Nozawa Onsen is a quaint mountain village north of Nagano City with an onsen (hot springs) that, according to legend, dates back to the 8th Century. This is truly the centre of onsen culture, with much of the local culture and traditions centering on the ancient activity.

Located in the northern part of the Nagano Prefecture, Nozawa Onsen village's landscape is characterized by its broad range of altitudes, from 300 meters above sea level at Akashi, in the northern part of the village, to 1,650 meters above sea level at Mt. Kenashiyama. On top of this, more than 50 percent of the village area is covered by forests and the area is part of the larger Kogen National Park.

Nozawa Onsen is also the host of the Dosijin Fire Festival which is held every year on January 15th. The festival revolves around a large wooden shrine with 42 year olds sitting on the top while the 25 year olds (both considered unlucky ages in Japan) below attempt to engage in "battle" and light the shrine on fire. Fireworks, sake, and of course lots of fire also feature heavily. It can't be missed if you're in the area at the time.

Visit the Nozawa Onsen Village page for more information on the atmosphere and offerings of the resort's village.