One major issue we had with Myoko Kogen were the lifts. That’s not to say that the lift infrastructure in Myoko Kogen is terrible – they are well positioned on the hill, we almost never had to queue and the lift personnel are incredibly helpful and friendly. The lifts are, however, all pretty pedestrian compared to European chairlifts, many of the chairlifts don’t have a weather hood (let alone under-seat heating), and the gondolas tend to be cramped. This doesn’t necessarily mar the overall experience, it just doesn’t quite measure up to the high standards being set elsewhere.
Regular, if pricy shuttle buses
As the different Myoko Kogen resorts are not interlinked (with the exception of Akakura Kanko and Akakura Onsen), you will likely have to take the shuttle bus if you want to explore the different resorts. These buses are luckily regular both in the morning and afternoon (every half hour), and run from Suginohara in the south to Akakura Onsen in the north (you have to organise your own transport to Seki Onsen). The only downside to this service is the price – ¥500 each way (roughly €4.20), even for lift-pass holders.
Night skiing in Akakura Onsen
Akakura Onsen is also a popular spot after the sun goes down, as it’s Myoko Kogen’s only night skiing area, with the Panorama Course is lit up until late into the evening. Akakura Village as well as all resort base stations offer an array of ski/snowboard rental shops, ski schools (with some English-language courses) and some great winter sports shops. WiFi is somewhat thin on the ground here, though some lodges offer internet access, as do most restaurants and hotels.