Nozawa Onsen is a beautiful town juxtaposed with beginner friendly ski slopes. Schanze Nozawa is located perfectly between both. We spent 4 nights at the lodge and enjoyed our experience.
Our room was decently sized and we had tatami mat flooring with futons for beds. The beddings were nice and thick, and we could rest well each night. There are also ample shower and bathroom facilities. Strong water pressure and hot water was available in the showers.
Each morning we had a wonderful breakfast available to us (bread, fruits, jam, cereal, coffee and fruit juices etc) and there was a varied option of daily cooked foods (like poached eggs, french toast etc). It was the perfect meal that kickstarted our day.
The staff were really friendly and helpful in giving us advice about all sorts of things, from which Onsen is recommended or which ski slopes were good for us to try out. We had a great time mostly due to their encouragement (to try out some slopes we were hesitant to at first).
We had a truly wonderful time and would love to return to Schanze Nozawa again soon.
Room is traditional tatami and futon, which is so warm and cosy. You will have to share a common bathroom (as with all the inns in Nozawa), but there are so many onsens to enjoy that I didn't even use it once.
The owner and staff speak fluent English, so didn't have to struggle to get information and tips on the local scene. Do book in advance though as the inn is small and they get fully booked during the peak season.
One last tip: do get the hotel staff to help you make reservation for dinner as the restaurants are small and we didn't manage to try out the popular ones.