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Food and Drink · Japan · Updated 2026 · 8 min read
Nozawa Onsen is a small mountain village in Nagano, better known for its snow and hot springs than its coffee. That is changing fast. A wave of Australian and New Zealand skiers has brought a serious cafe culture to the village over the past decade. The best cafes in Nozawa Onsen now pour coffee as good as anything back home, often using beans from Melbourne or Auckland.
The village is tiny and walkable, so you are never far from a good cup. Many spots double as breakfast stops before the lifts and apres hangouts after. A few are tucked up side streets, which is half the fun.
This is a researched, current list, not a copy of old guides. Here is where to find the best coffee in the village.
A note on seasons. Nozawa Onsen is mainly a winter destination, and many cafes open through the ski season, roughly December to March. Hours shift with the snow, and some places close or scale back in the green season. Always check current opening before you visit, especially outside winter. The Nozawa Onsen Tourism site is the best source for the latest.
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The Best Cafes in Nozawa Onsen
The best cafes in Nozawa Onsen cluster around the village centre and the base of the mountain. Most do excellent coffee, and many do a strong breakfast too. Some lean vegan, some lean apres. Here is where to start.
The Craft Room
The Craft Room is the one that started it all. Open since 2011, it was the first place in Nozawa to serve gourmet coffee, and the first to pour Allpress. It sits at the base of the mountain, just below the Nagasaka Gondola.
That makes it the natural first and last stop of a ski day. Come for a coffee and a bagel before the lifts, then return for a beer and chicken wings at apres. The mood is easygoing and distinctly Australian.
Location: base of the Nagasaka Gondola · Best for: pre-ski coffee and apres beers.
Haus St. Anton Jam Factory & Café
A genuine village favourite, Haus St. Anton pairs excellent Allpress coffee with homemade jams, fresh juices and sweet treats. The cinnamon scrolls and cakes are the draw, and there are gluten-free options too. It sits centrally within Hotel Haus St. Anton.
Do not leave without a steamed bun. The pork and the cinnamon apple are both worth the stop. It is a warm, welcoming spot that locals and returning visitors rate highly.
Location: central village · Best for: coffee, homemade jams and steamed buns.
Nappa Café (78 Café)
Up at the top of the village, Nappa, also known as 78 Café, is a cosy, quirky spot full of antique Japanese toys. The cappuccino is very good, and the home-made cakes are a highlight. It also does a mean taco rice for something more filling.
The best touch is outside. A free ashi-yu, or foot bath, sits right by the entrance, so you can soak your feet with a coffee in hand. It is a lovely place to slow down.
Location: top of the village · Best for: cappuccino, cake and a foot bath.
Tanuki Café & Dining
Tanuki is the pick for serious coffee. It roasts its own in-house blend and pours single-origin beans, alongside tea, breakfast and baked goods made with local ingredients. The coffee is as good as the setting.
Even if you are not stopping to eat, the striking artwork on the walls is worth a look. It is cosy and central, in the heart of the village. A favourite among the coffee-focused crowd.
Location: central village · Best for: boutique coffee and wall art.
Coffee Mok
Coffee Mok is the newer name making waves in the village. Part of Winterland, it works as a lodge, taproom and cafe in one, serving seriously good coffee and treats. It sits on the corner at Nozawa’s main traffic-light intersection, opposite the Chuo Bus Terminal.
That location makes it an easy first stop off the bus, or a natural meeting point. The coffee and the food both punch above the room. A strong recent addition to the scene.
Location: opposite the Chuo Bus Terminal · Best for: good coffee and an easy meeting spot.
Pole Pole Coffee
Pole Pole is a small village cafe with a clever second location. The main cafe pours quality coffee and food, and its sister site, Pole Pole Coffee Nagasaka, sits right in the ski locker at the Nagasaka Gondola. Your coffee is ready the moment you step off the snow.
It is a simple idea done well, and a favourite for a fast, good cup between runs. The two share the same beans and standards. Handy and reliable.
Location: village and the Nagasaka Gondola ski locker · Best for: coffee straight after skiing.
Shizen Cafe
For plant-based food and a calmer pace, Shizen is the spot. It serves vegan and vegetarian dishes, good coffee and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It stands apart from the village’s heartier fare.
This is where to go when you want something lighter and fresher. The vibe is unhurried and easy. A good change of pace mid-trip.
Location: central village · Best for: plant-based food and a quiet coffee.
Mt Dock Gondola Cafe
Some locals will tell you Mt Dock pours the best coffee in Nozawa. It is a small, good-vibe cafe with quality coffee, and there is ski gear to browse next door if you are tempted.
It keeps things simple and does them well. Grab a cup and take in the mountain mood. A reliable pick for a strong coffee near the slopes.
Location: near the slopes · Best for: a top coffee and a browse of the gear.
Cafe Melia
Cafe Melia is the local, family-run spot in the village centre. It does bagels, pancakes and even vegan cupcakes, in a friendly, homespun setting.
It is the kind of independent place that gives a village its flavour. Come for a relaxed breakfast and a browse. A genuine local favourite.
Location: village centre · Best for: bagels, pancakes and local character.
Tips for Coffee and Cafes in Nozawa Onsen
Check opening times first. This is a small ski village, so hours are seasonal and can change with the snow and the crowds. A quick look before you head out saves a locked door, especially early or late in the season.
Carry some cash. Card is widely taken, but a few small cafes still prefer cash, as is common across rural Japan. Having yen on hand avoids any awkward moments at the counter.
Time it around the lifts. The cafes are busiest at breakfast and again at apres. For a calm coffee and a table, aim for mid-morning or mid-afternoon instead.
There is more choice than you expect for dietary needs. Shizen, Cafe Melia and Haus St. Anton all offer vegan or gluten-free options. For a small village, the range is genuinely good.
Let yourself wander. The village is compact and walkable, and half the pleasure is stumbling on a spot up a side street. Do not just stop at the first cafe you see.
How to Get to Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen sits in northern Nagano, and it is easier to reach than its remote feel suggests. From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station, a journey of under two hours. From Iiyama, a local bus runs to the village in about 25 minutes.
Once you arrive, you will not need a car. The village is small and walkable, and everything, including the cafes, is within a short stroll. Luggage services can carry bags from the station to your lodging.
Book accommodation early for the winter season, as the village fills fast. You can compare places to stay in Nozawa Onsen here and base yourself near the centre.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best cafes in Nozawa Onsen?
The Craft Room is the long-standing favourite, at the base of the gondola, while Haus St. Anton is loved for its jams and steamed buns. For serious coffee, Tanuki roasts its own beans, and Nappa Café is the cosy pick with a foot bath outside. Coffee Mok is the strong newer name near the bus terminal.
Does Nozawa Onsen have good coffee?
Yes, surprisingly good for a small village. Years of Australian and New Zealand skiers have built a genuine cafe culture, and several spots pour Allpress and other quality beans. You will find flat whites and single-origin brews to match anything in a big city.
Are the cafes in Nozawa Onsen open in summer?
Some are, but many reduce their hours or close outside the winter ski season. Nozawa is primarily a winter destination, so opening times are seasonal. If you visit in the green season, check current hours before you go, as the choice is smaller.
Do cafes in Nozawa Onsen take card or cash?
Most take card, but a few smaller cafes still prefer cash, which is common in rural Japan. It is wise to carry some yen just in case. Convenience-store ATMs in the wider area can top you up if needed.
How do you get to Nozawa Onsen?
From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station, which takes under two hours. From there, a local bus reaches the village in about 25 minutes. No car is needed once you arrive, as the village is compact and walkable.
Final Thoughts
For a village this size, the coffee scene is a genuine surprise. The best cafes in Nozawa Onsen give you a warm, well-made cup between the snow and the hot springs, often with a distinctly Aussie or Kiwi accent. It is one of the quiet pleasures of the place.
Check the hours, carry some cash, and let yourself wander the side streets. The best cup is often the one you were not looking for.
Warm your hands, and take the village slowly.