We really enjoyed our stay at the new Nozawa Central lodge. It made our holiday to Nozawa Onsen really easy.

One of the main things that made it stand out from other places we’ve stayed in Japan, was the assistance from the hosts. We didn’t feel nervous because we couldn’t speak Japanese. The staff provided incredible support regarding arrival plans, an orientation to the town and ski resort, and lots of advice regarding the onsens, and what to do and where to go. Their support was invaluable.

Having the ski hire on-site was also a huge plus, not having the chore of heading out to a shop and lugging equipment home. We needed to swap equipment a couple of times, so this made the location convenience even more apparent. The quality of the equipment looked good – much better than a couple of hire shops we saw in town. We also loved that we could use the ski locker with drying room up at the gondola. Whilst the walk between the lodge and gondola wasn’t far, it was much easier not having to carry our gear each day.

Our rooms in the lodge were very clean and bright, and it was great that the kids had their own room rather than being lumped in with us. We didn’t have an ensuite but this didn’t matter as it encouraged us to go out and try different onsens. Having the common areas was great to spread out, and we enjoyed mingling with other families – it was very sociable at times.

Other things we liked about the lodge were the breakfasts, the great coffee (a rare find in Nozawa!), and the reliable internet coverage.
See our video here