---
title: The village with onsen in its name
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/village-with-onsen-in-its-name/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/nozawa/
---

# The village with onsen in its name

A little of each town’s story　/　Nozawaonsen, Nagano

Nozawaonsen, in Shimotakai District, Nagano, is the only village in Japan with onsen in its name. Its springs are managed by the Nozawa-gumi, a self-governing body that dates back to the Edo period. The village flower is the nozawana blossom.

## This moment in the journey: A village named for its hot springs

A valley of fields in the hills of northern Shinshu. Autumn leaves framed the torii of a shrine, and beyond it, white steam was already rising over the hot-spring town. This is Nozawa Onsen in Nagano, the only village in Japan with onsen in its name.

I set a bamboo basket on the wooden lids that cover the steaming source, with an ear of corn inside. Here, you can cook food in the hot spring itself. I lowered the basket into the water, and breakfast was under way.

![Steam rising from a corner of the hot-spring town](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/nozawa/s15-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://nozawakanko.jp/hotspring/
- Sources: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/野沢温泉村

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/nozawa/