and refills. Here they also had firework and an igloo and some lanterns providing light. Not commercial, not selling anything, just villagers sharing a great time with both locals and visitors…
Nozawa Onsen is a skiing resort during winter, but also an important rice producing area during summer and some of the rice paddies can be made out under the snow cover.
A few more pics from the Village;
In the middle of the week we took a break from skiing and went for a train trip to Matsumoto, about a 100km to the south of Nozawa Onsen. The most famous attraction of the city is the National Treasure Matsumoto Castle, the oldest surviving five-tiered wooden castle in Japan (with a sixed ‘hidden’ floor).
The castle looks impressive from the outside and as a flat plateau castle surrounded by the Japanese alps has a magnificent backdrop.
Local volunteer guides provide free tours of the over 420 year old castle. This is a good way to learn a bit about the interesting history, construction and use of the castle.
The interior is rather bare except some exhibits of weaponry. This castle was not used as a residence, more as a fortress and a symbol of the rulers power and for military strength.
The stairs are steep and narrow, but the reward is a fantastic view from the top floor.
Of course there is more to Mastumoto than the castle. Along the way from the train station we came across ‘Frog’ street and the Yohashira shrine.
Sights of Matsumoto;
…and some pics along the trip;
Bonus
Dosojin statues are common throughout Japan, but the wooden, pencil-like figures found in Nozawa Onsen are unusual as (i) they are ubiquitous throughout the village (ii) they are made of wood, and painted. They represent a male and female deity. There is a folk tradition that they represent a man and a woman who were not particularly attractive, but nevertheless married and had baby boys, therefore representing the happiness of marriage. Every household in the village will have a pair, and they are often found at businesses and public places too.
That’s it for this time from Nazawa Onsen;