A villager washing her vegetables
Source: Sumoyosiya Nozawaonsen
A certified national natural monument, Ogama has 5 hot-water mineral pools with different temperatures for different purposes - boiling vegetables, soaking bamboo strips, sanitising silk-making tools and more.
Kumanotearai no Yu 熊の手洗いの湯 - first onsen in Nozawa Onsen
In this onsen town of all onsen towns, Kawamotoya was famous for having a mixed onsen, where male and female guests would enjoy their naked soak together. Today's Kawamotoya continues this tradition with the two “kashikiri” baths, where you and your family and guests can bathe together in private.
Built by Tamon Kono, whose descendants still live and work in the village, Kawamotoya has welcomed guests for over 100 years as the premier ryokan in Tera-yu, one of the oldest areas of the village.
Skiers of the past walking up to the ski resort. Today, it has been replaced by the Moving Walk Yu-Road, a modern day escalator.
Source: Sumiyosiya Nozawaonsen
Nozawa Onsen is Japan's oldest ski resort and has hosted winter sports since 1918.
Bear pawprint
Legend has it that the first onsen in the village was found by a bear trying to soothe an injured paw, in the ancient Tera-yu district. Nestled immediately beside that historic onsen is Kawamotoya!
