Winterland Lodge & Taproom

Staff were fantastic - they were getting pumped but so accomodating! Their service was friendly and fast. Beer was cold, gyoza were hot. Good times. Would recommend.

A classic choice for breakfast before heading to Nozawa Onsen's ski slopes. The carrot cake is notably delicious, and thanks to the friendly staff who can communicate in both English and Japanese, it's the perfect option for any group of friends.

Very friendly and quick service. The choice of gyoza are amazing. Really impressed with the choice of tap beers including some very good craft beers.

Cheap beer during happy hour comes with 6 free gyoza… What more can a guy ask for?

We probably ordered 60 pieces of gyoza in total. The gyoza are amazingly soft, fragrant and fresh. I like “nozy” nozawa gyoza the best and the claypot rice is so amazing. Prices were reasonable, we had beers, lots of food with a total damage of 12.5k yen

Piece - great
Location - good
Food - great
Ambiance - great
Staff - great

Awesome spot in town for incredibly tasty gyoza and a beer!

Happy hour is a must if you can make it there after the slopes and can find yourself a spot inside.

All of the gyoza is carefully prepared and oh so delicious.

Try the ice cream, it’s from Matsumoto and really really good!

Briggy and Sean were the best bartenders anyone could ask for. They were so friendly and welcoming and treated me like a VIP customer. They were fun to talk story with for hours as well. Chef Alex is also very friendly and welcoming. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Nozawa.

Came here for dinner a few nights ago with no booking but luckily we got a seat on the window due to a booking cancellation. The place was quite busy and loud although it was nice as everyone in the restaurant seemed like they were having a good time. The staff were so helpful and kind and the service was amazing. We had to order their gyozas and they were absolutely amazing! We ordered the vegetable gyoza which we didn't enjoy as much as the normal pork gyoza and we also tried out the gyoza in soup which was our favourite! We also ordered some other things such as the salad which we felt like we shouldn't have ordered when it came as it didn't look very appealing but it was actually really delicious! We got the taco rice as well although it was nothing special. Definitely recommend coming here for the gyozas!

The location is great! It's right where the bus from Iiyama station drops you off in the center of town. The room was large by Japan standards and a great value. The bed was comfy and the heater worked well. There was also a fridge and a freezer. There is a dry room on the bottom floor for your snow gear. Be sure to bring your own slippers and toothbrush though (sometimes Japanese hotels provide them, but here they don't... No big of course).

The staff was so incredibly nice and helpful. They all spoke English. And having easy access to their lovely taproom was a major plus! Their gyoza/craft beer and cider happy hour were great. We also enjoyed their coffee drinks. Definitely looking forward to staying here again!!

Great spot for a drink and snack upon arrival to Nozawa. Such a wide selection, including cider and hard seltzer on the menu. The sake was great! They have a good happy hour and very accommodating staff. Lots of space in terms of covid distancing and staff that stays aware of keeping their patrons safe. Would definitely go back

We stayed here for 3 nights with a group of friends for a long ski weekend and it was a great spot! The location is right in the center of town and not a far walk to the Yu Moving Road to take you up to a lift or just hop on the free shuttle bus to the lifts from the parking lot across the street. Dry room is right at ground entrance so easy to stash your gear. The rooms were bigger than we thought from the pictures. We were just a couple do only used the bottom large bed, but if friends are sharing the room or for families there is a top bunk and pull out trundle beds too. The heater works well and you can control the temperature in your room which is nice. Small, in room bathroom and nice size fridge too. There is a shared microwave in the hall.

The best part was the Cafe and Taproom here though! Great coffee and pastries in the morning/day and starting at 3 pm they serve excellent Gyoza. Our group ate here for dinner one night and devoured almost everything on the menu. It gets crowded though so best to make a reservation as this is a popular spot - especially during their happy hour. Great selection of craft beer on tap too. We spent a lot of our down time here. On Sat/Sun the cafe serves a full breakfast and I highly recommend the breakfast burrito.

Only cons are that the walls in the rooms are thin. You will hear your neighbors. This is not uncommon in Japan though so we travel with a travel-sized white noise machine which really helps. There’s also not any lobby/hang out spot other than the taproom. No parking but it’s right next to here the bus drops off if coming by public transit. If driving, message Winterland to enquire about where to park.

Overall, had a great stay at Winterland and would definitely stay here again.

Went here for breakfast, they open at 7am. Delicious sandwiches and wraps are available. Their coffee was also made in proper australian style, and the staff speak english.

Perfect place for a family dinner. Great food with the gyoza being a stand-out and complemented by nice beer selection. Excellent service from Chris and his team who even prepared a surprise treat for my wife’s birthday. Couldn’t have been more impressed!

Stayed there over New Year and extended because Winterland and the snow was so good. Gardner & Natsuko have done a fantastic job re-purposing and updating somewhere with a great location. Beds are comfortable, rooms spacious enough and there is a dry room at street level to drop your gear after a good day in the japow. The Taproom has a great range of beer, cider, gyozas and other izakaya staples and great music. But what really makes Winterland is the quality of service and staff; Natsuko booked us a great last minute dinner spot for New Year's Eve and Sean, Nicole & Keisuke went above and beyond to make sure our stay was as memorable as possible. Will be back and you should too.

Dangerously good chuhai! Especially with a splash of grape juice! Perfect place to sit and get your bearings on arrival and super fun after dinner.

Love this place. Mainly because of the beers and the hospitality. Both are great. Laid back vibe, lots of Grateful Dead references around, and smack dab in the center of town. Also have a wide selection of gyoza :)

A great place to stay - convenient and comfortable. Excellent value. Delicious gyoza, great selection of beer and awesome music and atmosphere. The staff are friendly and offer lots of good advice for your time in Nozawa. Highly recommended!

Excellent service and friendly staff. They gyoza are amazing matched with a cold craft beer a perfect stop for the happy hour after the slope. Apres ski done right!

Good sized, warm, quiet rooms for Japan. Shuttle just outside and amazingly helpful staff. Brigitte was totally client focussed and nothing too difficult. Great bar and Gyoza.

Great food and drinks. Friendly service