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Nozawa Onsen Kawaichiya is a Japanese style ryokan located in Nozawa Onsen. Please enjoy with our excellent hot springs and local dishes. All rooms are Free Wifi, Non Smoking.
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This ryokan is going to be the best of the best that you can find in the area! Most accommodations in Nozawa are quite old, but this ryokan was beautifully renovated and furnished to meet and exceed the modern traveler's expectations, while keeping the Japanese ryokan feel. But what deserves to be highlighted the most is the staff. Their warm and welcoming smiles, their willingness to help you any way that they can was really inviting and made us want to stay longer! Thank you for an amazing stay - we'll be back for sure!
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Date of stay: February 2020
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The water in the open-air bath was hot, but there were floating mineral deposits and I thought the quality of the spring water looked good for the body. There were also beautiful koi carp swimming in the pond. I usually only go to hot springs at night, but I didn't want to waste time so I also went in the morning. It seems like it would be effective for stiff shoulders and back pain, so if I could take some time off and have the money, I'd like to go for a week to cure my sore shoulders. The wagyu beef for dinner was also delicious, with just the right amount of food, and I was happy to be able to finish it all at the inn. It's a small thing, but I liked that the part where the soles of my feet touch is made of tatami mats.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our 2nd trip to NozawaOnsen and the 3rd accomodation we have stayed in at Nozawaonsen. We spent 3 nights at this Ryokan and there is a lot to recommend it provided you have the right room and you are OK with not having a bathroom and only using the ryokan Onsen for bathing/showering purposes. I struggled in reviewing this ryokan. The pluses are that it has a lovely onsen that is larger than other hotel/ryokan onsens I have visited. It also has some lovely traditional architecture and the stairwell area leading to the onsen and the foyer to the onsen is really lovely. The dining area of the ryokan has been recently renovated and is very stylish. the foyer is also large and very functional with a seating area around a traditional Japanese fireplace. On our first night, we stayed on the 2nd floor of the unrenovated part of the ryokan. We had 2 single beds and a very small area for sitting on the tatami floor. The room was in need of a makeover and was extremely cold, even with the heater on. The toilet was small and even colder with only a cold water tap for washing your hands or face etc. There was no shower or bathroom in our room. There was also only one small mirror. When we asked if another room was available with a bathroom, we were told one would become available at an additional cost, the next night. So we stayed in the original room for one night then moved to a new room- room number 325. This room was dramatically better and actually very nice. It had been recently renovated in modern Japanese decor and felt much more upmarket. It also had its own little bathroom. The room had two chairs and a coffee table to sit at. it had a safe, small fridge and TV. It also had a new AC unit which meant it was a lot warmer. So we were very happy with our room once we moved. Meanwhlle our friend had his own room (room 312) which was a traditional tatami flooring room with futon and only a toilet. He said it too was cold with only a cold water tap.
Note that if you are staying on the 2nd or 3rd floor, there are no lift facilities so you need to lug your gear up the flights of steps.
The breakfast at the ryokan is a traditional Japanese breakfast. It is of a very good quality and very filling and usually consists of cooked fish, soup, egg, a small salad with some ham or sausage, rice, some yoghurt and a hotpot dish with either tofu and mushrooms or bacon and vegetables.. Apple juice and green tea are also provided. There is no coffee or western breakfast food so bear this in mind when choosing your accomodation if you are not a traditional Japanese breakfast fan.
The rooms have green tea and hot water provided. Yukata (Japanese dressinggown/summer robe) and towels are also provided only with toothbrushes. Hairdryer is available in the onsen.
One of the ryokan staffmembers who mans reception speaks English but many of the others don't. We found we were the only non-Japanese guests staying at the ryokan when we were there. I often found I was also the only person in the ladies' onsen around 6pm.
The ryokan is well located and within 5 minutes walking distance from the main street in town. To get to the closest ski lift, you have 2 options. You can walk 5 minutes to the bus stop for the free shuttle bus that takes you to Nagaska station. Or you can walk about 12 minutes to the Travelator that takes you up to Hikage Station. The travelator takes another 10 minutes. Lockers are available for hire on the mountain so you can leave your gear overnight and not have to carry it up and back to the ryokan each day.
Provided you get one of the renovated rooms, this hotel is good value for money. For those driving, there is parking available about 25 metres down the road.
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Date of stay: March 2015
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Ask for a room in the renovated part of the hotel with a bathroom. Room 325 was good.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We decided on 4 nights at the Kawaichiya Ryokan after extensive research online and via reviews here in TA. The deciding factors for us were the value for money stay which included breakfast as well as the photos of the onsen in the property itself. We were definitely not disappointed in both aspects.
Our family of 2 adults and 2 kids (11 years old) were checked into a traditional Japanese tatami room with attached toilet and shared bath. While the room was good enough for us all to roll about in, the toilet was pretty tiny so if you are over 1.8m tall, chances are you are going to have cramped legs trying to fold yourself into the loo. The other gripe that we had was that the room was rather cold even with the heater on at full blast. Then again, we figured that with all that snow going on outside, most of the other ryokans might be just as cold too.
That being said, the onsen was a delightful experience which we looked forward to each night after skiing and dinner out. The ladies side had a changing area with hair driers and basic amenities and there are also yukatas provided in the room that you can change into for your onsen bathing. There were 2 baths indoors which were pretty spacious and super hot! It took a while for us to get fully submerged from gingerly putting our toes in to inching our bodies bit by bit into the water. Thereafter, it was comfort all the way! There is also an outdoor bath that is a bit cooler and set in a simple rock garden. However, it was a bit too sulphurous for our liking even though sitting in there amidst snowflakes swirling around you does make for a magical experience.
The second thing that we really liked was the Japanese breakfast sets each morning. Served from 7.30am, it was a daily love affair with the local produce such as the nozawa pickled veggies to the perfectly grilled fish, the hotpot of bubbling goodness and that amazing Japanese rice! Oh and the yoghurt with blueberry or apple jam was super yummy too! We always left fully fed to start the day on the slopes.
While we were there from mid December, the Kawaichiya was still undergoing some renovations but the major parts of the works were done and we were greeted by a very welcoming lobby, a swanky dining area with very cute photos of an old couple (perhaps they are the owners?) and the walkway to the onsen had a lovely Japanese ambience with local crafts featured in different corners.
Kono-san (the 'younger brother' so he says) was the resident innkeeper there for the season and he was a paragon of patience. Always polite and accommodating, he took great pains to recommend restaurants daily and to make reservations for us. As there was unexpectedly heavy snow when we arrived, he also made numerous calls on the 1st two days to the ski slopes to check if lifts were running, offering to drive us to the one that was open. I always thought being an innkeeper was a great job but looking at Kono san and his team who were always on their feet just to make sure things ran smoothly for their guests, I think it is definitely not an easy task. So thank you Kono-san and your team for taking care of us ;).
Just a tip that to avoid having to lug huge bags in the snow in Nozawa, it might be a good idea to send your bags to your accommodation ahead of you with the Luggage forwarding service, usually available in most hotels. Kono-san helped us to send our bags ahead of us to Haneda airport and that was certainly one of the best decisions we made regarding luggage.
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Date of stay: December 2014
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We returned to Kawaichiya Ryokan in January 2011. This time we had our teenage son along and were accommodated in the newer part of the building, which is serviced by an elevator. We’d previously stayed in the older part of the building, which is walk up, though this was never a hassle for us.
The newer rooms do reflect their more recent construction and are generally better finished, though this does come at a justifiable difference in room rate. In our experience, both the newer and older rooms offer equal functionality and both rooms we’ve had were warm, clean and well laid out. The older room had a modular bathroom, which is quite typical in Japan, whereas this year’s room had the shower over bath separate to the hand basin area, with a separate self contained toilet cubicle elsewhere. Both rooms were Japanese style with Tatami mat floor and futon mattresses that prove to be snug and perfectly comfortable, though Western style rooms are also available dependent upon personal preference. That said, bathrooms tend to become less important once you’ve come to enjoy Kawaichya’s own onsen (hot spa - they're segregated), both morning and evening – especially after a hard day’s skiing, having a hot onsen is a terrific way to relax and recover.
We once again enjoyed Kawaichiya’s kaiseki style Japanese dinner that comprises multiple dishes and a range of flavours – something that needs to be booked at least a day ahead and which proves to be a real treat every time. Breakfast, whilst smaller in size to dinner is similar in style and is a great way to start the day. The tip here is that breakfast is ready for the allotted 7.30am start (again, fairly common for Japan) and it is advisable to be there on time to ensure that nothing gets cold.
Kono-san the owner / manager is a pleasure to deal with and he is well supported by a happy and enthusiastic staff. We can’t speak Japanese and so are reliant upon Japanese people being able to speak English – something we are very respectful and appreciative of. In that context, we’ve never had any problem with communication at Kawaichiya; it may take a moment longer and involve some animated gestures, but the message is always clearly exchanged – part of the adventure of being in a foreign country.
I noted an earlier review refers to icy roads, which frankly does come with the territory when in a ski village. Though it is less of a problem than normal in Nozawa Onsen, as the roads are extensively heated and hence rarely a problem, save for a very few spots where the heating has failed.
This was our fourth trip to Japan to ski and our second visit to Nozawa Onsen. Having now skied at Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen, Myoko Kogen, Furano and Niseko, we’ve found Nozawa Onsen’s traditional village style and prevalence of onsen to make it a really special place to visit. We have a routine at the end of the day, once off the Yu Road travelator to visit the store beside the onsen to buy an apple and frequently stop for a cup of tea. There is just something about the vibe of Nozawa Onsen that makes it worth visiting and in our case, going back to.
Our fifth trip to Japan is already booked for January 2012 and we’ll be returning to Nozawa Onsen and again staying at Kawaichiya Ryokan. Whilst other reviewers often say they would go back, we’re actually doing so, which should provide a good gauge that Nozawa Onsen and specifically Kawaichiya Ryokan are well worth going back to – something we’re really looking forward to.
Kono-san told me that they have many repeat guests from overseas who keep coming back a third, fourth & fifth time. With our third stay at Kawaichiya now booked for 2012, we apparently still have a way to go in comparison to the family who has stayed at Kawaichiya for the past eight years in a row, though hopefully we’re up to the challenge!
You will find more expensive places than Kawaichiya Ryokan to stay at in Nozawa Onsen, but in terms of genuine hospitality and value for money, it is obviously hard to go past.
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Date of stay: January 2011
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 6 nights here when skiing at Nozawa. The ryokan is terrific and we have stayed at many ryokans. In a great location within easy access of the moving walkway up to the snow and round the corner from all the restaurants and shops of Nozawa, the hotel has a great indoor and outdoor bath for each gender - a bit of a rarity to have both. The rooms in the new wing are particularly spacious...we had to move around rooms because we booked late, but all rooms were good. If you like hearing the sound of the river, go for the old wing and if you want spacious rooms go for the new wing. They only do Japanese breakfasts, and as far as I can tell, only one person there speaks English. There are very few foreign guests. The lobby is big and spacious and everything is clean and very well presented. The proprietress gives a very regal welcome speech at breakfast each morning (in Japanese and in full kimono) - she is a force to be reckoned with...
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Date of stay: December 2011
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have stayed at the kawaichya ryokan twice now and I enjoy it because it offers traditional tatami mat rooms where the whole family can sleep together in the same room. The dining room has been completely modernised since our first visit and now offers cosier and more private areas in which to eat. The food is traditional Japanese. Charming breakfasts, at first, but without much variation throughout the stay. Our six night stay didn't include evening meals as it did in the past, these now have to be paid for separately (except for one free dinner per person) which at AUS$130 for a family of four, prompted us to seek alternatives in the town. That worked to our advantage....our grown up kids (21 and 19) much preferred going out to eat different kinds of food.......they'd already had a big meal on the ski slopes anyway. Staff at the hostel do not speak much English but they are very eager to please and make your stay enjoyable. The big plus about the ryokan for me is the private onsen baths. I really enjoy a relaxing soak in their hot tub at the end of each day's skiing. There are also free laundry facilities you can use...boring, i know, but useful. A tip about when to go for skiing. Leave it until after the Japanese public holidays..until mid January at the earliest....the slopes were very busy over this new year and there wasnt that much snow on some of the slopes, either.
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's located in the up town, very close to the lift to ski resort. I'd say you better stay in the up town where most of the facilities for vacationers are located. We had breakfast and dinner package, and we love that, because we didn't want to go out to eat after a whole day skiing. We took the recommended taxi from airport and it's very nice, save us troubles for transfer. Kono recommended us two public onsen nearby. We tried both and found one of them is perfect (can't remember the name, anyway not the one called 熊の手). The hostel's private onsen is clean and better maintained but it's treated hot spring. Looks like it's outdoor hot spring is untreated water. However, it's such a pity that the water fill-in was set too small to keep its temperature. I guess it's only about 36-38 centigrade, which does not give you real hot spring feeling. And of cause the best thing is the ski resort. It's my first time. But after a private two hours course, I could ski down the mountain through the Haven rail. Fantastic! We all love it. Will come back again!
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Date of stay: January 2014
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our third trip to ski Japan and our first to Nozawa Onsen, we chose to stay at Kawaichiya for their spa / onsen and traditional style of accommodation (hence ryokan). We timed our trip for the Dosojin Fire Festival on 15th January (recommended) and spent 7 nights at Kawaichiya.
We had a Japanese style room with futons laid on the tatami mat floor and its own bathroom. This was warm, clean and very comfortable.
We found the breakfasts to be a real adventure and very Japanese. Breakfast starts at 7.30 sharp and is a multi-dish affair that was arranged on low set tables in classical tatami mat lined rooms. Dishes comprised various cold & hot dishes including smoked fish, vegetables, tomago, miso soup and provided a wide range of flavours to sample. Each breakfast featured an individual ceramic cooker, which was lit to provide your hot meal complimented by a hot steamed rice - often vegetable based, a couple of days involving the cooking of eggs. We'd not experienced this style of eating before and found it really enjoyable. Indeed, we had the dinner at Kawaichiya one night that proved to be an even more extensive dining experience that we can highly recommend.
Once you've experienced the reviving effects of an onsen after a hard day's skiing you develop a keen appreciation of enjoying an onsen both morning and night. It is worth getting past any precious western misconceptions about communal wash facilities and just enjoying the different cultural experience. In this regard, we found Kawaichiya's onsens to be very good - clean, hot and always a pleasant experience.
Access to the ski field is a reasonable walk up hill to the Yu Road travelator (~300m long), however it is really worthwhile knowing that St.Anton ski hire (at the top, past the ticket office to the left) offers ski & boot storage for both its hire customers and even for those with their own ski gear, for a very affordable Y100 pp/night.
Having skied Hakuba, Furano and Shiga Kogen, we found Nozawa to offer a broad range of challenging, well groomed ski runs and found the abundant fresh snow particularly enjoyable. Midweek is less crowded than the weekend but we never had an instance where we encountered any lengthy queue and often had vast runs to ourselves.
The staff were terrific - enthusiastic, helpful and very welcoming. Trip No. 4 is in the planning and we'll be going back to Kawaichiya.
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Date of stay: January 2010
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a great time staying here. The staff are friendly, even though most of them do not speak English. They tried their best to provide the answers to our questions via simple English and sign language.
The ryokan rooms are modern and the rooms looks new as it was recently renovated. We had a family room and it fits us nicely for a group of 4. We opted for a shared bath type of room as we found that most of the time, we prefer to use the Onsen rather than showering in our room. The room has attached toilet and a wash basin. We stayed in the main building, which has a lift (which is important especially after a tiring day on the ski slopes). Two friends of us decided on a room with private shower instead. The drawback is that it is located in another part of the building which has no lift, hence need to climb the stairs and carrying their suitcases with them as well during checking in and checking out.
We stayed more than 5 nights and it comes with a complementary dinner, which is delicious.
The ryokan is not far from the shuttle stop (i.e the central bus station) but it is still a hike (especially if you are wearing ski boots) as the ryokan is located in the lower part of the village slope. The Yu walkway is about 10minutes walk uphill, not recommended with ski boots. There are quite a few restaurants nearby (nozawa is small village and most of the places are within walking distance). Reservation is recommended.
Overall, this ryokan is highly recommended and will stay here again in future.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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