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In the midst of steam from the hot springs, Nozawa Onsen is a district that has one of the prefectures' heaviest snowfall. Mt. Kenashi at 1,650 meters high has a total of 11 ski slopes draping down from the mountaintop. The very fine powder snow is perfect for the slopes, but the hot springs that are waiting after a good day of skiing is especially appealing. A total of 13 public bath houses in the onsen town and rows of Japanese-style hotels and inns help soothe the skiers from the freezing temperature. The town is built on hills with maze-like narrow streets running into each other. Throughout this town, there are about 30 different hot springs, some of them as hot as 70 to 90 degrees Celsius. Ogama, a boiling hot spring at about 100 degrees Celsius, is used as the town's public kitchen. Residents come and go carrying a basket of greens, corn, eggs, or anything else to be boiled at this common pot joint.
Photographs provided by: Nozawa Onsen Tourist Section/0269-85-3111
