Ski & snowboard hire.
Rentals · Checked for 2026–27, 27 Sep 2026
Nozawa Onsen is one village and one mountain — hire clusters at Nagasaka gondola, Hikage kids park, and the village centre near the free shuttle. Book ahead for peak weeks; slope storage beats hauling boots through icy lanes every evening.
Prices and swap rules differ more than the headline day rate. Confirm hours and stock on each shop's site before you rely on a walk-in.
Best when
- • You want kids sizes near Hikage ski school
- • You need English pages or lodging delivery into the village
- • You want demo / powder sticks at Nagasaka or Hikage
- • You left hardgoods at home and need boots that actually fit
Skip when
- • You already fly with boots and a board you trust
- • You only have one evening and no time to fit before dinner
- • You expect every shop to rent goggles and gloves (many won't)
- • You pick on price alone without checking storage and delivery
Before you book
- • Pre-book for late December through February — walk-in stock thins out
- • Large boots (29cm+) and kids sizes go first — reserve those
- • Helmets and outerwear are usually add-ons, not in the base package
- • Ask about overnight slope storage so you walk home empty-handed
7 shops. Hours are a guide — confirm on the shop site before you go.
- Salomon Station サロモンステーションKamicho 上町
Official resort counter on Nagasaka Center House 3F since 2021 — Salomon/Atomic demo and powder kit, kids sets, snowshoes. Best when you want the mountain’s branded hire next to the gondola. Skip when you sleep deep in the village and prefer lodging delivery before the first shuttle.
Demo / high-perfKidsEnglish
Nagasaka Center House 3F (west)
- NOZAWA Sports Thanx スポーツサンクスKamicho 上町
Two slope-foot shops with English site, unlimited free swaps, and overnight storage at Nagasaka. Best when you ride Nagasaka or Karasawa and want to try different sticks mid-week. Skip when you need lodging delivery into the village lanes.
Demo / high-perfKidsEnglish
Sports Thanx Nagasaka (in front of Nagasaka Gondola) · Sports Thanx Karasawa (Karasawa No. 2 parking / Nakao access)
- Olive Rental オリーブレンタルHikage 日影
English-friendly Salomon/Atomic hire at Hikage kids-park and Nakao. Best when you ski Hikage or sleep Nakao and want clear kids pricing. Skip when you only need the cheapest village day set near Chuo terminal.
Demo / high-perfKidsEnglish
Olive Rental Hikage (Olive Cafe 2F, top of Yu Road) · Olive Rental Nakao (below Lotus Root pub, near Karasawa)
- Shirakaba Rental 白樺レンタルHikage 日影
Premium Hikage counter opposite the kids park — Fischer focus, kids sizes from age three, overnight wax storage. Best for families in early ski school. Skip when you want lodging delivery or a Nagasaka gondola counter.
Demo / high-perfKidsEnglish
Hikage slope — Shirakaba (opp. kids park / ski school meet)
- St.Anton Rental レンタルハウス サンアントンHikage 日影
Hikage premium hire with a morning espresso counter beside the kids park. Best when you want better sticks without walking to Nagasaka. Skip when you need a confirmed English booking flow or lodging delivery.
Demo / high-perfKids
Hikage ski centre · next to kids park
Hours not fully confirmed for this season — check their site
- Kawatatsu Rental 河達レンタルVillage 村
Village-centre hire with free lodging delivery and a 07:00 open — half a century in Nozawa. Best when you sleep in the lanes and want gear at the ryokan before the first bus. Skip when you need a big English demo wall at Hikage.
KidsPickup / delivery
Village centre near Chuo / free shuttle stop
- SRS Nozawa Kawahiro SRS野沢カワヒロ長坂店Kamicho 上町
One-minute walk from Nagasaka Gondola with kids sizes and online booking. Best for a simple gondola-side day set. Skip when you want confirmed English staff or unlimited mid-week swaps.
Kids
Nagasaka Gondola front · Kawahiro
Hours not fully confirmed for this season — check their site
Questions people actually ask
- Do I need to book Nozawa ski hire in advance?
- Yes for Christmas–New Year, Chinese New Year, and most of January–February — especially demo, powder boards, large boots (29cm+), and kids sizes. Quieter weeks can walk in at many Hikage and Nagasaka counters. Online booking still locks sizes.
- Should I rent in the village or on the mountain?
- Village shops (Kawatatsu) suit lodging delivery and the free shuttle to Nagasaka. Hikage counters (Olive, Shirakaba, St.Anton) suit kids park and ski school mornings. Nagasaka gondola shops (Salomon Station, Sports Thanx, SRS) suit day one on the main gondola.
- Can I leave gear overnight so I am not carrying it through the village?
- Most slope shops publish overnight storage for rental clients — Sports Thanx Nagasaka, Olive, Shirakaba, and SRS Kawahiro among them. Confirm when you fit. Village delivery shops may collect from your lodging instead.
- What should I bring vs rent?
- Bring goggles, gloves, base layers, and ski socks — many shops will not rent the first two for hygiene. Rent board or skis, boots, bindings, and outerwear if you are not flying with hardgoods.
Keep planning