Is Nozawa Onsen a good option for Families with Children?

Having spent three months in Nozawa Onsen with our two-year-old, this is our review of Nozawa Onsen

Advantages of Nozawa Onsen for Families

1. Compact Village Layout
Nozawa Onsen is a small, easily village to Navigate. The heated streets make it easy to walk around without the need for rental car, taxis or buses. You can also use a stroller, however there are times during big snowfalls that even the heated streets cannot keep up with the amount of snow falling. On these occasions, our kids loved being out walking through the snow storm. 

2. Childcare Facilities
The "Yumin Daycare" centre offers a safe environment for children while parents enjoy skiing. Staffed by qualified professionals, the centre also provides exposure to the Japanese language. Parents are required to pick up their children for lunch between 12:00-13:00 as staff take a break during this time. Conveniently located at the Hikage ski center (same area as the ski school). 

3. Variety of Transportation Options
The resort features diverse transportation methods such as gondolas, snowmobiles, and magic carpets (for beginner skiers/boarders), which can be exciting for young visitors.

4. Dining Options
Dining out offers easy options from rice and soba dishes to full western options, while the ski resort area provides a variety of quick lunch options.If your hotel has a shared kitchen, (eg. Nozawa Peaks), it's easy prepare healthy meals as there are supermarkets in the village which have fresh produce. 

5. Making friends
The compact village allows connections with other families. Many visitors stay for extended periods, making it easy to meet other families in similar situations (same class at the ski school, same hotel etc) We found that we met many families on the same schedule as us which made out stay more interesting.

6. English speaking Ski School
Our 4 year old took classes in the Nozawa Onsen ski school and although it is expensive, it was worth every cent. He went from complete beginner skier, to skiing from the top of the mountain to the bottom after 3 group lessons. What is also really nice is if the adults are beginners too, it is fun to learn together as a family. As a full adult I could snowboard but not ski, so I started skiing and took lessons too. Now we are slowly progressing by skiing together.

7. Kids Park
The Kids Park has a bouncy castle, sledding areas, and magic carpets that cater specifically to younger visitors. This area is free to use and provides a safe environment to play.

8. Family-Friendly Onsen
The SPArena onsen offers a shallow kids area & the water is not too hot, making it suitable for families. This facility allows for enjoyable family afternoons in a relaxing setting that also has a restaurant which you do not need to reserve. 

Considerations

1. Safety Hazards
Parents need to be aware of hazards such as unmarked drop-offs and water features near village roads. The narrow streets require careful navigation, especially when cars pass by. 

2. Stroller Accessibility
While heated streets generally remain clear of snow, we recommend leaving the stroller at home during significant weather events.

3. Accommodation location
While everything in the Nozawa Onsen village is close-by, it's worth double checking the location of your accomodation suits the needs of you family. For example, there are accomodation options closer to the ski resort chairlifts, and others which are closer to the village centre where there are more restaurants. We found that in general our kids do not really love walking, however in the snow they were much happier to walk around as it was a stimulation overload. 

In conclusion, Nozawa Onsen is an excellent option for a family ski destination that caters to young children. With its compact layout, childcare facilities, and numerous family-friendly amenities, it is enjoyable experience for both parents and children. We look forward to returning next winter as our son grows older and begins his skiing journey.