In the past few years, Nozawaonsen, a village in Nagano prefecture, has become known for skiing in winter. Although I love to ski, I had a chance to visit Nozawaonsen in summer. It was my first time staying there during summer, but it was great because I could indulge in the onsen experience.
There are 13 communal bath houses in the center of the village, and visiting each one is called "Sotoyu-Meguri." It's interesting that the bathhouses have been run and maintained by local families since the Edo Period.
The bath was so hot that some of it was very difficult to soak in the whole body. I went there on the hottest time of the year but felt somewhat well after getting out of the bath. I visited 5-6 bath houses. It was interesting to see the differences; some of them had extremely hot water, while others did not.
When visiting a bathhouse, remember to bring your own soap and towel. Unlike the usual onsen or sento, they offer nothing, even no shower. Also, although it is supposed to be free, each bathhouse has a donation box. I think it is appropriate to donate as the onsen is maintained by a local community alone.
Another interesting attraction of Nozawaonsen is its "Onsen Eggs." Several places offer boxes with onsen water in them. People bring eggs to the box, soak them for a while, and cook the boiled eggs with the onsen water.
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| Do-It-Yourself onsen boiled eggs! |
The neighborhood preserves the traditional agricultural suburb scenery very well. The main street included several souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars.
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| Nozawaonsen main street |
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| "湯(Yu)" sign designed by Taro Okamoto |
Lastly, because I visited Nozawaonsen during the Obon holidays, a local shrine was holding a Bon-dance festival. Anyone could stop by, mingle with locals, and participate in the dancing. It was a fun experience.
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| Bon-dance festival, people do Bon dance, circling around the stage. |
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