How Do You Stay Safe in Nozawa Onsen in Winter? Snow, Avalanches and Emergency Numbers
This guide is for visitors spending a winter in or around Nozawa Onsen. It covers walking and driving on snow, the ski resort's rules on leaving the marked area, avalanche basics, and who to call if something goes wrong.
We used national pages from the Prime Minister's Office, the Japan Tourism Agency and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Local pages came from Nagano Prefectural Police, the Nagano Prefecture tourism site, Nozawa Onsen Village, the village tourism bureau and the ski resort. All were read on 2026-10-04. In an emergency, follow the instructions of ski patrol, police and local staff first.
How much snow to expect
Nagano Prefectural Police describe the Hakuba and Iiyama area as one of the snowiest places in the world. The Nagano Prefecture tourism site treats Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen as one area, shaped by deep winter snowfall. The police note that close to one metre of snow can fall in a single night.
The sections below follow the official advice on walking, driving and skiing in these conditions.
Walking on snow and ice
The Prime Minister's Office snow safety page says falls on snow and ice are common, and most happen from January to March. It lists places that are often slippery:
- The white lines of pedestrian crossings, which can carry a thin film of ice.
- Pavements where cars go in and out, such as car park entrances.
- Bus and taxi stops, where snow is packed hard.
- Slopes. Going down is more slippery than going up.
Its advice is to take small steps and keep the whole sole of your shoe on the ground. Wear shoes with grippy soles. Do not walk with both hands in your pockets, and take extra care after drinking.
The same page warns that snow and ice can fall from roofs. Keep an eye on the roofs as you walk, especially on warm days.
Driving in winter
The village tourism bureau asks drivers to fit studless winter tyres or carry chains from November to April. It also suggests checking road conditions, weather forecasts and expressway restrictions before you travel.
The Prime Minister's Office lists times and places where roads ice over. These include the first day or so after snow, cold nights and mornings, bridges, and the mouths of tunnels.
Its driving advice is to brake early and gently, slow down well before bends, and avoid sudden braking. In a snowstorm, turn on your lights, slow down and leave a long gap. It also suggests carrying chains, a shovel, warm clothes, water, food and a torch.
On the slopes: stay inside the resort's marked area
The Nagano Prefecture tourism site explains the basic rules for any ski resort in the prefecture. Do not enter closed runs or duck under ropes. Control your speed and keep a safe distance. Follow ski patrol and posted signs.
It also says that buying a lift ticket is a contract with the resort. When you ski there, you agree to follow its rules.
For riders who are not experienced with backcountry risks, the prefecture's advice is simple. Enjoy powder inside the resort. It notes that many of Nagano's ski resorts have ungroomed powder areas.
Leaving the resort: Nozawa Onsen's backcountry gates
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort says that, in 2023, many accidents and avalanches happened because backcountry users were not prepared. It says three people died that season.
The resort's rules for leaving its managed area are:
- Use only the access gates at the top of the Yamabiko area. There are two, near the Yamabiko 4 lift summit station.
- Close the gate behind you.
- Ducking under ropes is strictly prohibited.
- Beyond the gates there is no patrol and no safety control. The resort says its patrol cannot carry out rescues there, including after avalanches.
- You may not come back into the managed area after operating hours.
The resort strongly recommends filling in a mountain entry report and handing it in at the Nagasaka Information Center or a patrol station. It is not required. It is also not a permit, but it helps searchers start quickly in an emergency.
The resort warns that rescue may cost a lot, and may not be possible at all in some conditions. The Nagano tourism site adds that when private rescue teams are sent out, the rescued party is billed for the search.
Avalanche basics if you do go out
Both the resort and the prefecture say that if you lack the skills or local knowledge, you should hire a professional guide. Nagano Prefectural Police say the same for people with little experience.
The gear the resort and the prefecture list includes an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel. They also list warm spare clothes, a fully charged phone with a spare battery, food, a first aid kit and a headlamp.
The prefecture says the beacon, probe and shovel should be carried by every member of the group. Practise using them.
The Nagano tourism site lists warning signs of unstable snow:
- Avalanches in the past two days, or cracks shooting across the snow.
- A "whumpf" sound as you cross the snow.
- More than 30 cm of new snow overnight.
- Strong overnight wind that moves the snow.
- A sudden rise in temperature.
The police ask riders to check the resort's avalanche information or the snow layers before skiing. They also ask you to submit a plan, or tell your accommodation or friends where you are going.
Phones, numbers and getting help
- 110: police. The Nagano tourism site says you can call 110 in an emergency, and that English is okay.
- 119: fire and ambulance. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says to call 119 for an ambulance. Anyone in Japan can use the service.
- Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787. The Japan Tourism Agency lists this 24-hour line in English, Chinese and Korean. It covers emergencies such as illness and disasters.
The prefecture warns that a data-only plan cannot call the police. Carry a phone with a Japanese mobile SIM card on a plan that includes calls. The Prime Minister's Office adds that calls may not get through in the mountains.
If you are lost in poor visibility, the same page says to stay where you are and wait for the weather to improve. Call 110 or 119 and describe where you are. Switch your phone off between calls and keep it warm to save the battery.
The village tourism bureau lists AEDs at the Nakao information centre, the village office community hall and the ski resort. For emergencies, it points to Iiyama Red Cross Hospital and Hokushin General Hospital. The local police station is Iiyama Police Station.
The Japan Tourism Agency also reminds visitors to buy travel insurance. Without it, you may be charged the full cost of treatment.
For other hazards, Nozawa Onsen Village publishes a hazard map for floods and landslides. An English web version is on the village website.
What we could not verify, and therefore left out
- Whether Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort publishes its own daily avalanche report, and where. We found no official page on this.
- Typical rescue costs. The official pages say fees are charged, but give no amounts.
- Whether 119 calls are answered in English. The pages we read did not say.
- Village rules on clearing snow from roofs, and where snow tends to fall onto paths in the village.
- Snow depth and season dates for 2026 to 2027. These depend on the weather.
Related guides
- How do you get to Nozawa Onsen from Tokyo? The Shinkansen to Iiyama, then the bus
- What are Nozawa Onsen's soto-yu? The 13 free public baths and how to use them respectfully
Sources
All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.
- バックカントリーで遭難しないために (Nagano Prefectural Police, Mountain Safety Division) — (heavy snow in the Hakuba and Iiyama area; up to about 1 m overnight; guides; plans; avalanche checks)
- 雪害では、どのような災害が起こるのか (Prime Minister's Office of Japan) — (walking on snow; falling roof snow; icy roads; winter driving; phones in the mountains; what to do if lost)
- 野沢温泉のよくある質問 (Nozawaonsen Mountain Resort Tourism Bureau) — (winter tyres November to April; AED locations; hospitals; police station)
- Staying Safe in the Backcountry (Nagano Prefecture and Nagano Tourism Organization, Go! Nagano) — (resort rules; lift ticket as contract; gear; warning signs; 110 in English; voice SIM; rescue fees)
- To all Back-Country Lovers (Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, English portal) — (2023 accidents; access gates; no rescue beyond the boundary; entry report; costs)
- Nozawa Onsen Backcountry Users Guide (Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort, English portal) — (hire a guide; gear list; plan report is not a permit)
- Guide for Ambulance Services (Fire and Disaster Management Agency) — (call 119 for an ambulance; anyone in Japan can use it)
- Guide for when you are feeling ill (Japan Tourism Agency) — (110 and 119; Japan Visitor Hotline; travel insurance)
- 野沢温泉村ハザードマップ (Nozawa Onsen Village) — (flood and landslide hazard map; English web version)
- Iiyama City and Nozawa Onsen Village (Nagano Prefecture and Nagano Tourism Organization, Go! Nagano) — (Iiyama and Nozawa Onsen as one area with deep winter snowfall)