Myoko Kogen is the collective name given to a handful of ski resorts on the south-eastern slopes of Mt. Myoko (2,454m) in Japan’s Niigata prefecture. The area was been increasingly discovered by foreign visitors in recent years and has made quite a name for itself with powder hunters given the 13 metres of average snowfall every year – it’s no wonder the locals call this region “snow country”. The resorts are around 30 km north of Nagano, the venue for the 1998 Winter Olympics. As a result, the mountain is accessible from Tokyo in just over two hours with a 100-minute Shinkansen ride to Nagano (an experience not to be missed) followed by a 40-minute local train journey to Myoko Kogen. Alternatively, shuttle buses run daily to the resort from Narita Airport.
Five main resorts
The main base in the area, with the bulk of available accommodation and eateries, is Akakura Onsen. The village offers direct access to the most developed and interconnected resorts in the area – Akakura Kanko and Akakura Onsen. These are flanked to the north by the tiny off-piste paradise Seki Onsen, and to the south by the quieter Ikenotaira and Suginohara resorts. All the resorts are linked by regular shuttle buses, and all serve up sumptuous views across the valley towards Madarao and the chains of mountains beyond, with Suginohara even boasting views of Mt. Fuji on a clear day.