Nozawa Onsen Village is situated in northern Nagano Prefecture, bordering Kijimadaira Village on the ridge of Mt. Kenashi to the south, and Iiyama City across the Chikuma River to the west. Sakae Village borders the north and east sides from the Mt. Takakura ridge boundary to the eastern slope of Mt. Kenashi.
The altitude ranges from 300m above sea level at Akashi in the northern part of the village to 1,650m at the summit of Mt. Kenashi. The terrain is predominantly rugged and mountainous.
The village spans 57.95km², with dimensions of approximately 9.1km east-west, 11.5km north-south, and a circumference of 38.2km. Forests cover 50.7% of the village area, based on 1996 prefectural statistics.
297 hectares of the village are part of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, recognised for its scenic beauty and surrounded by natural forests, including parts of the local ski resort.
The highest peak, Mt. Kenashi (1,650m), rises from the east side of the Mikuni Mountain range, sloping towards the Chikuma River, Japan's longest river, which flows from the Japanese Alps to the western coast and into the Sea of Japan.
Nozawa Onsen Village was historically known as "Yuyama Village" since 1272 during the Kamakura period. By the early Edo period, 24 inns were already established. In the Meiji era (1870), it hosted 24,863 hot spring guests over five years, highlighting its long history as a hot spring resort.
Skiing in Nozawa started in 1897 when a villager from Iiyama Junior High School ventured onto its slopes. The Nozawa Onsen Ski Club formed in 1918, marking efforts to combine hot springs with skiing and develop the ski resort further.
Improved access via the Iiyama Railway to Kuwanagawa (1918) and Nagano Electric Railway between Yashiro and Kijima (1914) facilitated growth.
The village was renamed from Toyosato Village to Nozawa Onsen Village in 1953 and merged with Ichikawa Village in 1956.
During the Showa era (1930s), infrastructure like public sewers and roads were developed. In 1963, the village took over the ski resort's management, promoting tourism in collaboration with locals and the government.
Since the Heisei era (1989), Nozawa Onsen has focused on enhancing its living environment, infrastructure, cultural education, and welfare facilities. It hosted events like the Nagano Olympics in 1998, boosting its global recognition.
The Joshinetsu Expressway (opened 1997), Hokuriku Shinkansen Iiyama station (opened 2015), and improved local access have transformed connectivity and living conditions for residents and businesses alike.
