Nakajimaya Ryokan is a 14-room inn in the center of Nozawa Onsen, Nagano, that calls itself an inn of free-flowing hot spring water: the spring is poured into the tubs without being diluted. Its specialty is a set of three bear-meat dishes, served on request. Before you book, three things matter: the last check-in is 18:00; the inn’s own baths are open all night, from 14:30 to 10:00; and the current booking system is on the Japanese site.
Nakajimaya Ryokan at a glance
| Question | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | 8965 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano |
| How big? | 14 rooms, three floors, with an elevator |
| Check-in / out? | From 13:00, last check-in 18:00 / 10:00 |
| Inn baths? | Indoor bath for men and for women, 14:30–10:00 |
| Public bath outside? | Kuma-no-tearai-yu, 0 minutes on foot |
| Smoking? | Non-smoking inside since June 2019; outdoor spot by the entrance |
| Wi-Fi? | Yes, including the rooms |
| Parking? | Free, a short way from the inn; tell the inn in advance |
| Phone? | +81-269-85-2058 (8:00–20:00) |
From the official site, FAQ and staff blog, read October 12, 2026.
Where is Nakajimaya Ryokan in Nozawa Onsen, and how do you get there?
The English page puts the inn in the center of Nozawa Onsen, handy for walking the streets and visiting the village’s 13 free public baths, called soto-yu. The Nozawa Onsen ski area runs from December to Golden Week in early May; our guide to skiing in Japan covers the wider picture.
How long is the trip by train?
The access page lists the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama, then a bus to Nozawa Onsen: about 2 hours 25 minutes from Tokyo and about 1 hour 40 minutes from Kanazawa. From Nagoya, via the Chuo Line limited express to Nagano and the Iiyama Line, it is about 4 hours. The official pages do not mention a shuttle from Iiyama.
What if I drive?
From Tokyo it is about 3 hours 10 minutes and 230 km via the Kan-Etsu and Joshin-Etsu expressways to Toyota-Iiyama IC. Parking is free but not beside the inn: unload at the entrance and staff will take you to the lot. Tell the inn in advance, or write it in the message box when you book. The lot is available from 13:00.
The baths at Nakajimaya Ryokan
What is the hot spring like?
The inn describes its system as fully free-flowing: spring water poured in without dilution. The spa page lists a simple sulfur spring at 81.6°C and pH 8.84, flowing at 180 liters a minute, and calls it a skin-smoothing water. There is one indoor bath for men and one for women.
When can I bathe?
The FAQ says you can bathe all night, from 14:30 until 10:00 the next morning. Shampoo, conditioner and body soap are provided, with extra items such as cleansing oil in the women’s bath. The official pages do not mention an open-air bath or a private bath.
What are the public baths outside?
Soto-yu are free public baths dotted around the village, open from about 6:00 to about 23:00. None has showers, shampoo, soap or towels, so bring your own towel. Kuma-no-tearai-yu, in front of the inn, is an old bath where, the story goes, an injured bear healed its wounds; it was renewed in August 2015, and the inn calls it the only truly lukewarm soto-yu in Nozawa. By the entrance there is also a spot for boiling eggs in the spring.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos, so ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Rooms at Nakajimaya Ryokan
The room page lists 14 rooms and shows Japanese rooms from 8 to 12.5 tatami mats, plus rooms described with beds. The Japanese and English pages describe the room types differently, so confirm the room type with the inn when you book. Sizes per room and whether rooms have their own toilet and bath are not stated.
Each room has a samue (cotton loungewear), bath and face towels, a toothbrush set, air conditioning, TV, hair dryer, phone, safe, electric kettle and an empty fridge for your own drinks. You may walk the streets in the samue. There is an elevator, but about six steps lead from the entrance to it.
Meals at Nakajimaya Ryokan
What is served for dinner?
The cuisine page promises seasonal local ingredients and regional cooking: a basket of three dishes eaten at Nozawa celebrations, Shinshu salmon, Shinshu premium beef, apple-fed Shinshu beef and North Shinshu sake. On request, you can try the house specialty of three bear-meat dishes; the price is not stated.
Can I order extra dishes?
Yes, in advance: horse sashimi for 1,600 yen and iwana char bone sake (2 go) for 1,800 yen, both including consumption tax.
What about breakfast and allergies?
The official pages do not describe the breakfast style or say whether allergies, vegetarian or halal meals can be handled. Ask the inn before you book.
Prices, children and cancellation at Nakajimaya Ryokan
How much does a stay cost?
Prices sit in the booking system, which we could not read, so we do not quote them. The top page shows dinner plans built around 9 or 11 dishes with Shinshu beef, and one plan limited to three rooms a day and cash payment only. The inn guarantees that its official site has the lowest rate.
Are there extra taxes?
Nozawa Onsen village charges a bathing tax of 150 yen per person per night, with under-12s exempt. Since June 1, 2026, a lodging tax of 3.5 percent of the room-only rate applies (it includes the Nagano prefecture tax), with no tax below 6,000 yen per person per night. How the inn shows these on your bill is not stated. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
What do children cost, and how do I cancel or pay?
Child rates, the cancellation policy and payment methods are not on the inn’s static pages. Check them on your plan in the booking system, or ask the inn. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how Japanese policies tend to be written.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Nakajimaya Ryokan
- The English website is a single page. Book from the Japanese site, which runs the current booking system.
- The inn changed its booking system; stays booked before August 1 are checked or changed through a separate link on the Japanese top page.
- Arrive between 13:00 and 18:00.
- Pack a towel for the soto-yu; they have no soap or towels.
- Questions can go through the contact form on the English page, or by phone from 8:00 to 20:00.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Nakajimaya Ryokan?
Can I bathe at Nakajimaya Ryokan all night?
Can I use the bath at Nakajimaya Ryokan with a tattoo?
What is the cancellation policy at Nakajimaya Ryokan?
Is there parking at Nakajimaya Ryokan?
Bottom line (2026): Nakajimaya Ryokan is a 14-room inn in central Nozawa Onsen with undiluted spring water, baths open all night and a free public bath at the door. Arrive by 18:00, ask about tattoos, rooms and diet in advance, and book on the Japanese official site.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Nakajimaya Ryokan’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, hot spring, cuisine, FAQ, access, sightseeing, the English page and the staff blog; and the Nozawa Onsen village office pages on the bathing tax and lodging tax. All were read on October 12, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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