I’ve been to Myoko many times now, and I get so overwhelmed with the amount of snow it gets every year. I remember driving there during a crazy blizzard and it was all walls and walls of snow where you can’t really see the houses anymore. Huge snow tractors were clearing the roads multiple times a day to allow cars to drive through. I’m amazed at how people live there and that it’s a huge part of their life. And, with meters and meters of snow, also means the ski resorts are thriving.
The Myoko Kogen is a wonderful place to ski, and you can consider it as one of the many options to try skiing in Japan. The ski area has five main ski resorts: Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, Ikenotaira, Suginohara and Seki Onsen. However, there are other ski areas as well, like Arai Snow Resort and Madarao that is quite nearby, but you do have to take a shuttle. I’ll write about it in more detail another time.
When you’re skiing with friends, this is a fun place to try. My friends and I love to do ski touring and Myoko Kogen is also one of the places you can explore all day. They have a variety of runs with difficulty depending on the period during the season. If you come over around January, you’re bound to be greeted with heavy snowfall. So, expect some deep powder and plan your gear accordingly. There are a lot of local rentals around and you can definitely ask for advice if you are new to this type of snow. Also, driving can be scary in snowy conditions so it’s better to take the bus or get picked up at the station if you’re not experienced enough.
There are also wonderful onsens around too! If you can, I recommend staying in one of the ryokans to experience the Japanese dining. Compared to hotels, ryokans are focused more on the services where you just stay inside and they take care of everything. Their dinners are mostly course menus and although it might be challenging to navigate in this cultural experience, you can always try to communicate if you are not accustomed to some meals. Their onsens are also very nice, and some even have private onsens for those who are not used to public bathing.
Enjoy the snow, enjoy the food, enjoy the onsen. Let me know if you visited and which ski areas you loved. Cheers!