REPORT

Why not make a visit to Nozawa in summer? There are plenty of great things to do, including taking a ride on the new Nagasaka Gondola (pictured, completed in December of 2020) and catching a bird’s eye view of the pleasant Kita-Shinano (northern Nagano) landscape, enjoying a picnic in the Uenotaira Picnic Garden, visiting the hot spring resort at the foot of the mountain and hopping between hot springs and footbaths, and eating your way around the area. The gondolas have a skeleton floor. You can also choose to ride on a special gondola car with a skeleton floor if so inclined. (*Please feel free to ask a staff member at the gondola base station.)
[Nagasaka Gondola]

Today a fresh, cool breeze fluttered through the Uenotaira Picnic Garden (pictured), located at an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level. Here, the grass lawn, and available wooden deck, benches, and tables (with plenty of shade from the trees) makes for easy picnicking. Families can play on the playground equipment (pictured) or take a 15-minute walk up to the Kogenashi observation area at the top of Mt. Kogenashi (1,450 meters above sea level).
[Uenotaira Picnic Garden]

8/3 (Sat.) was the day of the “Nozawa Trail Fes” and many racers were gathered at the Uenotaira Picnic Garden. I spoke with three people from Kanagawa Prefecture (pictured), who told me, “All three of us have been trail running for 3-4 months. We’re going to run the 12 km ‘short’ course. We’re looking forward to the hot springs and beer after finishing the race.”
[Uenotaira Picnic Garden]

The available Nozawa Onsen Map (PDF) is useful for walking around the hot spring resort area at the foot of the mountain. There are many interesting stores throughout the village, including the Haus St. Anton Jam Factory (pictured) on Oyu Street, which sells additive-free, handmade jams and juices made from seasonal fruits grown in northern Nagano. At the attached cafe, you can enjoy a variety of flavors of gelato made with fresh milk from Kijimadaira Village, and oyaki steamed buns. (Takeout is also available.)
[Onsen Town]

*A “Starlight Tour” (*6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) is being held mainly on Saturdays and Sundays from 8/3 (Sat.) to 9/22 (Sun.) A limited food menu for the Starlight Tour is available at Kitchen Servus.
*On 8/19 (Mon.) and 9/9 (Mon.), a Guided Flower Tour with arborist Dr. Yamamoto is scheduled to take place.

　
[Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort Open Details]
*Open period … 2024/6/1（Sat）～11/4（Mon）※Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8/29 (Tue) to 9/28 (Thu)
*Operating time … Nagasaka Gondola（9:00～）　7/6（Sat）～ ※Closed on Tue., Wed. and Thu. from 8/27 (Tue) to 9/26 (Thu)
*Fee … Nagasaka Gondola round trip ／ Adults JPY2,500, Junior high school students and under JPY1,500, Free for preschool children
（※One free admission for each accompanying adult for preschool children）

[Summer Slopes]
*Open period … 7/13（Sat）～11/4（Mon）
※Closed on Tues., Wed. and Thu. after 7/24 (Wed), 8/21 (Wed), 9/11 (Wed) and 9/24 (Tue) (open on national holidays)　
*Operating time … 9:00～16:00
*Fee … Adults JPY4,000, Junior high school students and under JPY2,500, Seniors JPY3,600

　　
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs
　　　
reported by Snownavi