The village
Nozawa Onsen
A farming village long before it was a ski resort. Walkable, authentic, and home to 13 free public hot springs still woven into daily life.
Shaper Retreats · Nozawa Onsen
Legendary powder, an authentic mountain village, hot springs, and someone who knows every line. A small-group week, hosted end to end.
Dates & snow
23–29 Jan
Powder & freeride
14–20 Feb
Powder · first steps
1–7 Mar
Progression
The village
A farming village long before it was a ski resort. Walkable, authentic, and home to 13 free public hot springs still woven into daily life.
The mountain
Nozawa is a powder and tree-skiing paradise. I show you the lines, and the powder-day rule of thumb: if it's deep, you won't even stop for lunch.
On the snow
The rules · written & unwritten
Marked terrain and accepted tree zones. Ride freely.
Accepted, but at your own risk. We go only if you want to.
Forbidden zones. Ski here and your pass gets pulled.
Where you stay
Tatami and futon, beautifully remodelled, steps from the gondola and the village centre. Authentic Japanese style: shared bathrooms, the old-school way, part of the charm.
Food
Communal dinners booked across the week at the best local spots, old-school and modern. Lunches on the mountain: ramen, udon, tonkatsu, delicious and absurdly cheap.
Wellness
Optional yoga to open or close the day, and the onsen ritual every evening, the local way to recover and slow down.
Getting there & around
Getting to Nozawa
Fast and scenic: Tokyo → Iiyama (~1h45), then a short transfer to the village.
Direct from the airport (Narita or Haneda) to Nozawa (~5–6h). Simplest, no changes.
Door-to-door comfort, the easiest arrival with luggage.
The Yamato delivery service sends your gear from the airport to the lodge in about 2 days, and stores it up to 10. You travel hands-free and it's waiting in your room.
Pricing
per person · base package
Add-ons
Coaching runs in small, level-matched groups, best value and the most fun. Where the levels in a week don't match, or you'd rather have full focus, we run it private. Take the full 5-session pack, or just a session or two.
5 × 3h sessions, same level group (2–4 pax)
1 × 3h session (2–4 pax)
5 × 3h sessions, just you
1 × 3h session, just you
6 sessions
One session
Wild monkeys in the hot springs
Airport (Narita/Haneda) → Nozawa, return · one way
Your own private room
Build your trip
Pick your group size and add what you want, the total updates live.
Good to know
50% to reserve your spot; the balance is due 70 days before the trip.
The deposit is non-refundable; after that, refunds depend on how far ahead you cancel (full terms in the T&C).
Medical insurance that covers skiing or snowboarding is required for everyone. If your week includes guiding or off-piste, it must also cover search, rescue and evacuation. Trip cancellation cover is a good idea for your own peace of mind, though not something we require.
Next step
Pick your week and send me what you built above. I'll come back with your booking details and the deposit link. A 50% deposit secures your spot, and the balance follows 70 days before the trip.
Japan 2027
Pick a week, choose your extras, and I handle everything from there.