Every spring, Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort hosts the Hato Car Cup, a racing event where the visitors are the stars. Why has this event continued for so long? What is the soul and spirit of Nozawa Onsen that resides in it? There is even more charm to Nozawa Onsen that lies beyond the starting line
Speaking of Nozawa in spring, this is it
At Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort in mid-March, the end of the harsh winter and the beginning of spring blend together. When you get off the Nagasaka Gondola, the air is still cold and the summit area can be covered in fresh snow. On the other hand, the snow melts little by little, revealing the natural terrain and making it fun to play on the terrain. This is the time when Nozawa Onsen's signature spring event, the "Hatoguruma Cup," is held
The Hato Car Cup is a historic event, and can be considered a festival event that involves the whole village. So what exactly is it?
What is the Hatocar Cup?
The Hato Car Cup is a casual racing event "for the guests of Nozawa Onsen." The event is made up of two main components. One is the Giant Slalom, where participants compete for the fastest time on a pole course. The other is "Der Weisse Rausch," a unique race often referred to as "Chinese Downhill," where participants compete for the fastest time by sliding down from the top of a gondola to the base of the mountain
According to past records, the Giant Slalom competition has already been held 38 times, and the Dier Weisse Rausch has been held 18 times
The eligibility requirements for the Hatoguruma Cup are simple: anyone who wants to stay in Nozawa Onsen and enjoy the snow. That's it. In other words, anyone can participate. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome. Everyone from elementary school age and above to adults, guests from overseas, people who have never been on the pole of a giant slalom or downhill skiing are welcome
By the way, the date for this season's event has been set for Friday, March 20th (national holiday), and the official website has announced it as follows:
A competition for skiers and snowboarders who love Nozawa Onsen and stay at Nozawa Onsen
Hatosha Cup Ski and Snowboard Tournament
March 20, 2026 (Friday/Holiday)
You can have fun competing or compete seriously!
Anyone staying at a Nozawa Onsen inn can participate
There will also be a raffle with great prizes!
Hatocar Cup Der Weisse RauschTournament
Follow the designated route to reach the goal at the foot of the mountain!
The exhilarating feeling of sliding down from the summit in one go is what's appealing!
Hatosha Cup Giant Slalom Tournament
Racing, where participants slide down poles to compete for the fastest speed, is a sport that everyone aspires to
This customer ski tournament allows anyone to easily experience competitive skiing and participate
◆Entry acceptance: Scheduled to begin at 12:00 on Monday, February 2nd
The Roots of the Hatocar Cup
Nozawa Onsen is one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan. Various events are held there during the season, but the fact that the Hatoguruma Cup has continued to this day suggests that there must be something very important about Nozawa Onsen
Wanting to know what that was, I spoke to Mori Akira of the Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association
"I served as the chairman of the ski club for 10 years, so I started to get involved in the Hatoguruma Cup from the planning stage of the competition. Nozawa Onsen Village is a sister city of the St. Anton resort in Austria, so I often made visits to St. Anton
St. Anton has long been the host of the traditional Chinese downhill race "Dear Weisse Rausch," which anyone can participate in. It's been over 10 years now, but I participated in it three years in a row. It seemed like a lot of fun, and I'll never forget the first year I participated
We started in groups of 150 people, and I was in the third group. The first and second groups had some trouble, and suddenly two helicopters flew over. I was really scared (laughs). It was wild, and I could smell something dangerous (laughs)
We got the idea from this race and decided to hold a similar downhill race in Nozawa Onsen, and that's how the Hato Car Cup began."
Indeed, its roots lie in the Chinese downhill race Die Weisse Rausch, held in St. Anton, the sister city of Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
The answer to why it was named "Hatoguruma" is simple. Hatoguruma is an akebia craft that has been associated with Nozawa Onsen since ancient times, and is a craft that can be said to be the symbol of Nozawa Onsen. In other words, the name also expresses the meaning of "a tournament that symbolizes Nozawa Onsen."
Right in the middle between competition and play
To get a real understanding of the Hato Car Cup, check out this video
We asked Mori about the two events in the Hatoguruma Cup in detail
"The two races will be held on the same day. The giant slalom competition will be held at the Hikage slopes from 10am. The race is scheduled to start at noon. The slopes on the Hikage slopes are not too steep, so anyone can ski among the poles. Of course, even if it's your first time with poles you can participate. Many people who love skiing dream of alpine racing, so we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to easily give it a try
The stage for Dia Weisse Rausch is the upper slope. Everyone starts at the same time, covering the 8km from Nagasaka Gondola Summit Station through a forest course to the base station, to determine the fastest runner. With hundreds of participants, even if it's a "mass start," isn't it unfair in terms of time between those who start at the front and those who end up lining up at the back? People often ask, but there's no need to worry. In fact, everyone first has to climb all the way up to the starting line, about 100 meters above, carrying their gear (laughs). At this point, differences in physical ability become apparent, but in the sense of determining the fastest and strongest racer, physical strength is "included."
The awards ceremony will then be held at 8pm in the hot spring town of the village. There will also be a fun raffle and a parade showcasing the historic ski wear on display at the Ski Museum in Nozawa Onsen. By holding the event in the hot spring town, visitors who are not tournament participants can easily join in, which really gets the event going
The reason we're cramming everything into one day is because if it took two days, it would be more difficult to participate. One day makes it easier to participate, and we want as many people as possible to participate. You can participate in two events, or just one. It's a very fun, packed day."
There are serious racers competing for the fastest speed, parents and children skating to make family memories, festival-goers, and people hoping to win a prize draw - everyone is mixed together. Though it's a race, speed isn't the only thing that counts here. It's somewhere between competition and fun. That's the perfect positioning for it
Residing Feelings
"I want as many people as possible to experience the appeal of speed and competition. I want people to experience the appeal of speed and competition through the challenge of running down the mountain at their fastest speed and through the experience of sliding down the poles, and I hope that they will become interested."
", said Mr. Mori
"Nozawa Onsen is the hub of Japan's alpine skiing culture, and a genuine mountain where you can pursue skiing. I want more people to come to Nozawa, enjoy the different charms of skiing, and support the ski athletes from Nozawa. That's what I'm doing
To put it a little more dramatically, I hope that initiatives like the Hatoguruma Cup will help expand the number of people who enjoy skiing and increase the popularity of skiing."
Is that why it has lasted this long?
"One reason is the physical aspect: it's relatively easy to organize an event, and it's small enough that it can be prepared in one or two days. Also, racing is a specialty of Nozawa Onsen, which has a long tradition and proven track record in alpine skiing. It's something we're good at. We are particular about safety, and for giant slalom we thoroughly ensure safety based on the official competition rules. As there are no official competition rules for Dier Weisse Rausch, we learn from past mistakes and strengthen our safety measures every year. In fact, there was an incident in the past where a small child got lost in the mountains. Since then, we have made it a requirement that participants be elementary school age or older..
But more than anything, I think the reason it has continued for so long is the power of Nozawa Onsen's culture. Here, the mountains and the village are close, there are many outdoor baths, and the entire village is connected to the ski resort. Here, visitors are "customers," but at the same time, you could say they are like friends who enjoy the snow together. That's why a major purpose of the Hato Guruma Cup is to have fun and interact with the villagers along with the visitors
In fact, part-time workers from the village's inns and shops, as well as local villagers, have participated. There have been years when top athletes from Nozawa have actually participated! (laughs) They help out by running in the warm-up for the race. Recently, Seigo (Kato), who is currently active in the World Cup, ran in the warm-up for the race."
In Nozawa Onsen, visitors are like acquaintances to the villagers, and this can be felt when you visit the outdoor baths. When first-time visitors to Nozawa Onsen are confused by the extreme heat of the water, villagers will come and say things like, "You can fill it up with water a little," "Just soak a little at a time," "It's warmer over here," and so on. They look after the visitors with kindness, like fellow bathers. This is a culture that is very typical of Nozawa Onsen, and something that can also be found in snowy mountains
In other words, the Hatoguruma Cup is not an event created solely to attract visitors, but a place where villagers and visitors can interact, born naturally from the culture of Nozawa Onsen
"After the Hatoguruma Cup, you can take a tour of the outdoor baths, and the hot spring town has a lot of charm, right? I don't think there are many places where skiing and hot springs are so well combined."
Mori's words were filled with the pride of Nozawa Onsen and the warmth of the villagers
Nozawa looks different when he's racing
The start of Dia Weisse Rausch is from the top of Nagasaka Gondola. It's a long run of 8km that goes through the forest course and heads towards the base of the mountain. The course that you normally ski casually on takes on a whole new look when it becomes a race. The speed, the wind you feel, the forest terrain, the quality of the snow, your knees hurting, your thighs getting sore... The time you spend experiencing Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort with your body while challenging your limits is sure to stay with you forever
We asked customers who actually participated
Nozawa Onsen has been a place I've had connections with since my days as an alpine skier. I've known about the Hatoguruma Cup for a long time, and I'd always wanted to participate after I retired. When I got the chance to participate in 2023, I couldn't help but feel excited about taking on this historic race. From the start signal, I raced for the lead, and the luxurious feeling of racing through an empty ski resort course, along with the exhilaration of overtaking those ahead of me, ignited my athletic spirit.
The impressive course length left my legs exhausted, and it was also a battle with myself, pushing my physical limits. Even though I was exhausted by the finish line, I naturally found myself smiling, experiencing a sense of accomplishment I'd never experienced before. The mutual congratulations between finishers is perhaps unique to this race. I hope this traditional race continues, and I hope to take on the challenge again someday.
- Mizue Hoshi (40, Niigata Prefecture),
Japan's alpine ski racer at the 2006 Turin Olympics
I have many friends in Nozawa Onsen, which is why I decided to enter. The Hato Car Cup is not only open to the general public, but also to many local Nozawa Onsen residents, making it a wonderful, homey competition.
And above all, the Dire Weisse Rausch seems to be particularly popular in Europe, but in Japan I think it is probably the one and only competition in Nozawa Onsen. And it's also the longest distance in Japan! I think this race offers not only the skills and time, but also the wonderful experiences that can be gained by participating for many years.
- Yamagami Takahiro (64, Osaka Prefecture)
Participating in three consecutive competitions from 2023 | Winner of the 60s division of the 2025 Dire Weisse Rausch
At the end
The Hatoguruma Cup is a special skiing experience that condenses the charm of Nozawa Onsen. The scale of the mountains, the hot spring culture, and the warmth of the people... Why not become the "main character" in Nozawa Onsen this spring and experience this skiing experience? We encourage you to stand at the starting line. The Nozawa Onsen you see from there will surely be different from anything you've seen before..
◆Entry acceptance: Scheduled to begin at 12:00 on Monday, February 2nd
(Entry usually begins in February, but this year we will accept entries as soon as they are ready)
Information
Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
7653 Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture, 389-2502
Official website: https://nozawaski.com/