Nozawa Onsen — Ski Village with 13 Public Bathhouses

**Bathhouse etiquette:** The 13 sotoyu are maintained by village residents; tourists are guests. Rules: shoes off at entrance, wash thoroughly before entering bath, no tattoos (some bathhouses stricter than others), quiet voices. Ogama bathhouse (大湯) is the largest and most tourist-friendly; Shin-yu (新湯) is smaller and locals-only atmosphere. **Onsen Meguri (bathhouse tour):** Collect stamps from all 13 bathhouses for a commemorative towel (available at tourist office, ¥1,500). Completing the tour takes 1–2 days. Each bathhouse has different mineral content and temperature (40–45°C).麻釜 (Asagama) is a natural boiling spring where locals cook onsen tamago (hot spring eggs). **Ski season insider tips:** January–February offers deepest snow and best powder. The Yamabiko slope area (upper mountain) gets less crowded than base runs. Night skiing available weekends (16:00–20:00). English-speaking ski rental shops and instructors increasingly common. **Nozawana pickles:** The village's mustard greens are harvested in late autumn and pickled in salt. Buy from local farms along the main street (¥600–800 for 500g). The fermented version (slightly sour, funky) is more traditional than the fresh-salted type sold to tourists.